Periparturient characteristics of mares and their foals on a New Zealand Thoroughbred stud farm.
Abstract: To describe selected periparturient variables in a sample of Thoroughbred mares and their foals on a commercial stud farm in New Zealand. Methods: Data were collected for 969 foaling records, from 592 mares, by foaling attendants from one Thoroughbred stud farm in the Waikato region of New Zealand for the breeding seasons 2008-2013, inclusive, and collated retrospectively. The associations between mare- and foal-level variables and gestation length, time of birth (expressed as the number of hours after midday), fetal membrane retention time, time for the foal to stand and suckle after birth, and foal mortality were quantified using linear and logistic regression models. Results: Mean gestation length for mares in this study was 350 (min 296, max 429) days, and was shorter for filly foals (348 (min 296, max 429) days) compared with colt foals (350 (min 310, max 404) days) (p=0.001). Overall, 517/968 (53%) foalings occurred between 19:00 and 01:00 and 212/968 (22%) foalings occurred during daylight. Overall, 815/855 (95%) expelled their fetal membranes within 4 hours of parturition. The mean interval from birth to standing and to suckling was shorter (p<0.001) for filly foals than colts by 13 (95% CI=9-17) and 17 (95% CI=8-26) minutes, respectively. Dystocia was reported for 81/968 (8.4%) foalings with relative fetal oversize being the most common cause (36/81 (44%) cases). Perinatal foal death was recorded for 26/966 (2.7%) foalings. The odds of foal mortality decreased with increasing length of gestation (p=0.027), and were greater for colt than filly foals (p=0.042) and when dystocia was reported (p<0.001). Conclusions: Gestation length was influenced by the sex of the foal, as was the time taken for the foal to stand and suckle after birth. One fifth of mares foaled during daylight hours. The majority of mares in this study population expelled their fetal membranes within 4 hours of foaling. Conclusions: Accurate measures for periparturient behaviour can be important in the management of mares and newborn foals. Clinically relevant differences appear to exist between mares and foals in New Zealand and those in the Northern Hemisphere for some key parameters, likely as a result of differences in management and environment. The results of this study suggest that mares should be considered to have retained their membranes if not passed within 4 hours of parturition.
Publication Date: 2016-10-24 PubMed ID: 27705540DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2016.1244021Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article describes some characteristics related to childbirth observed in Thoroughbred mares and their foals in a New Zealand stud farm. It considers the role of variables such as illumination time and mare and foal activities during childbirth.
Study Setup and Methods
- The research was conducted in a Thoroughbred stud farm located in the Waikato region of New Zealand.
- At this farm, data from the foaling records of 592 mares for the breeding seasons between 2008 and 2013 was utilized.
- Variables at the mare and foal level were assessed including gestation length, time of birth, retention time of the fetal membrane, the time taken by the foal to stand and suckle after birth, and foal mortality.
- The impact of these variables was determined using linear and logistic regression models.
Key Findings
- The average gestation period for the mares in the study was 350 days. Filly foals had a shorter gestation period compared to colt foals.
- More than half (53%) of foalings took place between the hours of 7 PM and 1 AM, while 22% occurred during daylight hours.
- Approximately 95% of the mares expelled their fetal membranes within four hours of parturition.
- Filly foals stood and suckled faster than colts after birth.
- Dystocia was reported in around 8.4% of foalings, with relative fetal oversize being the significant cause.
- Perinatal foal death was recorded in about 2.7% of foalings. The odds of mortality decreased as gestation length increased. Foal mortality was higher in colts than in fillies and higher when dystocia was reported.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that the sex of the foal impacts the gestation length as well as the time taken by the foal to stand and suckle after birth.
- One crucial observation is that the majority of mares expelled their fetal membranes within four hours of childbirth.
- The information and statistics from this research can be paramount for the efficient management of mares and newborn foals.
- The study suggests that mares should be treated as having retained their membranes if they’re not passed within four hours of parturition.
- However, it further mentions that there can be differences between mares and foals in New Zealand and those in the Northern Hemisphere due to variations in management and environment.
Cite This Article
APA
Rosales C, Krekeler N, Tennent-Brown B, Stevenson MA, Hanlon D.
(2016).
Periparturient characteristics of mares and their foals on a New Zealand Thoroughbred stud farm.
N Z Vet J, 65(1), 24-29.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2016.1244021 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- a Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences , University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
- a Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences , University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
- a Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences , University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
- a Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences , University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
- b Matamata Veterinary Services , Matamata , New Zealand.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / anatomy & histology
- Animals, Newborn / physiology
- Female
- Gestational Age
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- New Zealand
- Parturition / physiology
- Peripartum Period
- Retrospective Studies
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