THE use of artificial insemination by breeders for their mareherd has more than tripled over the last 12 years.

That’s according to the updated UCD Report, The Contribution of the Sport Horse Industry to the Irish Economy 2017, co-authored by Alison Corbally, director of breeding at Horse Sport Ireland, and UCD’s Dr Alan Fahey.

In 2005, the usage of AI in Ireland was lower than in other European countries, with just 16% of Irish sport horse foals being bred by AI compared to between 70-100% in other European sport horse breeds.

However, by 2016, that picture had changed considerably. Irish breeders were surveyed last year and it was found that 42% covered their mares through AI, an increase of 10% since 2011 when the research was last conducted. Of that percentage, 25% of mares were covered using fresh semen, a further 10% were covered using frozen semen from Ireland and just 7% used frozen semen imported from abroad.

The overall use of frozen semen has increased from 12% in 2011 to 17% in 2016 and the use of frozen semen from abroad has increased by 3% in the same period.

The UCD Report found that while the use of AI has significantly increased in Ireland in the last six years, the use of this technology lags behind its use in the main European studbooks.