Before I joined HP in 2013, I had been jumping around SIMS games since 2005 - With every game I played, there was always a post/discussion somewhere about how many offspring is just the right amount, which was great; I always knew my boundaries. However, on others, it was admin-controlled {which I despised, mainly because they forced you to breed at an age and if you didn't like it, they'd say suck it up or get out. I think that was Equine-Ranch only though..} or unlimited so your stallion could have like 500 foals running around. As all of us know, that overbreeding in any SIMS game is a big no no, as it decreases the over-all quality of the animal. However, exactly how many offspring would be considered too much? 

My first line of Hanoverians when I first started the game only got to Gen 1 {or perhaps Gen 2 I don't know if stores are considered just 'foundations' or Gen 1}, but I had breed my stallion 3 times, which had immediately reduced his quality. He only had 1mil as well - which, since it was my first breeding, I never really thought much of it. My entire line had to deleted because when I had returned all of my animals were very old {21 - 40 range}. My foundation AQH line will be bred when they hit 1.5 or 2mil points {16 - 19}, but I was wondering would it be overbreeding to breed them twice or at max three? I am putting much more work into this line than my prior Hano line, now that I know how the game works, to an extent, and I do not want my hard work wasted! I still have 11 - 12 years left on my horses before they can actually be bred, but I would like to know ahead of time so I do not ruin a promising linage. 

So, I'm curious to know, what is the preferred number of breedings to keep your lines the highest possible quality?

Firstly, I consider Gen 1 to be the store generation you begin with.  I also consider subsequent stores to coincide with current generations - it makes my life easier.

Secondly... in my opinion, breeding just to breed is stupid both in real life and on SIM games.  That being said, I do not think in devalues an animal to have multiple offspring, within reason. Look at the top ranked horses on the game.  Sitron and Sitrus have two offspring - one for the breeders, one that was sold.  Stubb has three - two morgan and one morab. Crystal has two as well, and Tuatara has two.  These are the five best horses on the game and they all have multiple babies.  I think the wuality of the horse is more reflected in their points than in their children, within reason.  

I use to do 3

1 to sell

and last two were incase i didnt get the right gender...

but now that you can gender change, i usually only do 2

and most times i just end up deleting the 1st foal if it doesnt sell

Tua had 3 foals, one for eluh,one for me and one for addy...since addy quit she deleted the 3rd foal, leaving her with 2...

Interesting - Any other HPers thoughts? 

I'd almost say for those top of the top horses even 5 foals wouldn't make me turn away. For your average 1-2 millers I'd say 2 is good. Personally, I only breed once, for myself, unless someone asked for offspring. Very rarely I'll breed twice and sell.

I typically only breed twice or once but thats just me I dont know guess they have higher points at thier older age so I just wait.

I much prefer quality (generally 2 max) over anything. With that being said I do have some new lines hat do have 5 offspring but that is because they were from retirement breedings To get very specific lines. I allow outside foals (2 breedings) once every 2-3. I like having and offering rare lined animals verse making a profit every generation that i can. 

Since nothing I breed has much of a market, I just breed the once. 

Link Tree

I used to only breed once (at 20 years or 15 for dogs) but I kept forgetting to breed a lot of my lines and so I started making myself breed at 18/13 so I would have a backup if I forgot. I either keep the backup or try to sell it. I have a lot of unpopular breeds so sometimes no one is interested in buying, which is fine because I just keep the backup to continue and build my lines. Also, I don't like deleting animals...I don't know why.