Equine Reproduction & breeding basics Flashcards
1
Q
What are problems with the equine breeding industry?
A
- in general, Eq are bred for looks & performance & NOT reproductive soundness (performance is heritable)
- vets are commonly presented w/ subfertile mares & stallions
- O’s may want to breed a horse w/ a heritable defect
2
Q
When does puberty occur in the mare?
A
- starts w/ 1st ovulation (12-24 months)
- nutrition, season, & stress play a role
- most can become pregnant as 2 year olds
- pregnancies in yearlings are not uncommon
- seasonally polyestrous
3
Q
what is pregnancy in the mare like?
A
- avg gestation is ~340 days
- must become pregnant w/in 20-30 days in order to maintain yearly reproduction
- singletons (twins = “disease”)
- ideal per cycle conception rates are 60-70% and per season pregnancy rates are 80-90% (not the average)
4
Q
How does parturition occur in the mare?
A
- rapid & v forceful
- stage 1: uterine contraction & cervical relaxation
- stage 2: fetal expulsion
- stage 3: fetal membrane expulstion
5
Q
What are the income sources for a breeding farm for horses?
A
- stallions
- mare care
- chute fees
- foals
6
Q
How to make money from stallions?
A
- stud fee paid by mare owner to breed to a particular stallion
- most offer ‘live foal’ guarantee
- value based on pedigree, performance record, & offspring performance record
7
Q
How to make money from mare care?
A
- board charged to mare owners to house & feed mares in for breeding
8
Q
what are chute fees?
A
- additional fee to mare owner
- sometimes charged to cover costs of natural service (hand breeding) on farm
- covers cost of semen collection & preparation when on farm AI is performed
- also used as a fee associated w/ shipped, cooled semen
9
Q
How are foals sold?
A
- sold as weanlings, yearlings, or in utero
- rule of thumb: asking price should be at least 2x stud fee
10
Q
How are foals marketed?
A
- word of mouth, yearling sales, auctions, internet, equine publications
11
Q
What are the expenditures of the breeding farm?
A
- FEED (largest expense)
- overhead
- wages
- advertising
- vet care (horses are subfertile & high value)
- advanced repro tech
