FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2010; 52(1); 40; doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-52-40

A 15-year survey of reproductive efficiency of Standardbred and Finnhorse trotters in Finland–descriptive results.

Abstract: The major horse breeds in Finland are the Finnhorse (FH) and the American Standardbred (SB). The foaling rates of the FH have consistently been lower than those of the SB. During the last years, a decreasing trend in foaling rates of both breeds has been observed. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the structure of these two mare populations for age, reproductive history and mating type. In addition, changes over the years were studied that could explain the decline in foaling rates. Methods: In Finland, the mating statistics and foaling rates per stallion are published yearly by Suomen Hippos, which is the Finnish trotting and breeding association authorized by the EU. The studied material was the electronic breeding data of Suomen Hippos in 1991-2005 which contained 69 180 cases (one mare bred in one year with one stallion), 20 168 mares, 2 230 stallions and 5 397 stud managers. The effect of mare age and type, mating type and changes during the study period were examined separately for FH and SB using SAS 9.1 for descriptive statistical analyses (frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations and confidence intervals). The outcome of the last mating per season (foal or not) was used in the calculation of the foaling rates. Results: The FH mares were on average one year older and belonged to the older age groups more often than the SB mares. Ageing decreased foaling rates and even more in FH; the foaling rates were the following: young FH 68.6 and SB 72.1%, middle-aged FH 66.1 and SB 71.9%, ageing FH 61.2 and SB 68.4%, and very old FH 52.8 and SB 61.8%. The foaled mares were more frequent in the SB (45%) than in the FH (37%), but the barren and rested mares were more common in the FH. Natural mating was more commonly practiced in the FH as compared to the SB. The foaling rates decreased from 1991 to 2005 in SB from 75.1 to 65.9% and in FH from 66.5 to 60.8%. For both breeds, the proportion of young mares decreased and the proportion of very old mares increased over the years. Similarly, the proportion of foaled mares in both breeds decreased and the proportion of barren mares increased during the study period. In both breeds, insemination (AI) by transported cooled semen increased, diminishing the on-site AI in the SB and the natural mating in the FH. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that mare age and type and mating type all affect foaling rates and that the structural differences in the mare populations can explain differences in the foaling rates between the horse breeds and between the time periods.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2010-06-14 PubMed ID: 20546559PubMed Central: PMC2907380DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-52-40Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses a 15-year survey on the reproductive efficiency of Standardbred and Finnhorse trotters in Finland. The main focus was to investigate the differences in population structure, reproductive history, and mating type of these breeds, as well as to identify changes that may account for the decreasing trend in foaling rates.

Study Methodology

  • The research capitalized on the breeding data of Suomen Hippos, the authorized Finnish trotting and breeding association, spanning from 1991 to 2005.
  • This data set comprised 69,180 instances of mares bred with stallions, involving 20,168 mares, 2,230 stallions, and 5,397 stud managers.
  • Various statistical analyses were conducted to investigate the influence of several factors on foaling rates, including mare age, type, and mating type.

Results of the Study

  • The Finnhorse mares were found to be generally older than the Standardbred mares and more often belonged to older age groups.
  • Foaling rates were lower in older mares, particularly for the Finnhorse breed.
  • Standardbred mares that had previously foaled were more common than their Finnhorse counterparts. However, barren and resting mares were more frequent in the Finnhorse population.
  • In terms of mating methods, natural mating was more common in Finnhorses as compared to Standardbreds.
  • The study observed a decrease in foaling rates for both breeds during the 15-year study period. The Standardbred breed saw a decrease from 75.1% to 65.9% and in Finnhorse from 66.5% to 60.8%.
  • There was also a noted increase in the proportion of older mares and a decrease in younger ones over the years.
  • The research found a rise in insemination by transported cooled semen, reducing the on-site insemination in the Standardbred breed and the natural mating in the Finnhorse breed.

Conclusions from the Research

  • The various influential factors identified such as mare age, type, and mating type each had an impact on the foaling rates.
  • Structural discrepancies between the mare populations could elucidate differences in the foaling rates both between the horse breeds and over different time periods.

Cite This Article

APA
Katila T, Reilas T, Nivola K, Peltonen T, Virtala AM. (2010). A 15-year survey of reproductive efficiency of Standardbred and Finnhorse trotters in Finland–descriptive results. Acta Vet Scand, 52(1), 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-52-40

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 1
Pages: 40

Researcher Affiliations

Katila, Terttu
  • Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, Finland. terttu.katila@helsinki.fi
Reilas, Tiina
    Nivola, Kaisa
      Peltonen, Terttu
        Virtala, Anna-Maija

          MeSH Terms

          • Age Factors
          • Animals
          • Breeding / methods
          • Female
          • Finland
          • Horses / physiology
          • Male
          • Pregnancy
          • Reproduction / physiology
          • Retrospective Studies

          References

          This article includes 23 references
          1. Langlois B, Blouin C. Statistical analysis of some factors affecting the number of horse births in France.. Reprod Nutr Dev 2004 Nov-Dec;44(6):583-95.
            doi: 10.1051/rnd:2004055pubmed: 15762302google scholar: lookup
          2. Reproductive efficiency of horses in Australia. http://www.gvequine.com.au/breeding_efficiency.htm 9.1.2009.
          3. Laing JA, Leech FB. The frequency of infertility in thoroughbred mares.. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1975 Oct;(23):307-10.
            pubmed: 1060795
          4. Osborne VE. Factors influencing foaling percentages in Australian mares.. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1975 Oct;(23):477-83.
            pubmed: 1060827
          5. Sullivan JJ, Turner PC, Self LC, Gutteridge HB, Bartlett DE. Survey of reproductive efficiency in the Quarter-horse and Thoroughbred.. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1975 Oct;(23):315-8.
            pubmed: 1060797
          6. Sanderson MW, Allen WR. Reproductive efficiency of Thoroughbred mares in the United Kingdom. Proc Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures, AEVA, Sydney; pp. 31–41.
          7. Brück I, Anderson GA, Hyland JH. Reproductive performance of thoroughbred mares on six commercial stud farms.. Aust Vet J 1993 Aug;70(8):299-303.
            doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1993.tb07979.xpubmed: 8216096google scholar: lookup
          8. Hearn P, Bonnett B, Samper J. Factors influencing pregnancy and pregnancy loss on one thoroughbred farm. 39th Ann Conv Am Assoc Equine Pract 1993; pp. 161–163.
          9. Morris LH, Allen WR. Reproductive efficiency of intensively managed Thoroughbred mares in Newmarket.. Equine Vet J 2002 Jan;34(1):51-60.
            doi: 10.2746/042516402776181222pubmed: 11822372google scholar: lookup
          10. Hemberg E, Lundeheim N, Einarsson S. Reproductive performance of thoroughbred mares in sweden.. Reprod Domest Anim 2004 Apr;39(2):81-5.
            doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2004.00482.xpubmed: 15065988google scholar: lookup
          11. Allen WR, Brown L, Wright M, Wilsher S. Reproductive efficiency of Flatrace and National Hunt Thoroughbred mares and stallions in England.. Equine Vet J 2007 Sep;39(5):438-45.
            doi: 10.2746/042516407X1737581pubmed: 17910269google scholar: lookup
          12. Bosh KA, Powell D, Shelton B, Zent W. Reproductive performance measures among Thoroughbred mares in central Kentucky, during the 2004 mating season.. Equine Vet J 2009 Dec;41(9):883-8.
            doi: 10.2746/042516409X456068pubmed: 20383986google scholar: lookup
          13. Merkt H, Jacobs KO, Klug E, Aukes E. An analysis of stallion fertility rates (foals born alive) from the breeding documents of the Landgestüt Celle over a 158-year period.. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1979;(27):73-7.
            pubmed: 383990
          14. Davies Morel MC, Gunnarsson V. A survey of the fertility of Icelandic stallions.. Anim Reprod Sci 2000 Dec 1;64(1-2):49-64.
            doi: 10.1016/S0378-4320(00)00192-5pubmed: 11078966google scholar: lookup
          15. Keiper R, Houpt K. Reproduction in feral horses: an eight-year study.. Am J Vet Res 1984 May;45(5):991-5.
            pubmed: 6732036
          16. Hutton CA, Meacham TN. Reproductive efficiency on fourteen horse farms.. J Anim Sci 1968 Mar;27(2):434-8.
            pubmed: 5646343doi: 10.2527/jas1968.272434xgoogle scholar: lookup
          17. Katila T. Effects of hormone treatments, season, age and type of mares on ovulation, twinning and pregnancy rates of mares inseminated with fresh and frozen semen. Pferdeheilkunde 2003;19:619–624.
          18. Jalostustilastot. Suomen Hippos. 2008. http://www.hippos.fi/hippos/jalostus_ja_kasvatus/Jalostustilastot.php 24.4.2009.
          19. Chevalier-Clément F. Pregnancy loss in the mare. Anim Reprod Sci 1989;20:231–244.
            doi: 10.1016/0378-4320(89)90088-2google scholar: lookup
          20. Carnevale EM, Ginther OJ. Relationships of age to uterine function and reproductive efficiency in mares.. Theriogenology 1992 May;37(5):1101-15.
            doi: 10.1016/0093-691X(92)90108-4pubmed: 16727108google scholar: lookup
          21. McDowell KJ, Powell DG, Baker CB. Effect of book size and age of mare and stallion on foaling rates in thoroughbred mares. J Equine Vet Sci 1992;1:364–367.
            doi: 10.1016/S0737-0806(06)81363-8google scholar: lookup
          22. Samper JC. Management and fertility of mares bred with frozen semen.. Anim Reprod Sci 2001 Dec 3;68(3-4):219-28.
            doi: 10.1016/S0378-4320(01)00158-0pubmed: 11744266google scholar: lookup
          23. Barbacini S, Marchi V, Zavaglia G. Equine frozen semen: results obtained in Italy during the 1994-1997 period. Equine vet Educ 1999;11:109–112.
            doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.1999.tb00930.xgoogle scholar: lookup

          Citations

          This article has been cited 10 times.
          1. Medica AJ, Lambourne S, Aitken RJ. Predicting the Outcome of Equine Artificial Inseminations Using Chilled Semen. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 30;13(7).
            doi: 10.3390/ani13071203pubmed: 37048459google scholar: lookup
          2. Gobato MLM, Segabinazzi LGTM, Scheeren VFC, Bandeira RS, Freitas-Dell'Aqua CP, Dell'Aqua JA Jr, Papa FO. Ability of donkey sperm to tolerate cooling: Effect of extender base and removal of seminal plasma on sperm parameters and fertility rates in mares. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:1011899.
            doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1011899pubmed: 36225802google scholar: lookup
          3. Benammar A, Derisoud E, Vialard F, Palmer E, Ayoubi JM, Poulain M, Chavatte-Palmer P. The Mare: A Pertinent Model for Human Assisted Reproductive Technologies?. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 4;11(8).
            doi: 10.3390/ani11082304pubmed: 34438761google scholar: lookup
          4. Carluccio A, Bucci R, Fusi J, Robbe D, Veronesi MC. Effect of age and of reproductive status on reproductive indices in horse mares carrying mule pregnancies. Heliyon 2020 Oct;6(10):e05175.
            doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05175pubmed: 33083622google scholar: lookup
          5. Müller-Unterberg M, Wallmann S, Distl O. Effects of inbreeding and other systematic effects on fertility of Black Forest Draught horses in Germany. Acta Vet Scand 2017 Oct 18;59(1):70.
            doi: 10.1186/s13028-017-0338-4pubmed: 29047357google scholar: lookup
          6. Haadem CS, Nødtvedt A, Farstad W, Thomassen R. A retrospective cohort study on fertility in the Norwegian Coldblooded trotter after artificial insemination with cooled, shipped versus fresh extended semen. Acta Vet Scand 2015 Nov 14;57:77.
            doi: 10.1186/s13028-015-0161-8pubmed: 26578337google scholar: lookup
          7. Meliani S, Benallou B, Halbouche M, Haddouche Z. Time of foaling in Arabian mares raised in Tiaret, Algeria. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2013 Jul;3(7):587-8.
            doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60120-3pubmed: 23835758google scholar: lookup
          8. Egenvall A, Nødtvedt A, Roepstorff L, Bonnett B. Integrating databases for research on health and performance in small animals and horses in the Nordic countries. Acta Vet Scand 2011;53 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S4.
            doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-53-S1-S4pubmed: 21999438google scholar: lookup
          9. Morrell JM, Rodriguez-Martinez H. Practical applications of sperm selection techniques as a tool for improving reproductive efficiency. Vet Med Int 2010 Aug 4;2011.
            doi: 10.4061/2011/894767pubmed: 20814435google scholar: lookup
          10. Al-Kass Z, Morrell JM. Freezing Stallion Semen-What Do We Need to Focus on for the Future?. Vet Sci 2024 Feb 2;11(2).
            doi: 10.3390/vetsci11020065pubmed: 38393083google scholar: lookup
          Subscribe to our newsletter
          Join 99,850 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.