Breeding and Reproduction

Horse breeding from planning through foal care

Foal Reduction Slows, But Percentage Still High

The rate of reduction in foal losses in Kentucky is slowing, but it is still staggering. The latest figures from The Jockey Club show 32.4 percent less foals dropped in Kentucky this year through April 3 compared with a year ago. In an earlier

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Some NY Farms Experiencing Foaling Problems

Some New York breeding farms have experienced an unusual number of foaling problems so far this breeding season, and slightly higher incidences of sickness and herpesvirus abortions. There is evidence to suggest a slight connection between the

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Straightening Crooked Legs

It is not unusual for foals to be born with some level of angular limb deformity, but this becomes a problem when the deformity is severe and doesn’t self-correct quickly. If the deviation is relatively minor, it might be resolved with stall

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Evaluating Reproductive Health in Mares

The reproductive system of the horse has evolved over time with specific protective functions that are necessary for fertility. The horse and pig are the only domestic animals in which semen is deposited directly into the uterus, in contrast to

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Risk of Equine Viral Arteritis from Imported Stallions

Equine arteritis virus (EAV) causes a flu-like illness in adult horses called equine viral arteritis, and is responsible for abortion in mares and pneumonia in foals. Stallions can be become persistently infected and shed the virus in their

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Ground vs. Breeding Mount Semen Collection

We have show pony breeding stallions, and as of last year are doing almost all shipped semen. This year we are seriously thinking about expanding our business to offer semen collection and shipping services for outside stallions, which will

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Solving Health Problems Through Genetics

The solution to health and soundness problems facing horses might be as close as the horse itself. Laminitis, colic, respiratory disease, and even joint problems could be prevented or treated using genetics. At the Blue Ribbon Horse Genome

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Spring Syndromes Theories

A meeting of the Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners on March 7 brought together six of the leading researchers/investigators dealing with mare reproductive loss and other syndromes seen in the spring of 2001 in central Kentucky and

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Scientists Sequence Genome

According to Reuters Health news, Japanese scientists recently announced that they have sequenced the genome of Clostridium perfringens. The anaerobic (active in the absence of oxygen) pathogen is widely recognized as being a causal

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Fescue Field Management

It is estimated that 35 million acres of United States pasture are planted with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), and roughly 700,000 horses graze these fescue pastures. This plant is a cool-season plant, so it grows in cooler climates,

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Smaller Horses, Bigger Reproductive Problems

Big gifts come in small packages. That’s a fine sentiment when it comes to presents, but when it refers to miniature horse reproduction, that big gift/small package combo can be a little tough on the mare. It’s not so great for the foal, either.

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Thoroughbred Pedigrees Show Little Genetic Diversity

More than 95% of Thoroughbreds share the same paternal lineage, and almost half of the genetic makeup of the breed can be attributed to just 10 foundation horses. These facts are just a few of the recent findings brought to light by a research

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Foal Urination and Defecation

The first urination in foals typically occurs within the first six hours for females and the first twelve hours for males. Like defecation, the first urination in foals very often occurs soon after the first nursing.

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