A survey of early pregnancy losses in West German thoroughbred mares.

The research article discusses a major concern in the West German Thoroughbred mare population, where embryonic resorption is causing a significant amount of early pregnancy losses. The study denotes an 8.4% resorption rate, mainly tied to premature conception post-foaling and the condition of lactation.

Understanding Embryonic Resorption

• The research discusses embryonic resorption, a phenomenon where the embryo is reabsorbed back into the mare’s body. This typically occurs in the early stages of pregnancy and is one of the main causes for early pregnancy losses in the West German Thoroughbred mare.
• To better understand the scale of the issue, the study conducted a comprehensive survey of breeding records over the past 11 years, which revealed an 8.4% resorption rate among the population.

Factors Contributing to Embryonic Resorption

• The research found two key factors associated with these early embryonic losses. Firstly, too early a conception after foaling – the birthing process of a horse.
• Typically, mares need an adequate amount of time to recover from foaling before they can safely conceive again. If conception is forced too soon after foaling, it can potentially trigger an involuntary reaction in the mare’s body, such as embryonic resorption, causing the early loss of the new pregnancy.
• Secondly, the state of lactation at the time of conception has been identified as a contributing factor. A mare’s body undergoes considerable stress during lactation, which can influence the success rate of new pregnancies if these are initiated during this period.

Significance of the Study

• The findings from this study are crucial for West German Thoroughbred breeders as they provide insights into the causes of early pregnancy losses in mares.
• Understanding the factors that contribute to the high resorption rates could provide valuable information for modifying breeding practices and timelines to reduce premature pregnancy loss. This could subsequently boost overall repopulation rates among this breed.