Re: RC: Re: Breeding theories (was *Muscat)

[Lif Strand <fasterhorses@gilanet.com>]

Claudia wrote:  "my resources tell me (vets, A&M, Colo. State Vet school
and tech support) that an older mare has older eggs."

This is true about any female that produces eggs - all the eggs are
there when the female is a baby, and she just releases them over her
lifetime (as opposed to males, who manufacture new sperm as they go), so
as the females age, so do the eggs.  I believe however, that 35+ year
old eggs aren't considered that old - at least I know they aren't in
humans - because women can have perfectly normal, healthy babies from 35
year and older eggs.  I don't know if this translates to horses because
I do not know if the viability/age of eggs is species specific.  Turtles
(or is it tortoises?) live to be ancient - well over human child bearing
years - and they produce viable eggs all along.  I certainly would like
to know if any of our more educated list members have the answers!  Lif

--
                                     ____________
Lif & Paul Strand   STRAND ENTERPRISES   http://www.fasterhorses.com
           Arabian Horses for Distance Riding
         Internet Research * WebArt * Fine Art
                     Quemado, NM  USA



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