The tasks and strategic directions for the development of the Institute of Horse Breeding and Forage Production in Kazakhstan were discussed at a meeting chaired by Vice Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin, as reported by Kazpravda.kz citing the press service of the government.
The main strategic goals of the institute include the preservation and enhancement of the gene pool of Kazakh horse breeds, along with scientific and practical coordination of breeding work in horse breeding. To achieve these goals, the institute is faced with tasks such as determining the necessary volume and sources of funding, attracting scientific and highly qualified specialists, and establishing a material and technical base in the near future.
As noted by the head of the institute, Alibek Bazarghaliyev, leading horse breeders in the country will soon conduct an assessment of Kazakh breeding horses throughout the republic, based on which a plan for the revival of horse breeds will be developed.
According to preliminary estimates, the work on their revival will take at least five years. Additionally, the Institute of Horse Breeding and Forage Production, established on the basis of an agricultural experimental station, retains part of its previous activities in crop production as auxiliary, necessary for providing horse breeding with complete and balanced feeds.
The meeting reviewed the situation with the LLP "Қазақ тұлпары". At the horse breeding farm, which specializes in the breeding of the Kostanay horse breed, there are fewer than a hundred purebred horses left. This number is insufficient for breeding and promoting this breed of horses.
There is also an urgent need to address the stables and the conditions for keeping and breeding noble animals. All these issues will be resolved within the framework of a unified policy for the preservation of Kazakh horse breeds at the Institute of Horse Breeding, with the involvement of private investments. Considering that the Kostanay horse breed is a riding and racing breed, there are plans to establish an equestrian sports school based at LLP "Қазақ тұлпары" in the future.
Kazakhstan breeds 13 horse breeds of various directions. Breeder scientists, along with practical breeders, have developed widely recognized domestic horse breeds, such as the Kostanay riding and harness breed (established in 1951), as well as the Kushum (1976) and Mughalzhar (1998) meat-dairy breeds. Domestic breeds are valuable enhancers of local horses in Kazakhstan. In terms of their productive qualities, they meet global standards, and in terms of adaptability to harsh conditions of year-round pasture and tethered keeping, they have no analogs.