Breeding Methods

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Breeding Methods
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Breeding Methods

• The first references to artificial insemination
  (AI) in the horse supposedly was reported as
  early as 1322.
• Standardbred industry has employed widespread use
  of AI since the early 1950s.

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Breeding Methods

• Many other breed registries also allow the use of
  AI.
• Only three registries in the US do not permit the
  use of AI.
• These are the
• Jockey Club (Thoroughbreds)
• Standard Jack and Jennet Registry of America
• American Miniature Horse Association

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Breeding Methods

• Advantages
• Dividing an ejaculate into several insemination
  doses
• permits more efficient use of stallion semen.
• Several can be inseminated with single ejaculate.
• No. of mares booked to a stallion each year can
  be increased.

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Breeding Methods

• The additions of antibiotics to seminal extenders
  reduces venereal transmission of bacterial
  diseases to the mare where the stallion serves as
  a carrier.
• Seminal extenders contain supportive and
  protective factors for spermatozoa and may
  improve pregnancy rates of some subfertile
  stallions.
• AI can be use to reinforce natural service when
  stallion is injured or valuable.

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Breeding Methods

• Use of a breeding phantom for seminal collection
  greatly reduces the risk of injury to the
  stallion.
• Seminal collection allows and opportunity to
  evaluate seminal quality and assist in the
  detection of infertility problems.
• The availability of stallion semen is increased
  for mare owners.

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Breeding Methods

• Disadvantages
• A high level of knowledge and skill are necessary
  for success in an AI program.
• The cost of necessary equipment and supplies is
  also increased and the risk of human injury may
  be greater during the collection period.

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Breeding Methods

• Seminal collection
• Breeding Shed
• Artificial Vaginas
• CSU model
• Missouri model
• Japanese Model
• Factors to consider when purchasing AV
• Cost
• Maintain temperature
• Maintenance requirements
• Ease of handling

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Semen Collection
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Breeding Methods

• Preparation of the stallion
• Mount sources
• Live mare
• Breeding phantom
• General semen handling techniques
• Insemination timing and frequency

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Breeding Methods

• Insemination Dose (Sperm number)
• Typically, mares in an AI program are inseminated
  w/ 250 to 500 million progressively motile
  spermatozoa from stallions.
• Under ideal conditions, the insemination dose may
  be reduced to 100 million PMS w/o reducing
  fertility when using semen from a fertile
  stallion.

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Breeding Methods

• Insemination Volume
• Typical insemination volumes for extended equine
  semen range from 10 to 25 mL.
• In V desired number of pms
• (sperm conc.) ( percent pms)

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Breeding Methods

• Insemination Procedure
• Mare in stock
• Prepare semen
• Wash mare
• Obtain the semen
• Inseminate the mare

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Breeding Methods

• Natural Service
• The Jockey Club regulations state that any foal
  that is the product of either AI or embryo
  transfer is not eligible for registration.
• In order to be eligible for registration, a foal
  must be the result of a stallions natural
  service of a mare (which is the physical mounting
  of the mare by a stallion).

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Breeding Methods

• Working under this directive, the Thoroughbred
  breeding shed manager must be cognizant of
• timeliness of the breeding
• concerned with mares and stallions conduct
• prevention of disease

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Breeding Methods

• Mare Reception
• right mare to right stallion
• identification and paper work
• imported mares bred last
• veterinary certificate
• uterine culture

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Breeding Methods

• Teasing
• important to tease every mare after she arrives.
• adequate time must be allowed for the mare to
  respond.
• a good teasing stud is a must
• gentle
• vocal
• aggressive enough to continue to tease day in and
  day out.

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Breeding Methods

• In some instances, mares will not show estrus
  even after extensive teasing with the stallion.
• Some mares are merely passive while others are
  more adamant in their behaviors.
• In any case, the manager must ascertain whether
  the mare will allow herself to be covered by the
  stallion.

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Breeding Methods

• Preparation of the mare before breeding
• Tease and found receptive
• Tail needs to be wrapped
• External genitalia and perineal area washed
• Many sheds use mild soaps or just warm water to
  wash with

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Breeding Methods

• Evaluate the vulva
• relatively vertical vulvar lips
• little or no tilt
• good seal to prevent wind sucking or fecal
  contamination.
• Caslick operation
• Vulvar conformation changes
• yr to yr
• body weight and physical condition
• status

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Breeding Methods

• The breeding shed
• Breeding shed procedures
• mare led to breeding shed
• fitted with appropriate gear
• twitched
• breeding hobbles
• mare handler
• stallion handler
• extra breeding crew (tail, breeding roll,
  stallion)