REPRODUCTION

• the process of getting genetic

material from the male to
genetic material from the
female through the union of
sperm and egg cells.
BREEDING METHODS
Pasture Breeding NATURAL BREEDING
Hand Breeding

Artificial Insemination
FACTORS THAT
CONTRIBUTES TO
REPRODUCTIVE
FAILURE:

GENERAL:

•Reproductive anatomy
•Variable hormonal system
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM - STALLION

STALLION
PHYSIOLOGY

Onset of sexual maturity 10-24 mo

Life span of sperm in female tract 2-4 days
Survival time with fertilizing capacity 1-2 days
EJACULATION
Three parts:
1 ERECTION
• stimulated by teasing the stallion.
lengthens and stiffens through
engorgement with blood.
2 EMISSION/INSERTION
• spermatozoa and fluid from the
accessory glands arrive in the pelvic
urethra.
3 EJACULATION
• Semen is expelled through the
urethra
Volume/Ejaculat Sperm (Cubic Millimeter) Total Sperm in
e (ml) Ejaculate
 MATING
CAPACITY
OF THE
SIRES

Number of Females to Mate in a Breeding Season

AGE OF SIRE HANDMATING PASTURE
2-year-old stallion 10 5
3-year-old stallion 30 15
4-year-old stallion 35 - 40 20
5-year-old stallion 40 – 75 20 – 25
SPERM PRODUCTION
Sperm
Output and
Production
is
influenced
by:
▪ Season – higher in summer than wet season
▪ Testicular size – Larger/bigger
▪ Age – older
▪ Frequency of ejaculation
▪ Behavior - Agressiveness
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM - MARE
STATUS OF MARES
MAIDEN MARE
• one that has never
been bred.
BARREN/OPEN MARE
•that was either not bred
the previous season or
did not conceive in the
previous season.
• has foaled during the current
WET MARE
breeding season and is nursing
CONSIDERATIONS OF
MARE FOR BREEDING
• AGE
• PAST BREEDING
RECORDS
• HEREDITARY
DISORDERS
• PREVIOUS
ATHLETIC USE
Range in age when heat 15 to 24 months
• GENERAL period begins
HEALTH Recommended minimum 24 to 36 months
• BREED age to breed
• STATUS Duration of estrus (heat) 3 to 7 days
• APPEARANCEBest time to breed Every other day beginning second
ESTROUS CYCLE
21 14-16 days
days
CYCLE

3-7 days
SIGNS OF ESTRUS
● Most consistent
● Elevated tail raise
● Winking the vulva
● Other supporting signs
● Leaning
● Squatting
● Standing still
● FREQUENT Urination – in the
presence of male
MARE REPRODUCTION
ESTRUS
▪ Increase FSH & 1
Estrogen LH
▪ Accepts the male
▪ Tail up, vulva winks 2
▪ Relaxed/open cervix
DIESTRUS
3 ▪ Decrease FSH &
Estrogen
▪ Increase
5 Progesterone
Preparation for the next cycle 4 ▪ Rejects the male
MANAGEMENT OF
MAIDEN/BARREN
MARES
❑ ESTRUS Manipulation
Methods
•Artificial lighting
•Inducing Ovulation
•Estrus
synchronization
Photoperiod
Effect
( 16 HOURS
daylight
•• Reproductive
30 – 60 activity
is stimulated by an
days) photoperiod
increasing
• Mechanism
• Alteration of hormone
secretion by the pineal
gland and
PGF2α
Lutalyse
▪Shorten the interval between
estrous periods
▪Treatment of a
maintained/PERSISTENT corpus
luteum
▪Estrous synchronization with
HORMONAL CYCLE
FOLLICLE
STIMULAT
ING • Stage which
PHASE causes the
mare come into
heat• follows and
LUTEAL after
ovulate
ovulation
PHASE
• PRODUCTION OF PROGESTERONE
❑ High level of progesterone during the luteal phase maintains
pregnancy by keeping FSH and estrogen in check – preventing
the mare from coming into estrus.
OVULATION
• The release of egg from the
mature follicle on the ovary. One
follicle will ovulate but
occasionally, two follicles
ovulate at the end of the estrus
twin fetus – high risk of abortion,
period
dystocia–and retained placenta.

Fetus aborted before day 45 – mare continuous to show

signs of being pregnant, due to special tissue secreting
the hormone that maintains pregnancy until 120 days.
FERTILIZATION 4 to 6 hours – travel
of time for
spermatozoa to
Site of Fertilization reach the oviduct
BREEDING is
recommended
within 1 to 2
Ovum leaves the days before
ovary and enters the ovulation
oviduct viable for 8 to
12 hours after fertilization, eggs
travels to uterus – 5 to
6 days.
▪ Once in the uterine horn, embryo is mobile that it bounces
back around and move from one uterine horn to the other.
▪ By 16 to 18 days - settles in part of the horn where implantation
CONCEPTION
No conception
• PROSTAGLANDINS (group of
hormones that are unsaturated fatty acids and
responsible for the control of cycle and timing
are release to destroy
of parturition)
the corpus luteum, reduce
progesterone and allow mare to
With conception
go into cycle.
• No released of prostaglandins, corpus luteum
remains dominant.
Gestation Length = Normal: 335-342 days
PREGNANCY
DIAGNOSIS
❑ Ultrasound, 14-18 days
▪ Identification of twins
▪ Identification of placental development
❑ Re-evaluate, 40 days
❑ 60 to 70 days – sex of the foal
❑ Monitor Placental function & fetal growth
SIGNS OF PREGNANCY
❑ BEHAVIOUR / MOOD Especially towards Stallions
❑ ELEVATED PROGESTERONE LEVELS
❑ Changes on Mammary gland/Udder
❑ PRESENCE OF EQUINE CHORIONIC
GONADOTHROPINS
• The eCG assay is reliable in determining if a mare is pregnant or
open but only in the narrow period from days 35 to 100 post
ovulation. For example, if a mare is around 200 days pregnant her eCG levels would be 0, and the
interpretation of the test would be that she is not pregnant.
CARE OF THE
PREGNANT
MARE

❑ HANDLE WITH CARE

❑ PROPER HOUSING & NUTRITION
❑ DEWORMING & VACCINATION
• ANTI – TETANUS TOXOID
Signs of impending parturition

▪ 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
STAGES OF
PARTURITION
Stage 1 Stage 2 ▪ Onset: rupture of
chorioallantois
▪ Onset: Initial uterine ▪ End: delivery of
contractions fetus
▪ End: Rupture of ▪ 10 – 60 minutes
chorioallantois (water
bag)
▪ 1 – 4 hrs

Stage 3 (< 3 hrs)

▪ Onset: delivery of fetus
▪ End: passage of the fetal
membranes
FOALS and IMMUNITY
▪Colostrum (first milk) -
If adequate
antibodies 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
POSTPARTUM OXYTOCIN
CBG/DCM
INVOLU
TION
▪ The process during which the uterus returns to normal
following parturition or return to its non-pregnant size.
▪ Involute within ten days.
▪ Older mares who have had many foals involute more
slowly than younger mares.
▪ During involution, may cause abdominal pain and some
colic-like symptoms.
▪ Involution not complete, no conception when bred
 Foal
Heat

• Heat that occurs directly after parturition. It is not fertile.

• Occurs at 6 to 12 hours after parturition and is part of the
Normal and Abnormal Postpartum Occurrences
LOCHIA
▪brown fluid found in the uterus
during uterine involution following
pregnancy.
Foul-smelling discharge signals
uterine infection.

COLIC common during the first week post partum

Internal bleeding caused by rupture of the

middle uterine artery.
THINGS TO
REMEMBER
✔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