NEWS

Preserving the Suffolk Punch Veterinary charity, the Animal Health Trust (AHT) has teamed up with the Suffolk Horse Society (SHS) to try and safeguard the future of the ancient Suffolk Punch.

The number of Suffolk horses, known affectionately as the Suffolk Punch, has declined rapidly. In 2008, there were fewer than 300 breeding horses in total, all of whom could be traced back to one horse from 1768.   The Suffolk Punch is listed as ‘critically endangered’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. To date only the support of dedicated breeders and help from the SHS has saved the majestic breed from extinction.   The AHT is carrying out research to help develop a sustainable breeding programme for the horse, which will enable breeders of Suffolk horses to minimise the risk of genetic problems occurring.

The project aims to ascertain the current level of genetic diversity within the UK Suffolk horse population. It will also determine whether current breeding practices are sustainable. One result of this will be an evaluation of possible new breeding strategies and their impact on the preservation of genetic diversity in the Suffolk horse. Dr Sarah Blott, one of the AHT scientists leading the project, said: “Our local breeds are part of our history and culture, it is important to preserve them for future generations. The Suffolk horse is one of England’s most ancient breeds but is now much less numerous than it used to be. As a rare breed it is vulnerable and our project aims to help breeders make the best use of genetic knowledge in their quest to conserve the breed.”