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Improving Breeding
These pages are an opportunity to communicate and discuss practical measures and/or specific research ideas that have been suggested at the Colloquium for Equine Reproduction meeting or on this website. Each research topic has it’s own page and is outlined in the ‘Description’ sub-page. If you would like to help or make suggestions please use the 'Contact us' tab to get in touch
Facebook page for equine reproduction discussion
Get involved with equine reproduction related discussions and latest news. The page is run by Equine-Reproduction.com, who provide breeding and consulting services in the USA and Europe, to provide advice in relation to breeding-related queries, news of upcoming events and handy fact sheets to explain the science underlying a range of breeding practices. You can find the site here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EquineRepro/
Mare Record Improvements
One of the discussion points raised repeatedly at the Colloquium for Equine Reproduction Meeting 2010 was the poor regulation and provision of accurate documentation.
Mares sent to stud are often not accompanied with detailed documentation that states previous breeding history, reproductive and health status, which may assist the stud in successfully managing an individuals clinical programme to facilitate positive pregnancy outcome. The suggested solution was to design and promote the use of a standardised mare breeding record for use by veterinarians, whereby essential information, such as BCS, outcomes of previous coverings, double or single ovulations, extent of uterine fluid accumulation etc., can be documented. The form may travel with the mare, along with her passport, to stud where the attending manager/veterinarian can utilise the information to inform tailored and best practice. Of course, such a record could not be enforced industry-wide, however, should a record by devised, it may be disseminated to breeders and veterinarians attending the Colloquium for Equine Reproduction. Those willing to trial its use over the ensuing breeding season could be invited to a future Colloquium to present their experience of using the form. The intention would be that by reporting on the advantages (and identifying the disadvantages for improvement) in a public forum, the practice would be promoted and adopted by an increasing population of breeders and veterinarians.
Now available: Mrs Anne Brown of Gadebrook Stud, has kindly donated a breeding record that her veterinary surgeon has used to monitor her mares previously. This breeding record has been adapted and updated and is now available to download free by clicking on the following icon. Many thanks indeed Anne...
If you use the breeding record, please do use the ‘Contact us’ page to send any feedback. Comments and suggestions always very welcome
Documentation accompanying semen deliveries
Accurate documentation accompanying semen deliveries was also highlighted at CFER 2010. One delegate at the meeting described a frustrating experience when receiving frozen semen from overseas which, on arrival and subsequent laboratory examination, was deemed useless. Although the fresh semen had been examined at the source as being of suitable quality before freezing, no subsequent examination post-thaw was performed by the suppliers and no documentation accompanied the inseminate to attest to its quality. Individuals suggested that legal documentation which states that frozen semen from an individual stallion has successfully resulted in a pregnancy and a post-thaw semen analysis would be great progress.