Prevalence and characteristics of foal rejection in Arabian mares.

This research focuses on the behavior of Arabian mares, particularly their rates of rejecting their offspring. It details the behavioral differences of rejecting and non-rejecting mares and sheds light on factors potentially influencing such behavior like breeding methods, presence of humans or other horses during birth, and pedigree.

Survey of Mare Behavior towards Foals

• The authors surveyed Arabian, Thoroughbred, and Paint mare owners, collecting data on mare behavior towards their offspring. The survey revealed that Arabian mares displayed a surprising rate of foal rejection compared to the other breeds.
• An analysis was carried out on the behavior of rejecting and non-rejecting mares, comparing maternal traits and management practices.

Negative and Positive Maternal Behaviours

• The study found that rejecting mares frequently displayed negative behaviors towards their newborn foals, such as avoidance, threats, aggression (squealing, chasing, biting, and kicking).
• In contrast, non-rejecting mares were observed to display nurturing behavior towards their offspring. They were more likely to lick, nicker (soft vocal communication), and defend their foals after birth.

Factors with no Significant Impact

• Several factors were tested to determine their influence on foal rejection, but they did not show any statistically significant relationship. These factors included the type of breeding method (natural vs. artificial insemination), the presence of people during birth, the presence of other horses during birth, and assistance during the first nursing bout.

Genetic Component and Other Influencing Factors

• The study also delved into the pedigrees of the mares, discovering a higher presence of one or two related sires in the pedigrees of mares that rejected their foals compared to those that didn’t. This indicates a possible genetic influence on rejection behavior.
• The study suggests that both inherited and learned or environmental factors may impact the expression of foal rejection behavior. However, specific aspects relating to the environment or learning that may affect rejection rates were not identified in this study.