CENRE-Yeguada Cartuja strengthens equine genetic conservation with a new deposit at the National Animal Germplasm Bank
Sixty new insemination doses have been added, from three animals of the Anglo-Arab and Hispano-Arab breeds
On 27 January 2026, the CENRE-Yeguada Cartuja made a new deposit of equine genetic material at the National Animal Germplasm Bank (BNGA), making a decisive contribution to the ex situ conservation and preservation of genetic resources in the Spanish equine sector.
On this occasion, 60 insemination doses were deposited, from three animals, two of the Anglo-Arab breed and one of the Hispano-Arab breed, thereby fulfilling the obligation to send a duplicate of the reproductive material held at CENRE-Yeguada Cartuja’s Equine Germplasm Bank.
The BNGA is regulated and coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and is managed by CENSYRA in Colmenar Viejo. Its purpose is to build up a permanent, closed collection of reproductive material from all the breeds included in Spain’s Official Catalogue of Livestock Breeds, acting as a safeguard against loss of genetic variability and even against possible extinction scenarios.
The CENRE-Yeguada Cartuja is tasked with creating and maintaining the Germplasm Banks for equine breeds, as well as sending a duplicate of that material to the BNGA. To this end, it maintains collaboration agreements with various breeders’ associations, which enable genetic conservation work to be coordinated effectively. It is these associations that are responsible for selecting the animals of greatest genetic value for these preservation programmes.
In the case of the Anglo-Arab breed, the Spanish Association of Anglo-Arab Horse Breeders (AECCAá) contributed two animals, providing 33 insemination doses, adding to the 163 already held as of 31 January 2025. This addition represents a 20% increase in the material available and brings the total number of stallions included in the BNGA for this breed to eight.
For its part, the Spanish Union of Hispano-Arab Horse Breeders (UEGHá) contributed 27 insemination doses from a new Hispano-Arab animal, adding to the 169 already held as of 31 January 2025. This addition represents a 16% increase, bringing to ten the total number of donors of this breed held at the National Bank.
Depositing the duplicate of the reproductive material at the BNGA amounts to a genuine genetic backup, guaranteeing the protection of the material held at CENRE-Yeguada Cartuja’s Equine Germplasm Bank. Through its collaboration agreements with the breeders’ associations, the centre directly contributes to the creation, development and implementation of conservation strategies for purebred equine breeds.
The CENRE-Yeguada Cartuja thus maintains its firm commitment to the equine sector, playing an essential role in the conservation and promotion of the Cartujana bloodline, as well as of other purebred lines, in close collaboration with breeders’ associations and the relevant public institutions.