The oestrus cycle Flashcards
Official recognised TB birth date
January 1st
Official TB covering/breeding season
Feb 15th to July 15th
Distinct breeding season UK
April to October
Seasonal periods of the year WRT oestrus
Breeding season April-October
Period of sexual quiescence, anoestrous November-March
Transitional phase (Spring oestrus)
Main extero-receptive factors to renewed ovarian cyclicity
- Increasing daylight
- Increasing ambient temperature
- Increasing food supply
- Pheromonal effect of the stallion
How long does the oestrus cycle last
21-23 days
How long does oestrus (follicular phase) last
2-4 days
How long does dioestrus
(luteal phase) last
15-17 days in peak breeding season but up to several weeks during transitional phase
How long after foaling is mare ready to start first oestrous cycle
7-9 days
Oestrus (follicular phase)
Very variable
Prolonged in spring and autumn, shortest mid-season
Uterine wall is flaccid and oedematous
Relaxation of the cervix - moist, pink/red
Dioestrus (luteal phase)
Less variable
High incidence of spontaneous prolongation in the abscence of pregnancy
Aggressive, ears back, squealing, striking, kicking at stallion
increased tone in the uterine wall as the uterus prepares for implantation
Cervix closes and if firm, dry, and pale pink/white
Ovulation
Cohort of 8-12 follicles of >1cm develop
Most regress by atresia
Mature follicle of 4-5cm ovulates
Rate of twin ovulations in TBs
20-25%
Twin conception rate
5-8%
Changes inducing cyclicity from anoestrous
- Melatonin secretion from pineal gland decreases in response to daylight length
- Increased pulsatile secretions of GnRH from hypothalamus
- Stimulates release of FSH and/or LH from pituitary
- FSH released in 10-12 day episodic surges throughout breeding season stimulates follicular growth
- Developing follicles produce oestrogen and inhibin
- Rising blood [oestrogen] stimulates pituitary to produce LH
- LH stimulates maturation of follicles and ova to ovulation
- Progesterone secreted by the CL
- Falling blood oestrogen and rising progesterone levels responsible for dioestrus behaviour
- Falling inhibin levels stimulate production of FSH and so more follicles develop
- About 14 days after ovulation endometrial glands produce PGF2a which cause luteolysis and destroy CL so progesterone levels fall - end of dioestrus
What does melatonin do
Inhibits the release of GnRH from the hypothalamus
When is the peak concentration of LH
1-2 days after ovulation
When is the peak concentration of oestrogen in the blood
1-2 days before ovulation
What is oestrogen mainly secreted as
Oestradiol-17B
When do levels of progesterone peak
As early as 5 days after ovulation
Fall sharply during days 14-16 due to uterine prostaglandin F2a
Prolonged spring oestrus
In transitional phase
Often maidens
Erratic or persistent oestrus behaviour for many weeks before ovulation
Probably insufficient release of LH from the partially awakened pituitary