Relationship between the Placental Retention Time and the Reproductive Performance at the Foal Heat in Thoroughbred and a Comparison with Heavy Draft.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the placental retention time (PRT) and the reproductive performance following mating at the foal heat in Thoroughbreds. For this purpose, we interviewed 292 farmers over a period of 3 years with questionnaires evaluating foaling, expulsion of placenta and reproductive performance at the foal heat in 1,432 mares. The obtained data were later compared with a previous study of heavy draft mares. The average of the PRT of the 1,432 Thoroughbred mares was 58 ± 88 min (mean ± SD). The mean PRT of Thoroughbreds was significantly shorter than that of the148 min of heavy draft mares. The incidences of retained placenta (RP) occurring in the Thoroughbred mares were 5.2 and 4.0%, for over 3 and 4 hr after foaling, respectively. The incidence of RP over 4 hr was significantly lower than that of 25% in heavy draft mares. The pregnancy rate at foal heat of the mares in which PRT was less than 3 hr was 37%, and it significantly decreased to 11% for those with PRT of more than 3 hr. In the comparison of the reproductive performance between Thoroughbred and heavy draft mares, the pregnancy rate of Thoroughbreds dropped drastically to 10% when PRT exceeded 40, and in consequence, the pregnancy rate of Thoroughbreds was significantly lower than the 30% of heavy draft mares, which had a PRT of over 4 hr. In conclusion, the Thoroughbred mares had a low incidence of RP, however, a PRT exceeding 3 hr severely affected the reproductive performance at the foal heat.
Publication Date: 2013-06-28 PubMed ID: 24833998PubMed Central: PMC4013983DOI: 10.1294/jes.24.25Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research studies the connection between placental retention time (PRT) and reproductive performance during foal heat in Thoroughbreds. The results show that a longer PRT results in a poorer reproductive performance at foal heat.
Methodology
- The researchers interviewed 292 farmers over three years using questionnaires to gather data on foaling, placenta expulsion, and reproductive performance during foal heat in 1,432 Thoroughbred mares.
- The collected data was compared with a previous study on heavy draft mares.
Results
- The average PRT for the Thoroughbred mares was 58 ± 88 minutes. This average was shorter than the 148 minutes observed in heavy draft horses.
- Instances of retained placenta (RP), meaning the placenta isn’t expelled following birth, in Thoroughbred mares were 5.2% for over 3 hours and 4.0% for over 4 hours after foaling. This percentage was lower than in heavy draft mares, where 25% experienced RP for over 4 hours.
Correlation Between PRT and Reproduction
- The study found that Thoroughbred mares with a PRT of less than 3 hours had a pregnancy rate of 37% during the foal heat.
- This rate fell significantly to 11% in mares with a PRT of more than 3 hours. When the PRT exceeded 40, the pregnancy rate in Thoroughbreds plummeted to 10%, lower than the 30% seen in heavy draft mares with a PRT of over 4 hours.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that while Thoroughbred mares have a low incidence of retained placenta, a PRT of more than 3 hours negatively affects the mares’ reproductive performance during foal heat.
Cite This Article
APA
Ishii M, Aoki T, Yamakawa K, Magata F, Gojo C, Ito K, Kayano M, Nambo Y.
(2013).
Relationship between the Placental Retention Time and the Reproductive Performance at the Foal Heat in Thoroughbred and a Comparison with Heavy Draft.
J Equine Sci, 24(2), 25-29.
https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.24.25 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-sen, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-sen, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-sen, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-sen, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- NOSAI-Hidaka-Tobu, 2-5-4 Sakaimachi-Higashi, Urakawa-cho, Urakawa-gun, Hokkaido 057-0033, Japan.
- Hidaka Horse Breeders' Associtaion, 2-1-1 Tsukiji, Urakawa-cho, Urakawa-gun, Hokkaido 057-0024, Japan.
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-sen, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center Japan Racing Association, 535-13 Nishicha, Urakawa-cho, Urakawa-gun, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Cardona-García M, Jiménez-Escobar C, Ferrer MS, Maldonado-Estrada JG. Follicular Dynamics and Pregnancy Rates during Foal Heat in Colombian Paso Fino Mares Bred under Permanent Grazing. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 29;14(5).
- Kimura Y, Haneda S, Aoki T, Furuoka H, Miki W, Fukumoto N, Matsui M, Nambo Y. Combined thickness of the uterus and placenta and ultrasonographic examinations of uteroplacental tissues in normal pregnancy, placentitis, and abnormal parturitions in heavy draft horses. J Equine Sci 2018;29(1):1-8.
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