Equine MOD Flashcards
When you passport a horse what else must you do?
Microchip it
Does a foal need a passport if it’s being sold before it’s 6 months old?
No but the new owner has 30 days to get one
When does a foal under 6 months need a passport?
Export without its mum or sent for slaughter
Where is a microchip inserted?
Nuchal ligament, left hand side of neck
By when must a horse have a passport?
By the time its 6 months old or by 31st December of the year it’s born (whichever is latest)
How does the caudal maxillary sinus communicate with the frontal sinus? (horse)
Via the frontomaxillary sinus
Where do the rostral maxillary sinus and ventral conchal sinus drain?
Into middle meatus of nasal cavity via nasomaxillary aperture
Horses have a huge reservoir of RBCs where?
What causes RBCs to leave here and enter systemic circulation?
Spleen
At rest, 1/3 of RBCs are here
Exercise/stress -> adrenaline -> spleen contracts -> RBCs enter circulation. PCV can increase from 30-40% to 50-70% at maximum exercise
Where do the rostral and caudal maxillary sinus’ drain?
Middle meatus
Define a mare
A female horse 4 or more years old
What kind of breeder is a mare?
When is the breeding season?
A long day, seasonally polyoestrus breeder
(Most mares are in anoestrus over winter)
Increasing day length -> breeding season lasts from spring to late summer
A ‘transitional period’ of irregular cycling occurs at the start and end of the season
When does puberty occur in the mare?
Between 12 and 24 months
Cycling occurs for rest of life (although fertility may decline)
How long is the oestrus cycle in a horse?
How long does oestrus last?
When does dioestrus occur?
Cycle: 21 days
Oestrus: 4-6 days (ovulates in the last 25-48 hrs
Dioestrus: 16-17
Describe the oestrus cycle of a mare
Dioestrus: waves of follicles develop, reaching 25mm in size, then regress.
When hormonal conditions are correct, one follicle develops into a ‘dominant’ follicle -> produces oestrogens which induce oestrus
When it reaches >35mm -> ovulates
Oestrus ends within 24 hrs after ovulation
Ovulation site becomes corpus haemorrhagicum then corpus luteum (which produces progesterone)
The CL is refractory to effects of prostaglandins for 3-4 days after formation. After 15 days, endometrium releases prostaglandin -> luteolysis
What stimulates initial growth of follicles during dioestrus?
FSH
What stimulates oocyte and follicle maturation and ovulation during oestrus?
LH
What is the ‘transitional period’ during the reproductive cycle?
A period of change from anoestrus to regular cyclical activity
Lasts up to 6 weeks
Ovaries possess multiple small follicles 10-25mm diameter (‘bunch of grapes’)
Transitional follicles don’t ovulate and eventually regress
Mares show no sign of oestrus/behaviour
Mares mated now will not conceive (as there are no dominant follicles)
Eventually one follicle will develop properly and oestrus cycle will commence
Similar period happens when mares pass into anoestrus from oestrus (Autumn)
How can we manipulate oestrus using prostaglandins?
Induce luteolysis in CL
Oestrus will commence 3-5 days post injection
Side effects: transient colic, sweating, diarrhoea
How can we manipulate oestrus using progestagens?
Suppress oestrus
Withdrawal of treatment leads to rebound of ovarian activity; useful in shortening Spring transitional period
Intra-vaginal devices (PRID) sometimes used off-license
How can we manipulate oestrus using oestrogen?
Induce behavioural signs of oestrus (not true oestrus)
Only useful for maintaining ‘teaser mares’ for AI collection
How can we manipulate oestrus using chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG)?
If given during oestrus, will induce the dominant follicle (>35mm) to ovulate within 24 hours
How can we manipulate oestrus using Deslorelin (GnRH analogue)?
Hormone implant given sub-cut when follicle >30mm - should induce ovulation within 48hrs
How can we use light to manipulate oestrus?
Breeding season can be brought forward by using artificial light over winter
16hrs of light and 8 hrs dark from 2-4 weeks before Winter solstice
Light intensity important-should be able to read newspaper in darkest part of stable
Mares start to ovulate 8-10 weeks later
When should you serve a mare and why?
24-48 hours prior to ovulation
Oestrus behaviour ceases within 24hrs of ovulation-no longer receptive to stallion
Unfertilised oocyte viable for only 12 hrs post-ovulation
Spermatozoa viable for up to 48 hrs once in mare, take hours to reach oviduct
Mares served after ovulation have very poor conception rates