Equine Breeding Management Flashcards
What is the goal birthdate of racehorses? How is this most commonly reached?
January 1st
advance transitional or ovulatory periods from April to February to have mares pregnancy by February or March (~340 days of gestation)
How is photoperiod manipulated to get mares to delivery around January 1st? In what 2 ways is this done?
put mares under lights by December 1st
- stall - 16 hours of light (in effect by 60-70 days) or skeletal light exposure for 1-2 hours beginning 8-9.5 hours after the onset of darkness
- light mask - blue light directed in one eye for horses on pasture (Equilume)
What are 4 options for medically managing seasonal anestrus in horses?
- GnRH - administer BID-TID (response related to follicle size)
- hCG - induces large follicles to ovulate by mimicking an LH surge
- progesterone/progestin - synchronization, decreases LH (controversial)
- dopamine antagonists (Domperidone, Supriride)- increases plasma prolactin, acting directly on the ovary
What pre-treatment can potentiate dopamine antagonists effects?
estradiol
What are the 3 hormone treatments used to manipulate cycling mares? When are they used?
- PGF2a - 5-14 days after ovulation; induces luteolysis with missed insemination (will cause abortion in pregnant mares)
- GnRH. hCG - 20 days after ovulation; stimulates natural LH surge to induce an early round of ovulation
- PGF2a/oxytocin - evacuates fluid from endometritis and causes smooth muscle contraction
How is short-cycling performed in mares? What are the 2 most common options used? What timing is required?
use of luteolytic PGF2a to terminate the luteal phase before the normal release of endometrial PGF2a
- Dinoprost
- Clopostenol
> 5 days after ovulation - mare will be insensitive to a single dose any earlier while in early diestrus, but can still affect luteal function
What are 3 potential side effects to short cycling mares? How are the medications given?
- transient sweating
- abdominal cramping - SM contraction, looks like colic but is transient
- diarrhea
IM ONLY - VERY sensitive to IV due to reliance of systemic circulation to get PGF2a to the ovaries
What is required for inducing ovulation in mares? What are 2 options? When do each induce ovulation?
estrual mare with a follicle >30 mm diameter (large enough to ovulate)
- GnRH agonists (Deslorelin) - 40-42 hours
- hCG (LH-like action) - 36 hours, but has a larger average range —> not preferred
What is a possible side effect of using hCG to induce ovulation in mares?
human product may cause antibody formation that decreases effectiveness/efficiency
What 2 embolics can be used to manipulate equine estrous cycles? Why are they used?
- PGF2a - facilitate uterine clearance by stimulating myometrial contractions (Cloprostenol preferred due to longer half-life and less side effects)
- oxytocin - stimulates uterine smooth muscle contractions to evacuate uterine fluid (shorter half-life, 10-20 IU given SID-TID)
What 3 diseases are tested for before breeding horses?
- EIA
- Contagious equine metritis (CEM)
- EVA
(all can cause abortion!)
What are 2 options for natural cover breeding? What equipment is commonly used?
- bred on 2nd or 3rd day of estrus
- mated every other day until the mare is no longer receptive to the stallion
twitch, protective capes, neck apron, leg strap, Hobbles, kick boots, tail wrap, ovulation induction agent
What breed of horse only has one allowed way of assisted breeding? What is done?
Thoroughbred
reinforcement breeding - natural cover + aspiration of semen left in cranial vagina and insemination into uterus
Why is AI commonly performed for equine breeding programs?
- safety for stallions, mares, and personnel
- allows in-depth stallion management
- can pick from different mares
- allows horses for different regions to be used easily
What is the goal of using shipped-cooled semen for equine AI? What dose is used? When will managed ovulation occur?
one breeding per cycle
at least 500 million motile sperm cells (more if available!) - similar pregnancy rates compared to natural cover and fresh semen AI
within 24-48 hours after AI —> important for timing of semen delivery
How is shipped-cooled semen prepared before AI?
- diluted with semen extender to 25-50 million sperm/mL
- cooling rate of -0.3 C/min —> no need to warm before, used to minimize metabolic rate to keep sperm alive longer