Animal Breeders - answer this question, please!

[TygerDralion]

I am a new breeder, and am currently working out a possible breeding to another breeder's male. What are the usual options for repayment for stud services that you've encountered? I've seen:

1. Pick of the litter (do they get first pick, or second pick after me, the owner of the mother?)
2. Cost of one baby (is it based on what I actually get out of the babies, or what they think that they're worth? [I'm in an area in which these creatures aren't quite as sought after as the potential father's area.])
3. Future pick (can they claim any future baby at any time that they want to, or would they have to pre-arrange with me something like "if X and Y's litter is successful, I am interested in a baby from it")

Any comments would be helpful. Thanks!

[t-bonham@scc.net]

In horses (where the normal 'litter' is only 1 foal), breedings are generally done for a cash price. A usual clause is "live foal guaranteed". Which means if the mare does not settle or miscarries, the stallion owner will breed the mare again for the same stud fee.

Even if the breeding is thru artificial insemination (where the 'straws' of semen might be enough to breed 2 or 3 mares, only 1 mare is allowed (unless you pay another fee for the other mare(s)). And the stallion owner can enforce this by refusing to sign the registration application for any but the 1st mare's foal.

Once in a while, people will agree to 2 breedings over 2 years, with the mare owner getting the first year's foal, and the stallion owner the 2nd year's. But they usually have various 'what if' clauses to cover other situations, like the mare or stallion dying meantime, etc.

Not sure how relevant this is to your situation.

[In Conceivable]

Pick of the litter means first pick.