Anuario Raza Polo Argentino Anuario2017 | Page 251

more offspring among an increasingly diminishing
number of genetically superior mares), as in no
other part of the world. So much so, that currently
over 70% of production as regards breed purity is
carried out through embryo transfer techniques,
where it is also the only equine breed in which
cloning of animals for use in sport and reproduction
occurs. An example of this claim resides in the fact
that in the last four years 55 clones have been
entered in the breed register and its number will
increase significantly during upcoming years.
However, there is very little research as to how to
increase the sporting superiority of our horses with
modern genetic improvement technology, with
the aim at maximizing the breeder’s profitability.
Although it is well known that certain horses that
are used frequently produce superior progeny,
very little is known as to the “animal genetic
merit” of many other animals currently used as
male breeders, besides the fact that they are
the offspring of such or such a sire, or that they
belong to a certain genetic bloodline. The lack of
information in this sense often implies that there
are unexpected and unwonted results.
The Genomic Era in Domestic Animals
The last decade has produced a true revolution
regarding knowledge related to the genome of
different species; this is commonly known as the
“genomic era”. However, the genome of the horse
has been elucidated later than that of domestic
animals because of the lack of interest by world
scientific consortiums, which have centered
on animals intended for human consumption.
Nevertheless, the development of modern genome-
sequencing techniques—with an efficiency that
increases daily and a cost that decreases by leaps
and bounds day by day—is offering the most
delayed species, like the horse, the opportunity to
also enter into this technological revolution.
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