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THE FACTS OF LIFE The fertilization of an egg and subsequent growth of one tiny cell into the perfect foal is a very complex process. Understanding the various stages of development can help you understand how pregnancies can be challenged and what's going on in the event of a problem.
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BREEDING SPECIALISTS
Equine breeding has evolved dramatically with the introduction of artificial insemination programs and advanced assisted reproductive techniques. Many breed associations now accept foals conceived through the use of cooled and frozen semen, embryo transfer, and advanced techniques such as hysteroscopic insemination and oocyte transfer. The success of these breeding programs relies heavily on assistance from qualified equine veterinarians and even board-certified specialists in equine reproduction.
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Related article about breeding specialists:
Reproductive Specialists
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HAVE YOU RECEIVED A SHIPMENT OF DEAD SPERM LATELY?
Top breeding farms and veterinarians around the world still trust only the Equitainer® to ship cooled semen and embryos.
Equitainer users say:
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Special Offer: Get free shipping until January 31, 2007! (Mention code: JANSHIP)
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BREEDING GLOBALLY--AI ADVANCES
Breeding without boundaries; it sounds like science fiction. Yet today we can breed two animals from different time zones, even different continents, through advances in artificial insemination (AI). In this article, we will delve into the present and future of this advancing technology, discussing how it can be used for the convenience of owners and the betterment of breeds.
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Related article about AI:
The ABCs of Artificial Insemination
Artificial Insemination Made Simple
Optimizing Pregnancy Rates for Frozen-Thawed Semen
Frozen vs. Cooled Semen
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DEALING WITH STALLION IDIOSYNCRASIES
Q. We have a Standardbred stallion that had a minor neurologic episode a few months ago that was never really figured out. He has recovered slowly back to normal, except that he has gone completely blind. He does well at pasture and you would hardly know he's blind. But we had planned to start breeding him this year. Can we train this blind stallion--who has never bred before--for semen collection?
A. For Dr. Sue McDonnell's response, click here.
Additional information about breeding behavior:
Breeding on Cue
The Problem Breeder
Slow-Starting Stallion
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BOOK EXCERPT: MANIPULATION OF THE BREEDING SEASON
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from Breeder's Guide to Mare, Foal, and Stallion Care by Christine Schweizer, DVM; Christina Cable, DVM; E.L. Squires, PhD. This book is available from www.ExclusivelyEquine.com
Left to her own devices, a mare cycles more or less between April and October. Each estrous cycle (or the length of time between ovulations) lasts approximately 21 days, and the mare ovulates 24 to 48 hours before the end of her behavioral estrous period after a variable number of preceding days in heat. Unfortunately, these patterns are not always the most convenient for humans imposing their own schedules on the breeding process. Equine reproductive physiology lends itself to manipulation in a number of ways, and the mare's seasonality, ovulations, and interestrous interval all can be manipulated to suit manmade demands. Click here to read more.
Buy Breeder's Guide to Mare, Foal, and Stallion Care on sale this week for $12.95! | |
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NUTRITION: SUPPLEMENTING FOR SEMEN QUALITY
Cooling and freezing equine semen damages cell membranes, which results in loss of motility and general viability known as "cold shock." Most domestic species have high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the semen, but the amounts of these PUFAs, particularly DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, and DPA, an omega-6 fatty acid, vary by species. These variations influence susceptibility of semen to cold shock. Unfortunately, stallion semen has a low DHA:DPA ratio, which is associated with increased susceptibility to cold shock and decreased fertility.
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Additional breeding nutrition guidelines:
Pregnant Mares and Supplements
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EVALUATING STALLION FERTILITY
Q. I have a young (4-year-old) Dutch Warmblood stallion with some fertility issues. However, he has had good fertility and a good sperm cell count. He has low motility, some poor morphology,  and some dead and immature sperm cells. The longevity of his semen is good.
We want to ship the best-quality semen we can achieve. We have tried different extenders and collecting him into extender (which makes counting sperm cells inaccurate) without improving the quality. Is there anything we can do to improve motility? What do you think of using agnus castus (Vitex)?
A. For Dr. Pete Sheerin's response, click here.
Additional reading on breeding fertility:
Managing Subfertile Stallions
Can He or Can't He?
Evaluating Semen Quality
Shed Ready? Breeding Soundness Exam
Semen Analysis for Fertility
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BREEDING SOUNDNESS EXAM OF THE MARE
Horse breeding is a time-consuming and expensive business. Therefore, horse breeders must be able to assess the likelihood of a mare being able to conceive, carry a fetus through a pregnancy, and deliver a live foal. While unforeseen problems can always occur, there are procedures that help you decide if a mare is suitable for breeding. The suitability for breeding does not refer to the quality of the mare or her temperament; rather it is an assessment of the genital health of that particular mare. Collectively these procedures are known as the breeding soundness examination.
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Related articles about broodmare breeding preparations:
Settling Down: Reproductive Problems in Performance Mares
Maiden Mare Fertility
The Infertile Mare
Crossing Boundaries: Broodmare Vaccinations
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PREPARING STALLIONS FOR THE BREEDING SEASON
How you get a stallion ready for the breeding season depends on many things, but basically you can break it down into getting new stallions introduced into the breeding routine, and a refresher course for experienced stallions. With either kind, it's important to remember the basic health aspect of the horse. You want the stallion to go into the season in the best shape possible.
For any stallion, I recommend a breeding soundness exam prior to the breeding season. This includes collecting semen from the stallion and evaluating the semen. This gives you a baseline to evaluate the stallion, or can help you find problems early and allow you to manage the stallion differently.
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Related article about working with breeding stallions:
AI Training for Stallions
Finding a Stallion Handler
From Novice to Advanced: Tips for Stallion Handling
Stallion Handling
Hey There, Honey! (Teasing)
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BREEDING: WHEN AGE IS A FACTOR
The aging process takes its toll in many ways on horses and humans. Producing a foal year in and year out takes its toll on the overall health of a mare, and the wear and tear on the reproductive system often makes it more and more difficult for her to conceive and carry a foal to term. The advances of science have given the breeder more tools with which to combat the aging process, but eventually time will win out and the mare will become barren. Until that time arrives, however, many breeders will continue to strive for "just one more foal."
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More information on breeding the older horse:
Breeding the Older Mare
Stretching Semen in the Aged Stallion
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THE COST OF PUTTING A FOAL ON THE GROUND If you are new to the breeding business, you will soon realize that putting a foal on the ground can be an expensive proposition. Breeding can be as simple as turning a stallion in with a group of mares, or it can be as sophisticated as importing frozen semen from a highly acclaimed stallion located in another country. Science has taken some of the mystery and chance out of breeding, but that progress has come at a price--literally. The monetary cost of utilizing the latest research is usually picked up by the mare owner.
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READERS' PICKS
Judging by the popularity of certain articles, readers of TheHorse.com have several favorite topics. Find out what other horse owners asked reproduction experts in Mating Mares Q&A. Or read Dr. Sue McDonnell's comments on savage studs and new stallions. The Inner Mare offers a popular review of basic mare reproductive anatomy. Every breeder should be familiar with sexually-transmitted viral and bacterial diseases, and our Venereal Disease article will walk you through them.
Take a look at Filly or Colt? Find Out Before It's Born, The Trouble With Twinning, or Monitoring Pregnancy for information on managing your mare immediately post-breeding.
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Compiled by Scot T. Gillies
Copyright (c)2007 Blood-Horse
Publications. All Rights Reserved.
PO Box 919003, Lexington, KY 40591-9003
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