Stallions Flashcards
Why is a stallion typically selected
Based on records in their discipline and genetics
Not really fertility
Why do stallions influence the breed as a whole
They sire multiple foals per year
What is S&N
Standing and nursing which means as long as the foal stands and nurses the stallions breeders are no longer liable
What are drawbacks to farm owned stallions
Stallions purchase and promotions are costly
Special facilities and expert handling is required
Outside mares require additional facilities and labor
What is always necessary in a leasing situation
Contract between lessor and lessee
What is a situation in which it is more economically beneficial to have an outside stallion rather than owning one
When breeding only a few mares
Why do mares need to be approved for breeding
To ensure she is worth breeding to the stallion
What parts of the contract do mare owners need to understand
Live foal guarantee
Special color guarantee
Other guarantees
What is LFSN
Love foal stand nurse which means as long as the foal does this the contract is over
What is stallion syndication
A designated number of shares are sold and usually the shareholder is guaranteed a certain number of breedings to the stallion
Usually happens when the stallion is worth a lot and occurs before breeding season
Considered sophisticated contracts due to financial and tax consequences
True or false: any horse is able to be syndicated
True
What is an important aspect of stallion management
Providing social contact between stallions
Understanding reproductive physiology like examinations, semen evaluation, and medical history
What is the year end pregnancy rate
Number of mares pregnant at the end of the breeding season divided by total number of mares
Most breeders try for 85-90 percent to be pregnant at the end of the season
What are the three parameters that indicate stallion fertility
Cycles per pregnancy
First cycle pregnancy rate
Pregnancy rates per cycle
How much do stallion numbers drop in the winter
50-60 percent
What is a cycle per pregnancy
Number of cycles a mare is bred before she becomes pregnant
A value under two cycles is acceptable
What is first cycle pregnancy
Percentage of mares bred that become pregnant on the first cycle of the season
Acceptable rate is 65-70 percent
What is the pregnancy rate per cycle
Pregnancy rate for all cycles combined
Determined by dividing number of pregnancies by total number of cycles the mares are bred
Acceptable value is between 60-65 percent and
What might cause low pregnancy rates
Overuse
Too many subfertile mares
Poor management
Stallion infertility j
What is a BSE
Breeding soundness exam where you collect reproductive and health history
Perform physical exam using palpation and ultrasound
Collect 2 ejaculated one hour apart to evaluate semen
What are trends we want to see in semen collection
High motility and strong structure
High concentration and total sperm count
Increased longevity if sperm
Volume will be dependent on season and sexual preparation but that is not a main component in ejaculation
What is the relationship between volume and concentration
As volume increases concentration decrease and visa versa
Not really concerned with volume though
Why is it important to check the testicles in a BSE
If healthy they will produce more sperm
If damaged they will affect sperm count
What should you do if shipping semen
Add extenders and evaluate motility over 48-72 hours
What must be done to stallion before breeding and before a stallion can become a breeder what must happen
He must be calibrated which is measured in cm and he must learn how to be a breeder
What can cause infertility
Testicular degeneration which is usually age related
Human management factors
Why is it important to wait 60 days after vaccination to breed a stallion
Takes about 60 days for sperm to be fully matured and produced
Horses can have reaction to vaccines and get fever which affects sperm development
Why is obesity a problem with fertility
Fat tissue insulates the testicles and can be found in scrotum
In young stallions what is needed to be done to ensure he becomes a proper breeding stallion
Proper handling required for normal sexual behavior and to learn how to mount and ejaculate at correct time
Why should you not breed a stallion before the age of three
Horses don’t fully mature until five
They must gave a track record or prove themselves worthy, not necessarily about fertility
What is puberty based on
Sperm count and motility
What happens to older stallions
Can lose sperm producing ability
Can have age related problems like arthritis
Breeding schedule will decrease
What are disadvantages of pasture breeding
Not knowing exactly when mare conceived
Difficult to predict foal date
Risk of injury but not to reproductive system
What are advantages of pasture breeding
Less labor expensive
Most natural form of breeding
True or false: ALL horses should be without shoes in a pasture breeding
True
How should you introduce horses for pasture breeding
Introduce mares together and then introduce stallion
If a new mare needs to be introduced, remove the stallion first then add the new mare
How long should a stallion stay in the pasture for and how many mares can be with a single stallion
For 2 heat cycles
Between 20-25 but can be as high as 40
How long should a stallion stay in the pasture for and how many mares can be with a single stallion
For 2 heat cycles
Between 20-25 but can be as high as 40
How many people are needed for hand breeding
At least 2
Very controlled
What are mares exposed to before they breed
A teaser stallion, usually any breed, before she goes into breeding shed
What are disadvantages of hand breeding
Limited to distance and possible injury to horses and handlers
Risk spreading disease
Mare might not be most fertile
What are advantages of hand breeding
Less expensive than AI
How does AI work
Semen collected and cooled or frozen of mare ovulated 12 hours before or 6 hours after insemination
What is accepted breeding dosage for AI and what is shelf life of chilled semen
500 million progressive motile sperm
Three days or less
What are disadvantages of AI
Need reproductive specialists
Expensive
What are advantages of AI
Safe for horses
Stallions can cover more mares and maintain show schedule
