Male, female and management risk factors for non-return to service in Dutch mares.
Abstract: The "effect" of stallion, mare and management-related factors on the odds of pregnancy per cycle in the horse were identified and quantified from the breeding records of Dutch Warmblood (n=4491), Friesian (n=1467) and Shetland-pony mares (n=3267) mated either naturally or by artificial insemination to one of the 88 stallions between 1992 and 1996. A mare was considered to be pregnant when she did not return to oestrous within 28 days of the last insemination. For Dutch Warmblood horses, the percentage of mares that did not return for service within 28 days (NR28) varied between studfarms and ranged from 61 to 82%. The NR28 for mares inseminated with fresh semen ranged from 67 to 74% and for mares inseminated with frozen/thawed semen this percentage was 59. Mares served at a second cycle had lower odds not to return than mares served at the third or subsequent cycle (OR=0.84). For Friesian horses, the NR28 for young mares was higher than that for older mares. Mares served before 1 May in any year had lower odds of non-return than mares served after 1 July (OR=0.69). The NR28 of mares inseminated once per cycle was 6% lower than that of mares inseminated three times or more per cycle. For Shetland ponies, the NR28 also varied between studfarms and ranged from 62 to 78%. Stallions < or =3 years old had lower odds of non-return compared to older stallion (> or =11) (OR=0.57). Mares served before 1 July had lower odds of non-return. Other significant factors for this breed were age of the mare, cycle number and insemination frequency. Stallion factors accounted for 5.9, 2.0 and 14.7% of the variation in the NR28 for Dutch Warmblood, Friesian horses and the Shetland ponies, respectively.
Publication Date: 2003-10-01 PubMed ID: 14516714DOI: 10.1016/s0167-5877(03)00128-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article explores the impact of various factors linked to stallions, mares, and their management on the likelihood of pregnancy per cycle in horses. Breed-specific data from Dutch Warmblood, Friesian, and Shetland-pony mares, gathered between 1992 and 1996, was used to identify the factors affecting a mare’s return to service after insemination.
Mares and Non-Return to Service
- The researchers assessed a mare’s pregnancy based on her non-return to oestrous or heat within 28 days of the last insemination. This period is referred to as NR28.
- For Dutch Warmblood mares, the NR28 varied among different stud farms and ranged from 61 to 82%. The percentage varied depending on the type of semen used for insemination. Fresh semen yielded a range of 67 to 74%, while the use of frozen/thawed semen resulted in a 59% non-return rate.
- Mares that were served during the second cycle demonstrated lower odds of non-return compared to those served during the third cycle or later.
Friesian Horses
- For Friesian horses, younger mares had a higher non-return rate compared to their older counterparts.
- The timing of the service also impacted the odds of non-return. Mares served before 1 May had lower odds of non-return than those served after 1 July.
- Insemination frequency also influenced the non-return rate. The NR28 of mares inseminated once per cycle was 6% lower than those inseminated three times or more per cycle.
Shetland Ponies
- In the case of Shetland ponies, the NR28 also varied among stud farms, ranging from 62 to 78%.
- Younger stallions caused lower odds of non-return compared to older stallions. Mares served before 1 July also had lower odds of non-return.
- Other influential factors for this breed included the mare’s age, the cycle number, and the insemination frequency.
Stallion Factors
- The researchers also determined that specific factors associated with stallions proportionally affected the NR28 variation. These factors accounted for 5.9% of the variation for Dutch Warmblood, 2.0% for Friesian horses, and a significant 14.7% for Shetland ponies.
Cite This Article
APA
van Buiten A, Westers P, Colenbrander B.
(2003).
Male, female and management risk factors for non-return to service in Dutch mares.
Prev Vet Med, 61(1), 17-26.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-5877(03)00128-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 12, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands. a.vanbuiten@hetnet.nl
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Fertility
- Horses / physiology
- Insemination, Artificial / methods
- Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
- Male
- Netherlands / epidemiology
- Pedigree
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Rate
- Pregnancy, Animal / physiology
- Records / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Management
- Seasons
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Kowalczyk A, Czerniawska-Piątkowska E, Kuczaj M. Factors Influencing the Popularity of Artificial Insemination of Mares in Europe. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jul 19;9(7).
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