Stud management involves the systematic and strategic breeding of horses to enhance desirable traits, maintain genetic diversity, and ensure the health and welfare of both mares and stallions. This practice encompasses a range of activities, including the selection of breeding pairs, monitoring of reproductive health, and management of breeding cycles. Key aspects of stud management include assessing genetic compatibility, managing nutrition and health care, and implementing breeding technologies such as artificial insemination or embryo transfer. Effective stud management requires a comprehensive understanding of equine genetics, reproductive physiology, and husbandry practices. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various facets of stud management, including genetic evaluation, reproductive technologies, and the impact of management practices on breeding outcomes.
Allen WR, Bowen JM, Frank CJ, Jeffcott LB, Rossdale PD.This short review article describes the various techniques currently available for artificial insemination in the horse. The collection and use of raw and extended semen is discussed together with the more recent developments in freezing semen. The expected conception rates with both fresh and frozen semen are quoted. The possible benefits in disease control and stud management are discussed, as well as the difficulties in controlling the use of A.I. from the Breed Registration Authorities point of view.
Jeffcott LB, Rossdale PD.The current knowledge of the clinical signs, epidemiology and pathogenesis of abortion due to the equid herpesvirus (EHV 1) is reviewed. The relationship between the respiratory and abortigenic forms of the disease is discussed as well as the low incidence of virus abortion in the UK compared to some other parts of the world. Some practical aspects of the disease as they affect stud management are considered including methods of diagnosis, prophylaxis and the necessary action to be taken to prevent spread of infection.
Sullivan JJ, Pickett BW.Approximately 1 week was required to stabilize the extragonadal sperm reserves in stallions ejaculated daily for 10 weeks. The true daily sperm output of a stallion was equal to the mean daily sperm output of seven ejaculates +/- 1-35 X 10(9) spermatozoa. Mean concentrations of spermatozoa/ml and number of spermatozoa/ejaculate were higher (P less than 0-01) for X1 and X3/week ejaculation frequencies than for a X6/week frequency. Sperm output/week was nearly identical for a X6/week frequency. Sperm output/week was nearly identical for the X3 and X6 frequencies and higher (P less than 0-01) tha...
van der Holst W.Season was shown to markedly influence semen characteristics of stallions in Holland, including ejaculate volume, sperm motility, total number of spermatozoa/ejaculate and the percentage of spermatozoa showing morphological abnormalities. Maintenance of normal stallions in continuous light during the winter months and administration of a vitamin and mineral supplement to sub-fertile stallions before the start of the breeding season appeared to improve spermatogenesis significantly.
Irwin CF.A total of 487 Standardbred and Thoroughbred mares at two studs were manually tested for pregnancy at 20 to 24, 30 to 34, and greater than 42 days after service and the abortion rate compared to that obtained in previous years when only the greater than 42-day test was performed. The results indicated that early manual pregnancy testing does not increase the abortion rate if undertaken carefully and enables non-pregnant mares to be re-mated earlier in the same season.
von Lepel J.A central control system for German Thoroughbred horses is described. Autumn examination of mares and stallions enables them to be classified according to breeding potential. The results of 25 years of study are reported.
Pascoe RR, Bagust TJ.Equine coital exanthema can be produced experimentally in stallions by inoculation with an equine herpesvirus (strain 65/61) and be transmitted during coitus with an infected mare. Serological responses to this infection include the production of complement-fixing and serum-neutralizing antibodies which reach maximum levels 14 to 21 days after infection. Complement-fixing antibodies decline rapidly and are usually not detectable by 60 days after infection, whereas serum-neutralizing antibody activity is maintained for at least 1 year. This disparity provides a useful method for the diagnosis o...
Osborne VE.Foaling figures for Thoroughbred mares in Australia show a puzzling disparity between conception and foaling rates in the second half of the 22 years of official data collection between 1950 and 1972. In the first 9 years of the survey, the live foal percentages rose in parallel with conception rates, but then a divergence of the figures occurred with the conception rate continuing to improve by 6-25% while the foaling rate improved by only 0-01% over the same period. An hypothesis supported by data from two studs is considered that stress factors additional to those experienced by mares in th...
Sullivan JJ, Turner PC, Self LC, Gutteridge HB, Bartlett DE.Reproductive efficiency was evaluated for 838 Quarter-horse mare-years on five farms and 939 Thoroughbred mare-years on seven farms over 4 years. The pregnancy rate from first service was 51% for Quarter-horse mares and 43% for Thoroughbred mares (P less than 0-05). The cumulative pregnancy rate after five services was 85% for Quarter-horse and 77% for Thoroughbred mares (P less than 0-05). First-service-period pregnancy rates were 44, 40 and 54% for maiden, barren and foaling mares, respectively. Cumulative pregnancy rates after five service-periods were 84, 74 and 84% for maiden, barren and ...
Frhr J, Lepel V.A high fertility rate depends on many different factors and is always related to inheritance and enviorment. The successful feritly control system in the German Thoroughbred breeding industry shows that fertility can be increased by good management and veterinary supervision. The insemination of horses with frozen semen is discussed. Replacement of natural service by A.I. with frozen semen is not generally accepted in horsebreeding, as the conditions are entirely different from cattle breeding. However, there are several ways in which A.I. can be assistance in stud management.
Hiepe T, Nickel S, Siebeke F.The eggs of Strongyloides westeri were found in the faeces of the foals from the 16th day of their life, with a peak in their numbers between the 30th and 40th day of life. Egg release ceased in all foals irrespective of their date of birth in the months July-August. Parallel examinations of the mares were negative. Recommendations for the control of strongyloidosis in foals are given.
Quirk KS.There are myriad problems that can arise when training the novice stallion for natural service. Many problems can be avoided by proper early training of the novice stallion. In the final analysis, common sense should prevail. The major ally of common sense is patience. One should keep in mind that the goal is to have a stallion behave in a disciplined manner, allowing for his expression of libido and effective mounting, intromission, and ejaculation. This is accomplished through judicious training and, as with any training process, takes some time and work. Proper training will help circumvent...
Merkt H, Klug E.The rules for the minimal requirements in health and genital potency for stallions formulated by GOTZE (1950) are reformulated, taking into consideration the results achieved by KLUG (1982) and KENNEY (1983). A stallion must be free of phenotypic hereditary faults. Furthermore he has to be in general and genital health and must be fit in both, potentia coeundi and generandi. The figures are based on the examination of thoroughbred and so called "warmblood" stallions. However, they can be adapted to other breeds like draughthorses and ponys.
Blanchard TL, Thompson JA, Love CC, Brinsko SP, Ramsey J, O'Meara A, Varner DD.Records (years 2005-2007) were analyzed from a Thoroughbred stud farm in central Kentucky. Data from all breeding cycles of foaling mares were tabulated (3184 cycles of 2003 foaling mares bred between 7 and 163 days postpartum). A multiple logistic regression model employing Bayesian statistics was used to adjust for factors that significantly affected outcome; odds ratios (ORs) for pregnancy rate, pregnancy loss rate, and foaling rate were determined to examine the influence of day of postpartum breeding on these parameters. Mares bred before Day 22 (Day 0 = day of foaling) postpartum had a d...
Conboy HS.Although the act of breeding is instinctive to the stallion, the use of a phantom mare and AV represent an unnatural element to this act. The use of these devices, as well as proper breeding manners and etiquette, must be taught to the stallion. The novice stallion usually learns these techniques rapidly and is quite manageable if proper restraint is used during training. Positive reinforcement for good behavior is essential. The ultimate goal in training the novice stallion is to develop an individual that will enter the breeding area with controlled enthusiasm, develop an erection and gracef...
Merkt H, Klug E.In the Federal Republic of Germany a lethal accident occurred recently during the semen collection from a stallion and it would be advisable to observe the safety rules of which there are three sections: hobbeling and if necessary twitching of the mare, security in the manner in which the stallion is led, precautions to be observed by the operator.
Hiepe T, Nickel S, Siebeke F.The eggs of Strongyloides westeri were found in the faeces of the foals from the 16th day of their life, with a peak in their numbers between the 30th and 40th day of life. Egg release ceased in all foals irrespective of their date of birth in the months July-August. Parallel examinations of the mares were negative. Recommendations for the control of strongyloidosis in foals are given.
van der Mey GJ.Horse-breeding in the Netherlands is briefly reviewed. Particular attention is paid to the number of foals of various breeds. Some effects of inbreeding in Friesian horses are discussed. As regards methods selection, attention is mainly paid to saddle horses. The role of veterinarians (from the point of view of selection for soundness) is described. Selection is based on the results of studies in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht. A number of these results are reviewed.
Dusek J, Munk Z.In a set of mares of English Thoroughbred horse of the Napajedla stock the gravidity length in the time period from 1880 to 1972 was evaluated. The variability of the gravidity length was evaluated in sets which were put together by combination of two age groups with a division of the studied time period into ten-year stages. Variance and sample means of the gravidity lengths in these sub-groups are significantly different in the period under study. In order to eliminate the action of non-genetic influences qualifying the variability of the gravidity length, and to increase the objectivity of ...