Technology, Research and Development: Institute for Animal Production: PERCHERON STUD
Over recent years the numbers of Percheron heavy draught-horses have decreased in South Africa. Currently, only seven breeders and 85 horses are registered at the Percheron Breeding Association. The Elsenburg stud, with its 12 breeding mares and three breeding stallions, constitutes the largest pool of genetic material of this breed in the country.
It is foreseen that animal draught-power will, in future, play an increasingly important role in the economy. Therefore, the maintenance of a gene pool for heavy draught-horses is extremely important.
The Elsenburg stud is currently being maintained for the preservation of the genotype. As inbreeding can cause serious problems in small populations, the possibilities thereof are kept to a minimum. Against this background the possibilities of inbreeding in the Elsenburg stud were investigated.
Prior to 1942 the Grootfontein College of Agriculture was the main center of Percheron breeding in the then Department of Agriculture. During that year, one stallion and ten mares were transferred to Elsenburg. The Elsenburg stud was strengthened in 1955 when the well-known stallion, Histon Hallmark, was transferred from Grootfontein. The majority of horses at Elsenburg were related to a well-known ancestress, Elsenburg Ludi, while 13 out of the 19 animals in the stud were related to Histon Hallmark. Attempts to limit inbreeding in the small stud involved that new blood was added at three occasions. The first was the stallion, Regulateur that was imported from France in 1965. In 1981 the stallion, Miracle’s Northridge Doc was imported from the United States. It was found that this stallion suffered the “Wobbler’s” syndrome. Consequently, all his descendants had to be destroyed. In 1986 the French government also presented the stud with new semen. From these inseminations a colt named Elsenburg Jongleur Monsieur was born.
The Elsenburg Percherons participate in exhibitions and shows from time to time:
At the Festival of Horse and Wine at Nelson's Creek on 21 October 2006.Photographs by Willem Smit
Click on the photographs to see a larger version.
Contact us:
Johan van der Merwe
Tel. (021) 808 5222
E-mail: Johanvdm@elsenburg.com
Useful links: Percheron Horse Breeder's Society
