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Breeding System

of the Sorraia Horse

The mares are kept in manadio regime in extensive type of farm, feeding on natural pastures more or less enriched, taking advantage of very often the stubble of crops. In periods of drought and less abundance of pasture, its power can be enhanced manually. As previously stated, the hardiness of these animals is recognized, adapting easily to the poverty of the soils and their pastures.
Around six months the animals are hot-branded with a number and iron creator respectively on the shoulder (or neck) and right thigh, and removed a blood sample to perform the affiliation of control, required for the animal is entered in the race Studbook. It usually takes advantage the time to make the toilet of animals, cutting them horsehair and rabada to avoid a higher incidence of ectoparasites. In some cases it is administered first prophylactic treatment (vaccination and worming). Not always perform weaning, the remaining eguada and their offspring together.
By the age of three males are separated from the remaining herd can later be stabled and chopped for use in agriculture, saddle or coupling.
In the most effective stud farms, mating is currently done in freedom, joining the stallion to eguada all season breeding (usually between February and June), as this race has less revealed reproductive success with the practice of launching the hand.
With the exception of the German population, which has always been found using 2-5 stallions in the same year of reproduction, it was often the same stallion be used exclusively and in consecutive years, one of which padreado for a period of 10 years eguada the same. This has led undoubtedly a significant loss of genetic diversity in a population already somewhat variable given the small herd. Currently, there is an effort on the part of creators in order to take effect greater turnover Stallions using, using even the use of stallions from other stud farms, to spread the breed genetic contribution of a larger number of individuals.
Fertility is around 57%, with studs that come to be achieved of 100% in a few years. The mare's age at childbirth is as high as 26, being more frequent between 4 and 6 years.
The viability of the products varies between 89% and 95%, the rest to abortions, stillbirths and animals that die before reaching six months.