Reproductive medicine is an important focus of our veterinary practice. We offer comprehensive on-farm reproductive services and care under the management of Dr. Allossery. Our goal is to maximize your mare’s reproductive efficiency and make breeding your mare as easy and successful as possible. Though it may sound cliché, breeding a mare takes a team effort – and owners have a role to play.
Depending on your level of knowledge and interest, we’ll walk you through each step of the breeding and reproduction process, from ultrasounds during estrusovulation and pregnancy to examination of your newborn foal.
The following are some of the components in our process from breeding through birth and beyond:
Mare Management
- Determining optimal breeding time through the use of rectal palpation and transrectal ultrasound
- Pregnancy diagnosis and ultrasound monitoring
- Artificial insemination (cooled, shipped semen; frozen semen)
- Uterine culture and cytology
- Low-volume uterine lavage
- Uterine tissue biopsies
- Early twin reduction
- Breeding soundness examinations
Neonatal Care
- Foaling assistance
- Mare and foal post-foaling examination
- Neonatal foal management and preventative healthcare
- Diagnosis of “failure of passive transfer”
- Hyperimmune plasma
Artificial Insemination Timeline
Artificial insemination starts with determining when your mare will be coming into heat. This is usually done by teasing the mare or through an initial reproductive ultrasound examination. Once the mare is in heat, she’ll need to be followed closely to predict the time of ovulation. Generally speaking, a mare will be in heat for 7 days, typically ovulating in the last 48 hours of this period.
Fresh, chilled semen. When fresh, chilled semen is used, the semen needs to be inserted into the mare prior to ovulation. Although good quality semen is generally viable within the uterus for up to 48 hours, timing the insemination as close as possible to ovulation will produce the best results.
Frozen semen. When frozen semen is used, the mare needs to be inseminated within 4 to 6 hours after ovulation. Additionally, much more frequent ultrasound monitoring is required.
Once the mare is bred, medications are often administered to ensure ovulation. The mare is checked for pregnancy 14 to 16 days after ovulation to facilitate easier twin reduction, if necessary.
GOOD LUCK!
