Introduction
Please review: https://suffolkpunchaustralia.com/grading-up-aka-breeding-up/ which was first published in 2009, with an upgrade in 2017.
Traditional Approach to Grading-up by UK Suffolk Horse Society
Table 1 below illustrates the traditional process of grading-up by only ever using the 100% UK Suffolk Horse Society (UK SHS) full entry Suffolk Stallions at each and every level of grading up.
Time – the great decider
To achieve a ‘suitable ‘graded up filly in the shortest possible time which might be admitted into the Full Pedigree section of the UK SHS Stud Book after being ‘Subject to Inspection’, will take 12 years, but only if at each level of the required grading up process, a filly foal is achieved.
Notes:
1 & 2: At the first level of this grading up process, the Foundation Mare aka Type A aka Type 1 is deemed not to have any pedigreed Suffolk Horse bloodlines.*
3. If a colt foal is the first (or any subsequent grade up progeny) achieved, then at least four years is lost from the grading up process for the owner.
*If using a NASHA Registered Mare who is fully registered in the NASHA (or previously named American Suffolk Horse Association) this is deemed not to be relevant to the UK Suffolk Horse Society, if the both parent of this new filly foal (a Type 2) are not in the UK SHS Stud Book, Full Pedigree Section.
Figure 1.2 shows the length of time it will take to achieve an acceptable percentage of UK SHS bloodlines related to both Stallion and Mare who are themselves entered into the Full Pedigree section of the UK SHS Stud Book. This of course is utterly dependant on the brood mare (no matter what her percentage of UK Suffolk Punch bloodlines) foaling a filly foal at each level of grading up.
In this scenario, the Type 2 progeny 50% UK pedigreed blood lines, (a filly) at the first level of grading up, has to survive to a suitable maturity to be covered, have a successful pregnancy and parturition producing the next female level a Type 3.
Adding up the years
Of course the same restriction applies at every level of a grading up process that relies consistently on only grading-up via the male line. To achieve a Type 3 (75%) filly in the shortest possible time is twelve years. Then another four years is added before that filly can produce a Type 4 (aka Type D) at 87.5% – sixteen years.
Figure 1.2
What about using 100% UK Suffolk Mares with graded-up stallions?
Because of the over-use of the Elite Sires over the past four or five decades, resulting in an increasing percentage of in-breeding (12.5% in 2021), the Suffolk Mare might be promoted to the main consecutive role. This way too, at each level of grading-up, the Suffolk Mare’s mitochondrial DNA might have added advantages.
See: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.632500/full
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0243247
Saving Time
A third approach, though, might be utilised: that of being able to use both 100% UK Suffolk Stud Book Full Pedigree mares and stallions, along with grading-up horses of both genders.
Figure 3 is just one variation on a theme. If the first level of grading up on the male side was a 75% Stallion covering a 100% Mare, then the resultant progeny would be at 87.5% (hopefully) filly. Even if a colt was produced at 87.5% when mature enough for breed 100% mature Suffolk Punch mare, one level of grading up is saved, plus a three-year-old stallion vs. a four-to-five mare, is still saving at least one addition year – potentially five years in total.
Some Concluding Thoughts
All the above, of course, is irrelevant given that within the borders of the UK, are already Suffolk Mares & Stallions, registered within the pages of the Full Pedigree section of the North American Suffolk Horse Association, or certainly eligible to be registered fully with NASHA.
Given the changing goal posts of the UK Suffolk Horse Society over what actually constitutes an appropriate level of grading-up before entry into the UK Suffolk Horse Society Stud Book Full Pedigree Section. This is also dependant upon the proviso of “Subject to Inspection.“
Of course those owners and breeders who prefer to not use any graded-up horses are free to do so. Perhaps there could be another category in the UK SHS Stud book: “Conserved 100% English Bloodlines” below which a definition would clearly delineate the breeding back to more than just five generations.
© Eleanor Yvonne Hatch, Australian Suffolk Punch Registry & Grading Up Registry 2022