Fertility control using intrauterine devices: an alternative for population control in wild horses.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop a contraceptive method for feral horses. The feral horse population has increased significantly in recent years despite attempts to control numbers. As in most wild animal population control programs, contraceptive methods must be easy to apply, cause minimal disruption to the social structure and be fully reversible. In the present study, we tested the effectiveness of an intrauterine device (IUD) for fertility control in mares. Six mares were fitted with a silastic O-ring-shaped IUD on July 1 of Year 1. The IUD-treated mares were turned out with 12 nontreated mares and a fertile stallion in a large pasture until October 20 (112 d). None of the IUD-treated mares and all the nontreated mares became pregnant. The IUD-treated mares were maintained separately from the stallion during the winter. Following removal of the IUD on April 27 of Year 2, the mares were again introduced to the pasture with the stallion together with 6 nontreated mares. For the 6 mares previously treated with an IUD, the mean interval from introduction to the stallion to conception was 17.5 +/- 5 d or 1.3 cycles per pregnancy, and all mares produced a normal foal at term. Subsequently, 19 recorded mare breeding seasons resulted in 18 foals. Uterine cytology and histopathology indicate that the IUD causes mild chronic endometritis without permanent changes in the endometrium. We conclude that based on our observations, the O-ring-shaped IUD is an effective, safe and practical contraceptive method for mares.
Publication Date: 1995-10-01 PubMed ID: 16727761DOI: 10.1016/0093-691x(95)00243-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article focuses on testing the effectiveness of a contraceptive method for wild horses, more specifically an intrauterine device (IUD), to control their population.
Objective of the Study
- The study was conducted with an aim to develop an effective contraceptive method for feral horses. The escalating population of these horses is a serious concern despite existing control measures.
- The authors opine that an ideal contraceptive method for wildlife should be easy to administer, lead to minimum social disruption, and should be reversible.
- To meet this requirement, they tested an intrauterine device (IUD) for fertility control in female horses (mares).
Methodology and Findings
- A silastic O-ring-shaped IUD was fitted into six mares under study on July 1 of the first year.
- These IUD-treated mares were then released in a large pasture with a fertile male horse (stallion) and 12 untreated mares until October 20 (112 days).
- The study found that all the IUD-treated mares did not become pregnant, whereas all the non-treated ones did conceive.
- The IUD-treated mares were then kept away from the stallion during the winter. The IUD was removed on April 27 of the following year, and the mares were reintroduced to the pasture with the stallion.
- The mean time from introduction to the stallion to conception, for the six previously IUD-treated mares, was 1.3 cycles per pregnancy or approximately 17.5 days. All mares successfully produced a healthy foal at the term end.
Conclusion
- Further, the study revealed that over 19 reported mare breeding seasons, there were 18 foals. Also, uterine cytology and histopathology suggested the IUD does cause mild chronic endometritis, but there was no permanent change to the endometrium.
- Based on these observations, the authors concluded that the O-ring-shaped IUD is a safe, practical, and effective contraceptive method for mares. It has potential to be used for controlling the population of wild horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Daels PF, Hughes JP.
(1995).
Fertility control using intrauterine devices: an alternative for population control in wild horses.
Theriogenology, 44(5), 629-639.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-691x(95)00243-2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine University of California, Davis CA 95616 USA.
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Aurich C, Kaps M. Suppression of reproductive behaviour and gonadal function in female horses-An update. Reprod Domest Anim 2022 Sep;57 Suppl 4(Suppl 4):4-12.
- Rivera Del Alamo MM, Reilas T, Lukasik K, Galvão AM, Yeste M, Katila T. Inflammatory Markers in Uterine Lavage Fluids of Pregnant, Non-Pregnant, and Intrauterine Device Implanted Mares on Days 10 and 15 Post Ovulation. Animals (Basel) 2021 Dec 8;11(12).
- Hampton JO, Hyndman TH, Barnes A, Collins T. Is Wildlife Fertility Control Always Humane?. Animals (Basel) 2015 Oct 21;5(4):1047-71.
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