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EQUINE REPRODUCTION. BOOK BOOKING FEES STUD FEE FOAL GUARANTEE Live Foal Return Color. WET/DRY CARE BREEDER Thoroughbred Other breeds DEATH & SALES CLAUSE CHUTE FEE. TERMINOLOGY. Stallion Physiology. Sperm Production. Sperm Output and Production is influenced by: Season
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BOOK BOOKING FEES STUD FEE FOAL GUARANTEE Live Foal Return Color WET/DRY CARE BREEDER Thoroughbred Other breeds DEATH & SALES CLAUSE CHUTE FEE TERMINOLOGY
Sperm Production • Sperm Output and Production is influenced by: • Season • Testicular size • Age • Frequency of ejaculation • Behavior
Number of Sperm Depends On: • Seasonal Influences (Photoperiod) • Effected Areas • Ejaculate volume • Sperm numbers • Total sperm/ejaculate • Sperm motility • Willingness to breed • Mounts before breeding • Scrotal size • Testosterone production
Mare Anatomy • Vulva • Vagina • Cervix • Uterus • Oviducts • Ovaries Left Ovary Cervix Vagina Oviduct Left Uterine Horn Uterine Body
TERMS Anestrus Diestrus Estrous Estrus MARE CLASSIFICATION Pregnant Open Barren Maiden Wet Dry MARES
The Open Mare • Evaluate reproductive history • Establish the time of year to breed • Mare Plan: • Diagnose possible problems • Implement problem management • Establish estrus calendar
Mares Cycle Percent
Photoperiod Effect • Reproductive activity in spring is stimulated by an increasing photoperiod • Mechanism • Alteration of hormone secretion by the pineal gland and hypothalamus
J F M A M J J A S O N D Increasing day length Decreasing day length Receptors in eye Neuropathway Neuropathway Pineal gland Decreasing melatonin Increasing melatonin Hypothalamus Increasing GnRH Decreasing GnRH Anterior pituitary Decreasing gonadotropins Increasing gonadotropins Ovaries
Transition Period • Increased photoperiod stimulates the hypothalamus and pituitary • Pituitary hormones (especially FSH) induce follicular development
Transition • 1-3 waves of follicles develop & regress • Estrogens produced by developing follicles • Irregular/prolonged estrus exhibited • 1 follicle eventually ovulates • Thereafter, mares ovulate at ~21-day intervals
21-day estrous cycle • Estrus 5-7 d • Diestrus 14-16 d
Follicular Development & Ovulation Anterior Pituitary – FSH - follicular growth Pituitary – LH – maturation of follicle & ovulation Follicles reach 20-25 mm in diameter, secrete estrogen. Estrus
Prediction of Ovulation • Number of days in heat • Growth rate of largest follicle • Average 3-5 mm/day • Size of largest follicle • Softness of preovulatory follicle • Ultrasound image
Diestrus Corpus Luteum Formation • Corpus luteum - secretion of progesterone. • Progesterone - responsible for keeping the mare out of heat and for maintaining pregnancy. Prostaglandin Release • Prostaglandin (PGF) - released from the uterus of a non-pregnant mare 14-16 days after ovulation
Postpartum Estrus • Foal Heat • Fertile as compared to other species. • Breeding may be necessary to maintain the 12 mo. Foaling interval. • May be necessary to back up foaling.
Signs of Estrus • Most consistent • Elevated tail raise • Winking • Other supporting signs • Leaning • Squatting • Standing still • Urinating
Manipulation Methods • Artificial lighting • Shortening Late Transition • Inducing Ovulation • Estrus synchronization • Estrus Synchronization & Ovulation Induction
16 hrs daylight per day 30-60 days Light Stimulus
Progesterone or related compounds • Regumate – most common • Normalization of estrus • Regulation of estrus • Estrus synchronization • Long-term suppression of estrus • Delay foal heat • Pregnancy maintenance
PGF2Lutalayse or Estrumate • Shorten the interval between estrous periods • Treatment of a maintained corpus luteum • After foal heat • Estrous synchronization with prostaglandins
Breeding Methods • Pasture Breeding • Hand Breeding • Artificial Insemination • Fresh semen • Cooled, shipped semen • Frozen semen
ADVANTAGES Cost Genetics Disease DISADVANTAGES Cost Technology/management Stallion variability Common Problems Inability to obtain semen Poor quality semen Reordering semen Failure to predict ovulation Cooled Shipped Semen
Frozen Semen • Success of Frozen Semen • Fertility of stallion’s semen • Fertility of the mare • Skill of the veterinarian/technician • Maximum Success • Client communication • Choose ideal candidate • History of stallion
Embryo Transfer • Synchronization of donor and recipient mare • Embryo flushing • Embryo transfer procedure
TEN FACTORS INFLUENCING PREGNANCY & PREGNANCY LOSS PER CYCLE • MARE AGE • BARREN REPRODUCTIVE STATUS • EARLY BREEDING DATE • LATE BREEDING DATE • BREEDING FREQUENCY • PROSTAGLANDIN FACTOR • UTERINE CULTURE & CYTOLOGY • EFFECT OF SEMEN EXTENDER • POST-BREEDING ANTIBIOTIC INFUSIONS • TWINS
Ultrasound, 14-18 days ID twins ID placental development Re-evaluate, 40 days Monitor Placental function & fetal growth Pregnancy Evaluation
Gestation Length • Normal: 335-342 days
GROWTH CURVE CR in cm Gestation age in days
Late Pregnancy • Abdomen greatly enlarged • Ventral edema • Mammary gland enlargement – 2-4 wk • Gluteal muscles relax – 7-10 d • Teats fill with milk – 4-7 d • Waxing of teat ends – 1-4 d • Vulva soft & relaxed – 1-2 d
Stages of Parturition • Stage 1 • Onset: initial uterine contractions • End: rupture of chorioallantois (water bag) • Stage 2 • Onset: rupture of chorioallantois • End: delivery of fetus
Stages of Parturition • Stage 3 (< 3 hrs) • Onset: delivery of fetus • End: passage of the fetal membranes
Foals and Immunity • Colostrum (first milk) - antibodies • 1-2 pts of high quality colostrum • If adequate passive transfer occurs there will be over 400-800 mg/dl IgG in foal’s blood • Takes ~ 12 hours for all antibodies ingested in colostrum to show up in the blood
Key points • First two weeks- lay the groundwork by ensuring adequate colostrum • Preventative health program in place • Appropriate nutrition • Problems must be addressed rapidly when they arise. No time for a “wait and see” attitude