NEWS
Readying mares for the breeding season
Posted: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 3:33 PM
by Cynthia McFarland
Breeding season arrives close on the heels of the new year. By taking proactive steps now, owners can ensure that their mares have the best opportunity to get in foal—and stay in foal.
A filly or mare who has been retired from racing ideally should have a minimum of 60 days at the farm before breeding so she can let down and acclimate to the different lifestyle and routine.
“I like to have maiden mares under lights starting December 1 because it will help them cycle regularly,” said Joe Yocum, D.V.M., a practicing veterinarian based in Danville, Kentucky. “If you get a maiden mare [after that], many will cycle on their own, but you can go ahead and put her under lights now.”
Before the breeding season, a maiden mare should be examined by a veterinarian and palpated to be sure there are no abnormalities in the uterus and ovaries.
The routine may differ somewhat with a barren mare, depending on why she is barren. Most veterinarians will want to do a palpation exam, culture, and cytology.
“I like to culture a barren mare in the fall so I can get a good profile on her uterine health,” Yocum said. “If there is any bacterial infection, I can treat her with appropriate antibiotics before breeding season. If the mare is barren because she aborted, it’s especially important to do a biopsy.”
All mares—whether maiden, barren, or pregnant—should be in good body condition (neither too fat, nor too thin), and up-to-date on deworming, dental care, and vaccinations. Most breeding sheds have specific vaccinations a mare must have before arriving. For example, most Kentucky stallion farms require mares to be vaccinated for equine herpes virus (EHV-1). This should be done no less than two weeks before breeding so the mare’s body has time to build up immunity.
Yocum notes that a strong, healthy immune system is critical for a mare to get in foal, carry that foal to term and for it to develop properly. To this end, some mare owners use stem cell activation to revitalize the immune system.
MediVet, the world’s largest animal stem cell company, has developed SGF1000 Biological Breeding, a product specifically designed to improve reproductive problems by taking advantage of the healing properties of all-natural growth factors and peptide proteins. SGF 1000 is a formulated combination of growth factors, peptides selected proteins, and signaling molecules obtained from ovine placental extract.
Veterinarians using SGF 1000 have found that, for best results, the product should be used four to eight weeks before a mare is bred. This is because stem cell activation stimulates the cellular structure of the follicle. SGF 1000 has an activation period of four weeks, during which stem cells continue to proliferate and new cells, which need to be activated, are constantly being produced.
SGF 1000 also has been shown to increase stallion fertility by improving sperm viability and motility, as well as boosting the overall immune system.
SGF 1000 Biological Breeding contains no drugs or chemicals, and is administered by a veterinarian using intravenous injection. It can be used year-round or just during breeding season. For more information about special pricing programs, contact MediVet at 859-885-7111.
Cynthia McFarland is a Thoroughbred Times correspondent
