Survey of reproductive efficiency in the Quarter-horse and Thoroughbred.

This research studied the reproductive efficiency of Quarter-horse and Thoroughbred mares over a period of four years and found that Quarter-horse mares have a higher pregnancy rate after the first service and after five services, compared to Thoroughbred mares.

Objective of the Research Paper

• The primary objective of this research study is to evaluate and compare the reproductive efficiency of Quarter-horse and Thoroughbred mares over a span of four years in different farms. The study analyzed a total of 838 Quarter-horse mare-years across five farms and 939 Thoroughbred mare-years across seven farms.

Pregnancy Rate Comparison

• The study found that the pregnancy rate from the first service is higher in Quarter-horse mares, with a 51% success rate, in comparison to Thoroughbred mares, which had a 43% success rate.
• The cumulative pregnancy rate after five services was also higher in the Quarter-horse mares at 85%, compared to 77% in Thoroughbred mares.

Pregnancy Rates for Maiden, Barren, and Foaling Mares

• The research also analyzed the first-service period pregnancy rates for maiden (unbred), barren (unproductive), and foaling (bred) mares- with the respective rates being 44%, 40%, and 54%.
• The cumulative pregnancy rates after five service-periods were 84% for maiden mares, 74% for barren mares, and 84% for foaling mares.

First-Service-Period submission

• The research revealed that by the end of March, less than 40% of maiden mares, less than 50% of barren mares, and less than 30% of foaling mares were submitted for their first-service-periods.

Findings

• The study concluded that the pregnancy rate for foaling mares served during foal heat was lower compared to the first-service pregnancy rate of foaling mares served after the foal heat.