The Mare Flashcards
What is a filly / mare?
*Mare = >4yo
*Filly = <4yo
What type of breeders are horses?
*Long day seasonal polyoestrus
What is the oestrus cycle of horses?
*21 day cycle
*Dioestrus = 16-17days
*Oestrus = 4-6 days - shorter later in the season
What is the size of an ovulatory follicle?
> 35mm
What is the transitional period?
Period of change from anoestrus to start cycling - around feb - March (6wks)
*Ovaries contain multiple small follicles = bunch of grapes -eventually regress
*Mares show no signs of oestrus + will not conceive
What drugs can be used to manipulate oestrus?
*Prostoglandin - oestrus in 3-5days (AE = sweating, diarrhoea + colic)
*Progestagens = suppress oestrus (PRID used off licence)
*Oestrogens = induce signs of oestrus but not true oestrus (maintaining Teaser mares for AI)
*Chorionic gonadotrophin - if there will induce dominant follicle to ovulate during oestrus within 24hrs
*Deslorelin (GnRH analogue) - given when follicle >30mm + induce ovulation within 48hrs
How can breeding period be brough forward?
*Use of artificial light over winter - provide 16hrs of light - mares ovulate 8-10weeks later
What can be used to suppress oestrus?
*Long term progestagens
*Intra-uterine devices
*Anti-GnRH vaccination
*Induce long term CL
*Put in foal
*Ovariectomy
When should you serve mares?
*24-48hours prior to ovulation
*If follicle >35mm + uterine oedema mates before mare ovulates
*Then give hCG to force ovulation
What are the signs of a mare in oestrus?
*Dominant follicle on one ovary
*Uterine oedema
*Soft oedematous cervix
*Behavioural signs of oestrus
Why should you scan 12-24 hours after mating?
*To see if mare has ovulated - if not mate again
*Check for only one ovulation (twins)
*Check for fluid in uterine lumen - post mating endometritis
What mechanisms prevent bacterial entry to womb?
*Vulval seal
*Vestibular seal
*Cervical competence
What classes as good perineal conformation?
*No more than 4cm of vulva above pelvic brim + no greater than 10degree slope of vulva
What is caslick’s vulvoplasty?
*Surgery to make vulva smaller
What are ovarian problems?
*Persistent CL
*Anovulatory follicles = prolonged oestrus
*Granulosa cell tumour
*Ovarian haematoma
