The effect of dietary protein on reproduction in the mare. III. Ovarian and uterine changes during the anovulatory, transitional and ovulatory periods in the non-pregnant mare.
Abstract: In the main experiment the total daily protein intake and quality (essential amino-acids) was varied in 4 groups of mares. The incidence of oestrus in mares during the transitional period was unaffected by protein nutrition. Ovarian activity, as evaluated by follicular development and size of the ovaries, was affected. Mares that received low-quality protein (Groups 1 and 2) had a higher number of smaller follicles (< 10 mm) that developed during the transitional period compared to mares on a high-quality protein intake (Groups 3 and 4). The mares that received the high quality protein ovulated 2-3 weeks earlier in the breeding season in a synchronised period of 4-5 weeks compared to a period of 6-8 weeks in Groups 1 and 2. The duration of the subsequent oestrous cycles was not affected. There was no difference in the diameter of the largest follicle of mares between groups on the day before ovulation. In a separate experiment, 5 maiden Anglo-Arab mares, 4-5 years of age, were slaughtered at different stages during the anovulatory, transitional and ovulatory periods of the breeding cycle. The morphology of the ovaries and uteri of these mares was described and photographed for use as guidelines when comparing ovarian changes and follicular activity of mares.
Publication Date: 1997-12-31 PubMed ID: 9408893DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v68i3.882Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research explores how varying daily protein intake and its quality affect the reproductive activity in mares. Particularly, it looks at how variations in protein nutrition influence ovarian and uterine changes during non-pregnant mares’ anovulatory, transitional, and ovulatory periods.
Study Overview and Methodology
- The research was conducted on four groups of mares with varied total daily protein intake and quality.
- The primary focus was to understand the effect of protein nutrition on the incidence of oestrus during the transitional period.
- Ovarian activity was evaluated based on follicular development and the size of the ovaries.
- In a separate experiment, five maiden Anglo-Arab mares, aged 4-5 years, were studied at different stages of their breeding cycle. The morphology of their ovaries and uteri was examined.
Findings
- The incidence of oestrus in mares during the transitional period remained unaffected by protein nutrition.
- Mares that received low-quality protein exhibited a higher number of smaller follicles in comparison to their high-quality protein intake counterparts.
- Follicular development was influenced by the quality of protein intake, with mares on a high-quality high-quality protein diet ovulating 2-3 weeks earlier in the breeding season than those given low-quality protein.
- The ovulation period for mares with high-quality protein intake was shorter by 2-3 weeks.
- No impact was noticed on the duration of subsequent oestrous cycles with varied protein intake.
- Protein quality didn’t affect the diameter of the largest follicle of mares on the day before ovulation.
Conclusion and Implications
- While protein nutrition didn’t affect the incidence of oestrus, it played a significant role in follicular development and ovulation timing.
- The study’s findings have implications for feeding strategies in horse breeding, emphasizing the importance of high-quality protein for optimum breeding in mares.
- The observations can serve as guidelines for monitoring ovarian changes and follicular activity, further informing mare nutritional practices.
Cite This Article
APA
van Niekerk FE, van Niekerk CH.
(1997).
The effect of dietary protein on reproduction in the mare. III. Ovarian and uterine changes during the anovulatory, transitional and ovulatory periods in the non-pregnant mare.
J S Afr Vet Assoc, 68(3), 86-92.
https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v68i3.882 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Anovulation
- Dietary Proteins / administration & dosage
- Estrus / physiology
- Female
- Follicular Phase / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Ovary / anatomy & histology
- Ovulation / physiology
- Reproduction / physiology
- Uterus / anatomy & histology
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