Does the Reproductive Technique Affect Neonatal Health Parameters in Foals?
Abstract: This retrospective study evaluated whether different reproductive biotechnologies influence neonatal behaviour parameters in foals. Data from 102 foalings in two commercial breeding farms were analysed, including foals conceived by artificial insemination (AI), conventional embryo transfer (ET) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Neonatal parameters recorded were birth weight, time to achieve sternal recumbency, time to stand, time to nurse and time to meconium elimination. Mixed statistical models were applied to assess the influence of reproductive technique, breed, sex and farm. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between farms for time to sternal recumbency and time to nurse, and among breeds for birth height and time to meconium elimination. However, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were detected between sexes or among reproductive techniques for any of the parameters evaluated. Therefore, these results indicate that reproductive techniques, including advanced biotechnologies, such as ICSI, do not adversely affect neonatal health parameters in foals. On the other hand, the present findings highlight the importance of considering environmental and genetic factors, such as farm management and breed, when evaluating neonatal outcomes.
© 2026 The Author(s). Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.
Publication Date: 2026-03-10 PubMed ID: 41804035PubMed Central: PMC12972244DOI: 10.1111/rda.70192Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Cite This Article
APA
Alonso MA, Dos Santos GR, Fonte JS, Marques PC, Pereira DD, Toral FLB, Bordignon V, Junior JB, Squires E, Fernandes CB.
(2026).
Does the Reproductive Technique Affect Neonatal Health Parameters in Foals?
Reprod Domest Anim, 61(3), e70192.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.70192 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Reproduction Department, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Animal Reproduction Department, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Animal Reproduction Department, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- In Vitro Equinos, Mogi Mirim, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Animal Reproduction Department, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- In Vitro Equinos, Mogi Mirim, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Animal Science, Veterinary School - Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Department of Animal Science, Veterinary School - Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada.
- In Vitro Equinos, Mogi Mirim, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- Animal Reproduction Department, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / physiology
- Animals, Newborn / physiology
- Female
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
- Insemination, Artificial / adverse effects
- Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / veterinary
- Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / adverse effects
- Embryo Transfer / veterinary
- Pregnancy
- Birth Weight
Grant Funding
- 2020/10260-3 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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