Fertility

Carnitine is vital for energy production in horses, helping convert fat into usable fuel by transporting fatty acids into cell mitochondria. It supports high-energy tissues like muscle and heart. Horses naturally produce carnitine, but dietary sources like meat and dairy...

During fetal development, the testicles form near the kidneys and gradually descend into the scrotum through a passage called the inguinal canal. In some cases, this descent is incomplete, resulting in one or both testicles being retained within the abdomen...

A Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE) aims to evaluate your stallion’s overall health, reproductive anatomy, ability to perform in the breeding shed, and semen quality. This exam ensures your stallion is [...]

The reproductive performance of broodmares holds significant importance within the equine industry. Achieving optimal pregnancy rates is critical for both the profitability of breeding operations and the holistic well-being of mares and foals. Many different factors can affect mare fertility,...

Despite ongoing advances in equine husbandry and veterinary care, achieving a full-term pregnancy in mares can be challenging. The foaling success rate is often measured below 60%, underscoring the complexities involved in equine reproduction. Breeding Soundness Exams (BSEs) are critical...

Contagious equine metritis (CEM) is a bacterial infection in horses caused by Taylorella equigenitalis. CEM is highly contagious and primarily spreads through venereal transmission and contact with contaminated breeding equipment. CEM is characterized by severe inflammation of the reproductive tract...

Enlarged ovaries are frequently observed in mares, especially those used for breeding. This enlargement often stems from an ovarian cyst. In most instances, these cysts are benign and resolve spontaneously, typically not affecting the mare’s fertility. However, it’s crucial for...

Estrus manipulation involves altering the natural course of the mare’s reproductive cycle to support breeding program goals. Breeders may choose to manipulate the estrous cycle in order to increase the length of the breeding season, maximize chances of pregnancy after...

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are breeding techniques used to produce foals from subfertile mares and stallions. Some techniques, such as oocyte transfer, are primarily used for mares who are unable to carry a pregnancy to term or even produce embryos...

Natural service, or live cover, is a common breeding method in the horse industry in which a stallion and mare physically mate. This method is relatively inexpensive and requires less personnel involvement than artificial insemination. Breeders can choose between pasture...

Embryo transfer (ET) is an advanced reproductive technology that allows breeders to produce multiple offspring from a single mare in a given year. This procedure involves taking an embryo from a donor mare, and depositing it in the uterus of...

Semen collection and evaluation is an important component of standing a stallion at stud. Semen collection for a breeding soundness evaluation allows owners to estimate how many mares their stallion can service in a year, determine overall semen quality, and...

Endometritis is a condition involving inflammation of the uterine lining, and is a very common cause of infertility in broodmares. Mares with endometritis develop fibrosis and inflammation that prevent embryonic development, resulting in failure to conceive or early embryonic loss....

Placentitis is a common cause of foal loss and neonatal sepsis in horses. Mares with multiple previous foals, older mares, and mares with poor perineal conformation are most at risk of developing placentitis. Most cases of placentitis arise from bacteria...