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AJC and VRC recognise breed integrity
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In the midst of a major period of growth for a fledgling nation, 1910 saw the
birth of the Australian Navy, Sydney’s Sun newspaper ran its first edition and
the population of Australia was estimated to be just over 4.4 million people.
It was also the year Comedy King won the Melbourne Cup and a time in which the
Australian racing industry began to recognise the importance of documenting the
bloodlines of the athletes that provided the entertainment for the country’s
greatest sport.
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After more than 30 years of fastidious record keeping by WC Yuille and
associates, the Australian Jockey Club and the Victoria Racing Club, whilst
already having supported them financially for over 20 years, purchased the
rights to the Australian Stud Book and became joint owners and custodians of
records that have become the backbone of the Australian breeding and racing
industry.
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The two clubs fully subsidised the costs of producing each volume of the
Australian Stud Book until 1950 at an equivalent cost of $1.5 million each.
When the need to support operational costs became evident an annual fee for
mare owners was introduced.
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Today, the fees to return broodmares and identify foals are the lowest of any
major stud book authority in the world and this identification process
guarantees the pedigree of every foal born in the country. The relevance of the
Australian Stud Book is now so much more evident as it is constantly relied
upon to provide accurate breeding records for the ever increasing global
trading of thoroughbreds for racing and breeding stock which contributes over
$125 million annually to the Australian economy.
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AJC and VRC vision produces world leader
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Since 2000, the Australian Stud Book has seen major operational changes and
through the leadership of AJC and VRC has become the leading stud book
authority in the world. Over this period, the organisation has invested nearly
$5 million in technical hardware, software and laboratory equipment. This
investment has resulted in operational cost savings of over $750,000 per annum.
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Over the past 10 years, the Australian Stud Book has also granted over $1.5
million to Thoroughbred Breeders Australia to assist with research into and
promotion of the thoroughbred breed. The AJC and VRC allowed 30,000 mares which
had been bloodtyped to be DNA tested, at no cost to breeders.
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The Australian Jockey Club and the Victoria Racing Club are justly proud that
their stewardship of the Australian Stud Book has supported the following world
leading initiatives:
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Identification
– the most rigorous and practical means of identifying thoroughbreds in the
world, all Australian foals are DNA typed, microchipped and branded and records
are maintained by the Australian Stud Book.
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Online technology
– the Australian Stud Book website is the most advanced online facility of its
kind, providing full breeding history of every thoroughbred since 1972,
information of historical significance and the facility for breeders to lodge
mare and stallion returns online. The website received an upgrade in 2004 and
allows breeders to access up-to-date and pertinent information regularly.
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Identification Cards
– all foals born since 2003 have been issued with an identification card
providing breeding, markings, sex, brand and microchip details. The card can be
used at studs and at bloodstock sales and replaces the antiquated and
financially cumbersome ‘passport’ used by most other nations. Cards are also
provided for contact breeders and ASB approved veterinarians.
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National Brands Register
– all brands identified on thoroughbreds in Australia are now recorded upon the
ASB website. The register allows the regulation of brands to ensure duplication
does not occur and each brand owner has a special card describing the brands.
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Communications – in 2004 the ASB developed a new user friendly approach
to its customers through the introduction of online news, email news and a
services information booklet for new breeders. It also undertook a program to
multi-skill staff in order to provide a higher standard of customer service.
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The University of Queensland’s world class parentage testing service at the
Australian Equine Genetics Research Centre ensures an independent quality
control practice for the Australian Stud Book’s identification system.
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ASB an influence on the world
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The Australian Stud Book is a founding member of the International Stud Book
Committee, comprising nine world stud book authorities, which has met annually
since 1976 to ensure the relativity of rules and expedite the international
movement of horses. Many Australian Stud Book initiatives have been adopted by
some or all ISBC members, and other stud book authorities including:
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determining the age of a foal based on service date
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improving international tracking with a permanent life number for every horse
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streamlining export procedures to expedite the international travel of horses
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displaying on the website the new name of any horse with a name change
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simplifying pedigrees with country suffixes after every horse name
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defining a specific rule prohibiting artificial breeding practices
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In addition, the New Zealand Stud Book adopted the Australian initiatives of
freeze branding, DNA typing, microchipping, and the inclusion of New Zealand
brands in our National Brands Register to ensure freedom of movement across the
Tasman.
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Ongoing commitment
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The Australian Jockey Club and the Victoria Racing Club are dedicated to
providing independent breed integrity through the Australian Stud Book as they
have done for over 115 years. Foresight and dedication will ensure the
Australian Stud Book strives to continually improve the services for breeders
and remain a world leader in its field.
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