Reproductive phenology of Creole horses in Ecuador in the absence of photoperiod variation: The effects of forage availability and flooding affecting body condition of mares.

The research article presents a study on the reproductive patterns of Creole horses in Ecuador and explores how factors such as food availability and flooding, which affect the horses’ body conditions, may influence their timing of reproduction.

Background

• The authors mention that horse reproduction is typically dependent on seasonal variations, with photoperiod changes, or the length of day and night, being a significant factor in temperate climates.
• In equatorial regions like Ecuador, where such photoperiod changes do not exist, other factors may influence the timing of reproduction, particularly aspects that affect the body condition of the mares, such as availability of forage and instances of flooding.

Methodology

• The researchers observed Creole horses, a breed brought to Ecuador by European colonizers, under an extensive production system.
• They particularly noted when the horses birthed their foals, analyzed the horses’ physical condition over the course of the year, and documented periods of vegetation growth and instances of pastureland flooding.

Findings

• The study found that foaling peaked in the month of August.
• The physical condition of the mares showed a pattern of variation, peaking just before the start of the breeding season in June-July, and then again in December.
• The mares’ condition seemed to improve after a period of vegetation growth, suggesting that availability of forage has a positive impact on their wellbeing.
• However, an increase in the greenness of grass (measured by the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index data), appeared to negatively associated with mares’ condition, indicating perhaps a lack of nutritional value in overly lush grass.
• Instances of flooding in the months of March and April severely affected the mares’ condition and seemed to influence the timing of foaling towards the dry season.

Implications

• The study evidence suggests that despite the lack of photoperiod variation, horse breeding in equatorial regions is still seasonal, and various environmental factors influence this pattern by affecting the body condition of the horses.
• This understanding has implications for horse biology, the management of horse populations, and may also be relevant to livestock management and conservation efforts.