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Equine Breeding and Reproduction

The document discusses the breeding and reproduction processes in horses, detailing the reproductive anatomy and physiology of both stallions and mares. It outlines factors affecting reproductive performance, signs of estrus, and the stages of parturition, as well as methods for breeding and managing reproductive health. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of proper care and monitoring during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

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Jessa Mae Dacayo
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
4 views40 pages

Equine Breeding and Reproduction

The document discusses the breeding and reproduction processes in horses, detailing the reproductive anatomy and physiology of both stallions and mares. It outlines factors affecting reproductive performance, signs of estrus, and the stages of parturition, as well as methods for breeding and managing reproductive health. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of proper care and monitoring during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

Uploaded by

Jessa Mae Dacayo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BREEDING

AND REPRODUCTION
REPRODUCTION
• the process of getting genetic material
from the male to genetic material from
the female through the union of sperm
and egg cells.

Result to:
producing offspring with regularity
protect the future reproductive capabilities of the mare
Factors contributing to poor
reproductive performance:

GENERAL:
• reproductive anatomy
• long time period before an embryo can
safely implant in the uterus
• Variable hormonal system
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM - STALLION
EJACULATION
Three parts:
1.ERECTION
 stimulated by teasing the stallion. lengthens and stiffens
through engorgement with blood.

2.EMISSION/INSERTION
1. spermatozoa and fluid from the accessory glands arrive in the
pelvic urethra.

3. EJACULATION
 semen is expelled through the urethra.
Quantitative Data on Stallion Semen and
Spermatozoa

Volume/ Sperm Total Sperm in


Ejaculate Cubic Ejaculate
(ml) Millimeter

25 to 150 60,000 6,000,000


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
ting Capacity
Number of of
theFemales
Sires
to Mate in a
Breeding Season

AGE OF SIRE HANDMATI PASTUR


NG E
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
 Testicular size
 Age
 Frequency of
ejaculation
MARE REPRODUCTIVE
ANATOMY
 Vulva
 Vagina Left Ovary

Cervix Vagina
 Cervix Oviduct

 Uterus
 Oviducts
 Ovaries Left Uterine
Horn

Uterine Body
CONSIDERATIONS OF MARE FOR
BREEDING

Age hereditary
past breeding disorders
Appearance
records
previous athletic use Pedigree
Temperament
general health
Conformation
Breed
performance
Status
EDING CHARACTERISTICS OF MARES

Range in age when heat 15 to 24 months


period begins
Recommended minimum age 24 to 36 months
to breed
Duration of estrus (heat) 3 to 7 days
Every other day
Best time to breed beginning
second day 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.

Wet mare
 has foaled during the current
breeding season and is nursing
The Open
Mare

Evaluate reproductive history


Establish the time of year to breed
Mare Plan:
Diagnose possible problems
Implement problem management
Photoperio
d Effect
 Reproductive activity is stimulated by an increasing
photoperiod
( 16 HOURS daylight – 30 – 60
days)
 Mechanism
 Alteration
of hormone secretion by the pineal gland and
hypothalamus
 Increased photoperiod stimulates the hypothalamus and pituitary
 Pituitary hormones (especially FSH) induce follicular development
J F M A M J J A S O N D
gth Dec
e n r e as
da yl ing d
n g ay le
Incr e as i ngth

Receptors in eye
Neuropathway Neuropathway

Pineal gland
Decreasing melatonin Increasing melatonin

Hypothalamus
Increasing GnRH Decreasing GnRH

Anterior pituitary
Increasing Decreasing
gonadotropins gonadotropins
Ovaries
14-16 days

21 days
CYCLE

5-7 days
SIGNS OF
ESTRUS • Most consistent
– Elevated tail raise
– Winking the vulva
• Other supporting signs
– Leaning
– Squatting
– Standing still
– Urinating
ESTRUS
Increase FSH & Estrogen
Accepts the male
Tail up, vulva winks
Relaxed/open cervix

DIESTRUS
Decrease FSH & Estrogen
Increase Progesterone
Rejects the male
Ears back, kicking
Closed cervix
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
Manipulation Methods

 Artificial lighting
 Shortening Late Transition
 Inducing Ovulation
 Estrus synchronization
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.
PGF2
Lutalayse or Estrumate
 Shorten the interval
between estrous periods
 Treatment of a maintained
corpus luteum
 After foal heat
 Estrous synchronization
with prostaglandins
ORMONAL CYCLE
FOLLICLE STIMULATING PHASE
• Stage which causes the mare come
into heat and ovulate

LUTEAL PHASE
• follows after ovulation – formation of
corpus luteum and its production of
progesterone
• the high level of progesterone during
the luteal phase maintains pregnancy
by keeping FSH and estrogen in check
– preventing the mare from coming
into estrus.
• Progesterone relaxes the uterus for
embryo implantation – establishment
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 period – twin fetus – high risk of
abortion, 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 –
Ovum leaves the travel of time for
ovary and spermatozoa to
enters the reach the oviduct
BREEDING is
oviduct viable recommended
within 1 to 2
for 8 to 12 hours
days before
ovulation

after fertilization,
eggs travels to
uterus – 5 to 6
Once in the uterine horn, embryo
days. 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
takes place
CONCEPT
ION
 No conception – prostaglandins (group
of hormones that are unsaturated fatty acids
and responsible for the control of cycle and
timing of parturition) are release to destroy
the corpus luteum, reduce progesterone and
allow mare to go into cycle.
 With conception – no released of
prostaglandins, corpus luteum remains
dominant.
Pregnanc
y
Diagnosis
 Ultrasound, 14-18 days
ID twins
ID placental
development
 Re-evaluate, 40 days
 60 to 70 days – sex of the foal
 Monitor Placental function & fetal
growth
Gestation
Length

 Normal: 335-342
days
Signs of impending
parturation

 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
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
Postpartum

NVOLUTION
 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.
Normal and Abnormal Postpartum
Occurrences

 LOCHIA
 brown fluid found in the uterus during uterine involution
following pregnancy.

oul-smelling discharge signals uterine infectio

 Colic
common during the first week post partum

internal bleeding caused by rupture of


the middle uterine artery.
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 involution process.
 involution not complete, no conception
when bred.
BREEDING
METHODS
Pasture Breeding

Hand Breeding

Artificial Insemination

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