Confusion!

lelo2006 · 02-05-2008, 03:22 PM

Wow.... with all this new info on mules giving birth to healthy babies it kinda sets you back a bit considering that they have always claimed that mules were sterile.

I was just going to post and ask if a mule (male) could sire a baby. I seem to remember the question being no but know with female mules giving birth who knows whats possible.

I recently went to the auction where they were selling a few mules and found it funny when the announcer said that they would make a wonderful addition to anyone's breeding program for studs. I look at my husband and laughed becuase mules aren't suppose to be able to sire anything but with all these new things on mules WHO KNOWS!!!!

nickie · 02-05-2008, 03:25 PM

lol. Stranger things have happened....
Like your horse in your avatar btw.

lelo2006 · 02-05-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickie

lol. Stranger things have happened....
Like your horse in your avatar btw.

What about my avatar....

AlbertaGirl · 02-05-2008, 07:38 PM

She likes the horse in your avatar, by the way - that's all

lelo2006 · 02-05-2008, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbertaGirl

She likes the horse in your avatar, by the way - that's all

Realized that after I sent the message... i just was reading it wrong! Thanks

Mule Fool · 02-06-2008, 07:57 AM

Well, it seems like it might be in the realm of possibility, but I wouldn't keep a mule ungelded just to try it out. that's for SURE.

MatchMaker · 02-07-2008, 08:51 PM

I keep posting in this forum even though I know nothing about mules. I do, however, know some biology, being currently enrolled in Genetics and Evolution.

Mules are created by inter-species breeding, a horse and a donkey. This generally creates sterile offspring because the resulting mule has an odd number of chromosomes, thus not every chromosome matches up. Occasionally a fertile offspring will occur (there is an elaborate explanation for why, but I can't replicate it properly having had too little education in the field) however the continued breeding of the offspring is more likely to yield sterile and/or genetically mutated young.

-Thats what my bio textbook tells me at least.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
forum confusion (staying logged in)	Jenny20	Horsetopia	6	01-19-2008 08:18 AM
Aqha confusion!	cascy	Shows	5	02-10-2007 07:00 PM
Confusion on color stuff-pics added	sheri7785	Breeding & Genetics	4	08-07-2006 10:24 AM

02-05-2008, 03:22 PM
lelo2006 Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 874	Confusion! Wow.... with all this new info on mules giving birth to healthy babies it kinda sets you back a bit considering that they have always claimed that mules were sterile. I was just going to post and ask if a mule (male) could sire a baby. I seem to remember the question being no but know with female mules giving birth who knows whats possible. I recently went to the auction where they were selling a few mules and found it funny when the announcer said that they would make a wonderful addition to anyone's breeding program for studs. I look at my husband and laughed becuase mules aren't suppose to be able to sire anything but with all these new things on mules WHO KNOWS!!!! __________________ I love the smell of horse's in the morning. WRERS: Edmonton Based Horse Rescue. www.albertahorserescue.com

02-05-2008, 03:25 PM
nickie Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Beautiful California! Posts: 707	lol. Stranger things have happened.... Like your horse in your avatar btw.

02-05-2008, 07:38 PM
AlbertaGirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 3,322	She likes the horse in your avatar, by the way - that's all __________________ Some people say horses don't have a sense of humor... they obviously haven't met mine yet ;o)

02-06-2008, 07:57 AM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	Well, it seems like it might be in the realm of possibility, but I wouldn't keep a mule ungelded just to try it out. that's for SURE.

02-07-2008, 08:51 PM
MatchMaker Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 178	I keep posting in this forum even though I know nothing about mules. I do, however, know some biology, being currently enrolled in Genetics and Evolution. Mules are created by inter-species breeding, a horse and a donkey. This generally creates sterile offspring because the resulting mule has an odd number of chromosomes, thus not every chromosome matches up. Occasionally a fertile offspring will occur (there is an elaborate explanation for why, but I can't replicate it properly having had too little education in the field) however the continued breeding of the offspring is more likely to yield sterile and/or genetically mutated young. -Thats what my bio textbook tells me at least.