Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:05 pm Post subject: Older Studs
Just a random musing. A well known FTCH sired a litter of pups towards the end of last year, putting him at 11 and still at stud. I mentioned this to an experienced breeder a while ago who told me that it was all very well using older studs but what about the quality of the sperm, and thence the quality of the pups.
I accept the sperm count is not going to be as high as it was when he was at his prime, but genes are genes, surely? Are litters expected to be smaller in size? Is the "quality" and ability of the pups affected by using an older stud? I wouldn't have thought so...?
I would actually be quite happy if my pups's dad was still going strong at that age (as long as he wasn't over 'worked'!) but more importantly, it would mean the breeder could probably see other progeny of his, as well as grandchildren and even great grandchildren, before choosing to use him.
I've had a quick look into this before, and all I could gather is that in humans there is a very minimal risk of very 'mature' daddies producing babies with Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities (as there is with older women). I guess the same could well apply to dogs, but it seems quite common for excellent producers to carry on into old age
There may well be less of them in the ejaculate and there may be less motility, but once fertilisation has occured its the same end result wether the dad is 1 or 10.
I do believe it MAY lead to smaller litters if the sperm is of lower motility.... but the quality of the pups will not be affected! You just need to see all these babys being born to older men... didn't Julio Iglesiases dad father a baby at 92 or something like that? The baby is as healthy as the mother is able to gestate it!
Thats my understanding from human physiology 1st year uni!!!
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I dont know much if anything about using a Labrador at stud but from when I was showing and studding my Cavaliers the older the better really. As then you know that the older dog is still healthy and going strong. Rather than use a younger dog who by the time hes 4-5yr old has problems (MVD and SM in Cavs) If i were to stud Harry I would wait untill he was older as I wouldnt want him to pass any ill health onto his pups that I didnt know about when he was younger. Not that studding Harry has ever been an idea and not poss now hes lost his bits.
I used a stud who was 10 and it was the best thing I could have done..... It gave me eight, fantastic pups and more importantly, my stud book number bitch, Hattie..
My GSD Xara's sire was 11 when he sired the litter she came from, There was seven pups all healthy as was he! He had no hip or elbow problems or any other health worries! The Mother was 3yrs old!
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