Oman preserves genetic heritage of Arabian horses

MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman has successfully conducted an experiment to freeze the genetic collection of semen from pure Arabian horses after three years of research. This breakthrough opens a new avenue for preserving distinguished breeds and developing artificial insemination programmes in the equestrian sector.
The project was led by the Oman Center for Animal and Plant Genetic Resources (Mawarid), affiliated with the Research and Innovation Authority (RIA), in collaboration with the Royal Court Affairs, represented by the Directorate-General of Veterinary Services and the Muscat Stud For Pure Arabian Horses. During the project, more than fifty semen collections were carried out from genetically selected horses, resulting in over 2,000 samples preserved at temperatures as low as -196°C using liquid nitrogen.

The work team successfully performed four artificial insemination procedures using the frozen semen, resulting in healthy foals. This proves the potential for employing modern biotechnology to improve breeds and reduce health risks associated with direct mating. The project’s organisers stated that the new genetic collection provides a long-term scientific framework for preserving animal genetic resources, supports genetics research and veterinary technologies, and opens the door to future investments in Arabian horse services and biotechnology. One foal was named Mawarid in recognition of the centre's research role.