Fertility and complications after fetotomy in 20 brood mares (2001-2006).

The research paper studies the impact of fetotomy on the fertility and associated complications in 20 brood mares. The findings reveal that partial fetotomy doesn’t seem to hinder the future successful reproduction, making it an essential consideration in equine dystocia cases where vaginal delivery is impossible and the foal is not living.

Methodology

• The study follows a retrospective design, where historical data and records were reviewed and analyzed.
• The sample size of the study was composed of 20 horses, specifically brood mares, that had experienced partial fetotomy to deal with dystocia from the years 2001 to 2006.
• The data on complications and later fertility was collected through interviews, while live foal data was sourced from the Jockey Club’s records.
• Post-fetotomy conception data and live foal numbers over 21 breeding seasons, categorized as the number of years each mare was bred regardless of conception, were recorded and analyzed.

Results

• The study identified 20 mares. The most common cause of dystocia was found to be bilateral carpal flexion either alone or together with another deformity.
• Between 2001 to 2006, over 24 breeding seasons, 20 mares conceived achieving an 83% conception rate. Eighteen mares conceived before the year 2006, all of which gave birth to live foals.
• Three mares were bred in 2006 out of which two became pregnant. One pregnancy was electively terminated while one mare continues to be pregnant.
• Of the 19 mares, about 42% (8 mares) experienced a retained placenta, which was expelled within 24 hours post medical therapy.

Conclusions

• Partial fetotomy, even when conducted with 1-3 cuts, was not found to deter successful reproductive capability in future.
• Fetotomy is recommended as a primary consideration in cases of equine dystocia where the foal is deceased and vaginal delivery is not feasible. It was observed to not have a detrimental impact on the future fertility of the mare.