Breeding & Racing Magazine

Total Stallions Standing In Aust Declines

However Keeper Of The Australian Stud Book Michael Ford noted a "continuing decline" in the number of stallions standing in Australia. He told stallions.com.au: "The number of stallions standing in 2006 was 805, which represented a drop of some 13% on 2005 when there were 925. Those stallions were averaging 30 mares each, but 20 years ago there were 4,000 stallions serving about 40,000 mares, which meant an average of about 10 each: so there is obviously a lot happening at the bottom end of the scale." And Ford reported: "Of those stallions standing last year, 64 were shuttlers which is about average." Ford confirmed shuttlers served "a total of 5,500 mares last year".