Animal showing, most notably the canine and equine competition worlds, is not only a chance to see beautiful animals performing in their element but can also be lucrative business for those who own or show the animal participants. Offspring of successful, promising, or even unsuccessful animal participants can fetch a high price for those looking to purchase a puppy or a foal with the most desirable pedigrees or with parents who have a history of performance.

Thorough contracts must address the multiple variables in animal breeding in order to avoid disputes. Stud fees alone can be thousands of dollars, whether a pregnancy results from the breeding or not. Various registration organizations such as the American Kennel Club or the Jockey Club of thoroughbred racing, have their own individual requirements regarding the act of breeding, whether live cover (where both the dam [mother] and sire [father] engage in the physical act) is required or if shipped or frozen semen is acceptable. The Jockey Club, for example, requires live cover.