Reproduction management in the horse

(1)

REPRO MANAGEMENT

Dr. Jérôme PONTHIER

DVM, M. Sc., Ph. D., Diplomate

ECAR

(2)

Mare

• Prolificity

• Fertility

• Early mating

• Foaling heats

Stallion

• TV, DSP, TSN,

DSO

• Flush

• Over-use

(3)

Mare

• Prolificity:

– Aim:

1foal/year

• Fertility:

– Aim:

PD+ after 2 heats

(Sometimes, 3

heats) with AI or mating

– Infertility in mare:

• Error in timing of mating/AI (you!) • Endometritis

(4)

Mare

• Early mating:

– Rational:

• Registration in competitions according year of birth:

• Foal born on 31/12/15 will face foal born on 01/01/15

• Important for early competitors (race horses), for sport horses = ???

– However:

• 50% of mares: winter anoestrus (september > march)

(5)

Mare

• Early mating:

Pineal GlandPineal Gland

Hypothalamus Hypothalamus Melato nin FB-GnRH Hypophisis Hypophisis FB-FB- FB+FB+ FooFoo_d_d FB+ FB+

(6)

Mare

• Early mating:

– Artificial light:

• Type of light! • Min 70d before OV • 35d of ttm seems to be enough • Never before december 1st

• Also for pregnant mare to foal before april 15th

(7)

Mare

• Foaling heat:

– Definition: d4-d14 PP, OV d9>d15

– Use it or not?

• Necessary to keep prolificity but,  (10-20%) of fertility

– Ways to use it:

• Choose mare

– perfect post foaling period (No RP, metritis, Fever, …)

– Small uterus, no liquid (US of mares)

• Give time for uterine involution

– E.g.: if OV>10d, normal fertility

(8)

Stallion

• Testicular Volume

– = 0.5233 x L x l x h (cm)

• Daily Sperm Production

(DSP):

– = (0.024 x TV) – (0.76 to 1.26)

– Season effect on DSO & TV

• Total Sperm Number

(TSN):

– = volume x concentration (ejaculate)

• Daily Sperm Output

(DSO):

– E.g. for 1 week

(7days)

&

3 collections

– = (

TSN

coll1

+ TSN

coll2

+ TSN

coll3

)/

7

D a il y S p e rm P ro d u ct io n Testicular volume

(9)

Stallion

DSO > DSP

DSO < DSP

End of flush?

• Epididymal storage

Testicular

pathology?

•Decreased

production by

testicular tissue

Collection

repetition?

•Too much collections

(Distal droplets)

Obstruction of

sperm output?

(10)

« FRE E » REPRO DUCTI ON NATU RAL MATIN G FRESH & COOL ED SEME N FROZE N SEME N STALLION AVAILABILITY: +++ ++ + 0 PHYSICAL RISKS: ++ ++ 0 0 BIOLOGICALS RISKS: +++ +++ 0 0 MARE MANAGEMENT: 0 + ++ +++ COSTS FOR STALLION

MANAGEMENT: 0 + ++ +++ PROLIFICITY: 0 + ++ +++ SEMEN LIFESPAN 48h 48h 48/24h 12h