Can mules reproduce?

Question

i already know the answer but i just want to see how many other people do.

ill tell you the answer as soon as i get ten answers

yes, mules in rare cases can reproduce in rare cases, they are also being used as mothers for baby quarter horses, when something is wrong with the dam. I cant figure out how to choose a best answer before the ? experation date sooo if any one can tell me how pleas divulge ur secrets!!
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ksjtracker.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/mule-with-foal.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ksjtracker.mit.edu/%3Fp%3D3657&h=150&w=200&sz=13&hl=en&start=5&sig2=dYkLsi-VVLMZeFZyDPJF6g&um=1&tbnid=cwY7uVYZEAEPpM:&tbnh=78&tbnw=104&ei=x01MR5e8HojuiQHG5byxCw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmule%2Band%2Bfoal%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4DMUS_enUS238US238%26sa%3DN

Answer 1

very very very rarely yes they can.....but most of the time they cant. At the stable I go at they turn their mules out together not knowing that I guess one of them could get pregnant by another mule.....well 11 months later there was a baby mule in the stall with the other mule. It is very rare but some people do report that their two mules reproduced.

EDIT:
oh and to Nikki.....I'll let mulereiner handle your response to this question.

Answer 2

No, actually evolution is true. Horses and donkeys have a different set of chromosomes (horses have 64, donkeys 62) due to some splitting/fusing - hence the pretty random genetics of mules, which is responsible for most (SOME mules are fertile) of them not being able to produce offspring. Donkeys and horses are, however, still closely enough related to reproduce with one another. One would think that this is a pretty clear pointer towards common descent (not to mention that genetics confirms this).

Answer 3

Mules are not suppose to be able to reproduce. I am sure some time along the way there has been a rare incidence where reproduction has happened. A mare mule ovulates and a horse mule must be castrated or it will act like a stud with your mares. October 26th is National Mule Day. The first jack came to America as a gift for President Washington in 1785. His name was "Royal Gift" and is credited as starting mules in this country. He was a gift from King Charles the Third of Spain.

Answer 4

Technically yes they can - although it's extremely rare.

The product of a mule is another mule, BTW.

OK what happens is that as hybrids, mules have rudimentary reproductive organs - but that doesn't mean they don't function at all - just not very well. Given just the right set of circumstances, yes a mule can reproduce. Doesn't happen very often however.

A mare (molly) mule may cycle once a year - and only for the briefest of times. BUT she MAY cycle - and can then be bred -if the stallion is there to "catch" her.

Same with a stallion (Jack) mule. His sperm count is very low and those sperm he does produce are often not strong enough to fertilize an egg. HOWEVER - SOME of his sperm are indeed strong enough to make it to the fallopian tube to fertilize an egg - and since it only takes one sperm to do the trick - yes, although it doesn't happen often, a Jack mule can service - and settle - a mare. Again, doesn't happen very often.

So, as a rule, mules, being hybrids, are for all accounts sterile - but given the right circumstances they can reproduce - and have done so enough times - that one has to to go through this overly-long discussion.

Don't believe me? Google Mule Blue Moon

Answer 5

no. i read an article on this the other day:
a mule is a horse and a donkey bred together.
horses have 64 chromosomes.
donkeys have 62 chromosomes.
mules have 63 chromosomes.
in order to produce you need to have an even number of chromosomes.
63 is not an even number.
therefore, mules cannot reproduce

Unless of course the mule has an extra chromosome. In this case, it would have "mule's down syndrome" and then i guess it would be able to reproduce.

Answer 6

Goggle Winter Hawk, I can't find the link in my favorites. Follow the mule link and you'll learn about Amose the mule born to a mule mum and donkey daddy named two-stepping-jack. Winter Hawk is an outfitter that offers packing trips with mules to hunting camps.

Answer 7

Yes but it is very rare. Most of the owners gelded their males and don't breed their mares. I guess if the mares have little ones, they might have trouble foaling. So that is why most people say no to your answer but yes the Mules and Hinnies can have offspring but castrating is usually what happens when they are born. Also they usually put bands around their testes and make them fall off when they are very young.

Answer 8

Not typically.

Its rare that it has happened, a mule just gave birth months ago in colorado after being pastured with a jack.

This is NOT the norm and its not expected that a mule will have a baby.

Even tho they are sterile, mollies still cycle and jacks still need to be castrated.

So to answer your question, yes it can happen rarely, like 1 in a bazillion, but its not the norm. They are hybrid with odd chromosomes (63)

Oh and Nikki, your a moron, you probably have had a mule kick your rear in the show ring yet, oh but wait, they dont have breyer shows right?? Get your my pretty pony and your blankie and go back to Howrse

Answer 9

I honestly have no idea... I have heard before that they cant. But there was an article on it saying a mule gave birth. I find it really interesting how they cannot and curious to why they cant...... But my friend use to own a mule. She trained and showed it to jump 3 ft! lol She only payed a Dollar for her too.

Answer 10

No. Since you already know the answer, I don't need to elaborate, I guess.