Horse Breeding Procedures and Management By: Anthony Watson

First Examine Mare before breeding Age Age __________ __________ Conformation Conformation Disposition Disposition Hereditary disorders Hereditary disorders ______________ ______________ Nutrition Nutrition

Problems that may exist? Look for abnormal ________ (blood or pus from vagina) Look for abnormal ________ (blood or pus from vagina) Mares affected with skin disease and parasites Mares affected with skin disease and parasites Mares suffering from high fevers, strangles, ________, shipping fever, and pneumonia Mares suffering from high fevers, strangles, ________, shipping fever, and pneumonia Mares that have recently suffered from retained afterbirth Mares that have recently suffered from retained afterbirth Mares that have suffered lacerations in foaling Mares that have suffered lacerations in foaling Mare that stay in heat Mare that stay in heat Mares that are extremely _____ or ____ Mares that are extremely _____ or ____ Mares that have severe unsoundness that is __________ Mares that have severe unsoundness that is __________ Mares that have uterine infections Mares that have uterine infections Mares should have access to adequate _____ and _____ Mares should have access to adequate _____ and _____ –(Most of the above also apply to the _______)

Breeding Procedures Natural _______ (Pasture Mating and Hand Mating) Natural _______ (Pasture Mating and Hand Mating) Artificial Insemination (AI) Artificial Insemination (AI) _______ __________ _______ __________ Cloning (New technology) Cloning (New technology)

Natural Service Mare Serviced by Stallion Naturally Mare Serviced by Stallion Naturally Mare must be in estrus to __________ Mare must be in estrus to __________ At times natural service is hard to manage, especially when _____ and ________ are kept separate (Hand Mating) At times natural service is hard to manage, especially when _____ and ________ are kept separate (Hand Mating) Natural Service could be dangerous if the two are kept together (_______ ______) Natural Service could be dangerous if the two are kept together (_______ ______)

Hand Mating The best way to breed mares The best way to breed mares –Allows breeder to record ______ dates and _______ _______ dates –Guards against ______ to both the stallion and mare –Helps prevent ________ transfer

Pasture Mating What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Artificial Insemination ______ must be collected ______ must be collected Breeding can take place without the stallion present Breeding can take place without the stallion present Safer for mare, stallion, and horse owner Safer for mare, stallion, and horse owner Disease transfer is __________ Disease transfer is __________ _______ dates and _______ dates are noted _______ dates and _______ dates are noted __ __________ needed or the horse owner needs to be certified __ __________ needed or the horse owner needs to be certified Easy way to select and use good _________ Easy way to select and use good _________

AI Procedures

AI Tools

Embryo Transfer Most commonly done in cattle but can be done in horses. Most commonly done in cattle but can be done in horses. _____ are flushed from animals, then placed in recipient animals _____ are flushed from animals, then placed in recipient animals Flushed animal is known as the ______ animals and the recipient animal is the one in which the ________ egg is placed. Flushed animal is known as the ______ animals and the recipient animal is the one in which the ________ egg is placed. Eggs must be fertilized first before _________ Eggs must be fertilized first before _________ The eggs can be _______ or implanted The eggs can be _______ or implanted

Embryo Transfer Contd. Owner can choose the ____ of his/her animal Owner can choose the ____ of his/her animal

Cloning Producing genetically _______ individuals Producing genetically _______ individuals Done by splitting the embryo into ___ ______. Done by splitting the embryo into ___ ______. The other method is by taking an unfertilized egg and removing the ______ _______, then one cell removed from another embryo and fused into the unfertilized egg. The other method is by taking an unfertilized egg and removing the ______ _______, then one cell removed from another embryo and fused into the unfertilized egg.

Questions? Any questions or comments on breeding methods? Any questions or comments on breeding methods?

Pregnancy of the Mare Give Proper ________ (May need to house away from other horses) Give Proper ________ (May need to house away from other horses) Keep providing regular ______ and ____ care Keep providing regular ______ and ____ care –Shoes should be removed a couple weeks before foaling to protect foal Mare should continue to receive ________ Mare should continue to receive ________ Control Parasites by what? Control Parasites by what? Vaccination Program Vaccination Program

Vaccination of the Pregnant Mare Rhinopneumonitis Vaccination – infect the __________ tract of the animal and can cause abortion. Rhinopneumonitis Vaccination – infect the __________ tract of the animal and can cause abortion. _________ _________ Influenza (4 weeks prior to foaling) Influenza (4 weeks prior to foaling) Vet may recommend vaccinations for strangles, _____, anthrax,etc. Vet may recommend vaccinations for strangles, _____, anthrax,etc. –Consult vet over your pregnant mare

Abortion ________ – the expulsion of the fetus at any point prior to the time the foal can survive out of the uterus ________ – the expulsion of the fetus at any point prior to the time the foal can survive out of the uterus Can occur as late as the 10 th month Can occur as late as the 10 th month Estimated that __-__% of equine pregnancy ends up in abortion Estimated that __-__% of equine pregnancy ends up in abortion

Abortion Contd. Abortion can be caused by infectious diseases or noninfectious diseases Abortion can be caused by infectious diseases or noninfectious diseases There are several infectious diseases that can cause abortions that we will discuss at a later time if possible. There are several infectious diseases that can cause abortions that we will discuss at a later time if possible. Noninfectious Causes Noninfectious Causes -______________ -______________

Signs of Approaching Parturition __-__ weeks away – udder starting to distend from body __-__ weeks away – udder starting to distend from body __-__ days – muscular shrinkage or falling away at top of buttocks near tailhead __-__ days – muscular shrinkage or falling away at top of buttocks near tailhead __-__ days – teats are beginning to hold milk __-__ days – teats are beginning to hold milk __-__ days – wax on the end of the teats __-__ days – wax on the end of the teats –Vulva starts to become swollen and loose looking

Waxing of Teats

Signs of Approaching Parturition Hours away – milk may leak from teats, _________, sweating, urinating frequently, lie down and get up several times, biting at the sides of the ______, switching of the tail Hours away – milk may leak from teats, _________, sweating, urinating frequently, lie down and get up several times, biting at the sides of the ______, switching of the tail –Foaling can take place ______ with sometimes showing no signs, be prepared 30 days in advance

Preparing for the Foaling Process 1 month before foaling – ___________ __________ 1 month before foaling – ___________ __________ 7-10 days before – locate a place for the ______ 7-10 days before – locate a place for the ______ –_____, ____, and away from other animals –If using a stall disinfect the stall with lye water –Make sure stall has plenty of _____ bedding

The “Big Day” 1. ________ of the chorioallantois (water bag) which causes a large amount of fluid to be passed out the vagina. 2. Next you will see the _______ (inner membrane) surrounding the foal. 3. During a normal birth the foal will be coming ______ _____ first with their heels down followed by the nose

The “Big Day” Process should not take more than ___ minutes. Process should not take more than ___ minutes. Most mares do foal lying down but some will choose to stand Most mares do foal lying down but some will choose to stand If a mare does not make adequate progress or you see that the foal is coming backwards you should contact the ___________ immediately If a mare does not make adequate progress or you see that the foal is coming backwards you should contact the ___________ immediately

The “Big Day” If you see the mare is making __ ______ and the veterinarian cannot be reached you need to provide assistance to the foal and mare. If you see the mare is making __ ______ and the veterinarian cannot be reached you need to provide assistance to the foal and mare. –Make sure your process is clean, quiet, gentle, and you apply what knowledge you have

The “Big Day” If ________ is delayed the fetus often dies from twisting or knotting of the _______ cord. If ________ is delayed the fetus often dies from twisting or knotting of the _______ cord. –This stops fetal circulation or lack of ______ to the fetus or both

After the Foal is born Check for ________ and that all membranes have been removed away from the foals _______ and mouth Check for ________ and that all membranes have been removed away from the foals _______ and mouth –If the foal is not breathing you may need to apply artificial respiration. Dip _______ with iodine/water solution Dip _______ with iodine/water solution Make sure foal receives colostrum 30 minutes to __ hours after birth Make sure foal receives colostrum 30 minutes to __ hours after birth

After the Foal is born The _______ (afterbirth) should be expelled as soon as the mare gets up. The _______ (afterbirth) should be expelled as soon as the mare gets up. –If placenta is not shed it should be tied to the mare’s tail so that it is not stepped on by the mare or foal. The mare should shed it no longer than __ hours after foaling, if she has not shed the placenta call the vet. The vet will more than likely administer _________.

After the Foal is born Feed the mare _______ for the first few days. Feed the mare _______ for the first few days. –Rule of thumb – ½ normal amount Administer luke warm water at low levels _____ times throughout the day not allowing her to gorge. Administer luke warm water at low levels _____ times throughout the day not allowing her to gorge. Stall should be lightly cleaned after birth. Stall should be lightly cleaned after birth. Lastly, make sure the foal has a bowel movement within __-__ hrs. after birth Lastly, make sure the foal has a bowel movement within __-__ hrs. after birth

After the Foal is born Hopefully, you now have a healthy mare and foal after ___ days of work and careful management. Hopefully, you now have a healthy mare and foal after ___ days of work and careful management.