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Forestshadow · Jan 20, 2017 6:52 PM

What's the best way to determine the best stallion for each generation? Well obviously, the best for 2nd generation would be A, but if I have only Bs for example, what factors should I pick a stallion on? Look at his foal average and compare test him to others to see if there is one better or worse? Any advice would be appreciated.

Kahlua13 · Jan 20, 2017 8:01 PM

I would run them through comparison testing and see what happens from there.

LakeOndowaFarm · Jan 21, 2017 4:40 AM

If you have a stallion that was the best pasture foal, especially if the mares had their full 30 day bonus that is a good way to choose a benchmark to start comparison testing the others to (unless or until you get one that compares superior). Or if you have several studs with more than a couple foals, start with the one who has the best AFPT. If you some of your lines start with regular and others exceptional foundations, you will want to have different benchmark studs based on foundation quality.

Forestshadow · Jan 21, 2017 6:46 AM

Hmmm I do have some best pasture foal stallions, I could try that angle. Good point on having different benchmark sires for C and B lines.

Forestshadow · Jan 25, 2017 11:12 AM

Well so far I've tested my 3 2nd gen A papered boys, all AGA each other, so no help there. Guess I'll pick the one with the best AFPT and use that as the benchmark to compare future As to if I get any.

Still in the progress of testing my B boys for 2nd gen.

Forestshadow · Feb 19, 2017 7:22 AM

Ok, update on this.

Found 2 boys that were best pasture foals, both papered B from C sires, so tested them against each other. AGA.

I took the one that had a higher foal average and used him as the benchmark. Not surprisingly, 6 of the other stallions (superior to their sires) tested worse. If they don't have special genes, they'll get snipped.

Much to my surprise, both B best pasture foals tested AGA as my A papered boys.

Of course, that means I still don't have a clear cut benchmark for my 2nd gen stallions now, lol.

Right now, one of the B papered best pasture foals stallions has the highest AFPT by .01 of a point over my oldest A papered boy. Those 3 As weren't pasture bred, though.

Stone Silo Farm · Feb 19, 2017 7:42 AM

Remember that AFPT is subject to randomness. If your sample size is too small you may not be getting a good picture of what the actual production value is. (If each stallion only has 3 foals, it's not really a big enough pool. Also mare quality can play hugely into determining that.)

It's definitely a start though!

Forestshadow · Feb 19, 2017 9:21 AM

Right, it can vary from season to season. Just surprised that I had 2 B papered boys test AGA my 3 A papered stallions. However, that means those 2 Bs will make great benchmarks to test Bs against.

Stone Silo Farm · Feb 19, 2017 9:53 AM

True. Also remember that it's "about as good as" not "as good as", so there are definitely strong Bs that are in the ballpark of low As. The A is always better than the B, so probably not great benchmark As, but it's a good sign for the Bs.

Forestshadow · Feb 19, 2017 4:37 PM

I'm now pondering what to do with the daughters of those stallions that I gelded. I mean, their sires were still superior to sire, and those girls were good enough to pass SMA.

Any advice?

Stone Silo Farm · Feb 19, 2017 5:53 PM

You'll probably get a number of different opinions about that but very generally I wouldn't worry toooooo much about them. You need a bit of herd diversity, after all. (Well, I guess you don't NEED it since we have no inbreeding penalties or anything...) Wait a few years and judge them on their own merits.

ElementalStables · Feb 20, 2017 6:47 AM

Agreed. Unless you need the space, I personally don't see the need to spay them. Their sires aren't bad breeders, they just weren't the best of your available options. If you need the space then they might be good options to spay, but if not why not keep them and test them out?

Forestshadow · Feb 20, 2017 7:02 AM

Thanks, I think I'll keep them around and see how they pan out.

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