Fertility of Shetland pony stallions used in different breeding systems: a retrospective study.

The research article describes a study which comparatively examined the fertility of Shetland pony stallions in three different breeding systems. The foaling rates in these systems were analyzed with findings showing pasture breeding had the highest chances of success.

Research Methodology

The researchers conducted a retrospective study on the fertility of Shetland pony stallions used in three different breeding systems:

• The first system involved the stud farmer traveling with his stallion to the mare’s location (system 1). This method involved 9 stallions.
• In the second system, the stallion stayed at the stud farm and the mares were brought to the stallion’s location (system 2). This method used 3 stallions.
• The third system was pasture breeding where the mare and stallion are in a natural environment (system 3). This method involved 9 stallions.

Each stallion was used exclusively for one system only.

Findings

The research concluded that:

• The average number of mating cycles per mare used for breeding did not significantly differ between systems 1 and 2.
• The number of matings per cycle was higher in systems 2 than in system 1.
• The average number of mares serviced per stallion was 91, 50, and 17 for systems 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
• Mares mated in pasture had a 2.8-fold higher chance of giving birth to a foal the next season than those mated under systems 1 and 2.
• The rates of foaling per season were 58%, 48%, and 80% for systems 1, 2, and 3, respectively. This means that the pasture breeding was the most successful out of all three methods.

Conclusion

The study concludes, based on the results, that management aspects significantly impact the relatively low foaling percentages of systems 1 and 2. The authors suggest that the breeding method plays a crucial role in the success rate of the foaling ratio with the pasture breeding method proving to be the most successful.