This isn't just affecting cattle, another example would be the Thoroughbred horse (my passion in life
)
Every Thoroughbred horse in the world trace back to these 3 foundation sires
the Godolphin Arabian 1724
The Godolphin Arabian is named for his most famous owner, the Earl of Godolphin. Possibly the most important of the early foundation sires to American horse racing, many of the American foundation sires had strong connections to the Godolphin Arabian line. It is interesting to note that while more horses can trace their sire line back to the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian is commonly found in the dam lines of modern Thoroughbreds. Many champions have descended from the Godolphin Arabian and his get, which is surprising given that he was not the prized horse of his stable at first.
Darley Arabian
The Darley Arabian was bought in Syria by Thomas Darley in 1704. He stood 15 hands tall and was considered a very attractive specimen. As a stud at Aldby Park, he sired many successful horses of the time, and his bloodline is one of the most dominant. An estimated
95% of male horses trace their line back to this horse. Possibly the greatest achievement of the Darley Arabian was that his offspring led to Eclipse, the most important of the later foundation sires in terms of achievements in both racing and breeding.
Byerley Turk 1680
The Byerley Turk was the earliest foundation sire, brought to Britain after Captain Robert Byerley captured him at the Battle of Buda in 1686. As a warhorse, the Turk served Byerley throughout the rest of his career, including at the Battle of the Boyne. The Byerley Turk was retired to stud after his owner gave up the military life, and he became an influential sire.
