The relation of clinical and bacteriological findings to fertility in thoroughbred mares.
Abstract: Day (1939) recorded 95% fertility in wild
ponies, but in heavy horses it was only 52%
and in thoroughbreds 68%. Variation of fertility was stated by Anderson (1922) was not due
to disease or physiological malfunction, but to
highly artificial methods of mating. In New
Zealand, Bain (1948) recorded the fertility of
mares in 1944 as 61%. MahaiIey (1950) made
a survey in Western Australia and found fertility
rates which varied from 17% to 50% before
veterinary assistance was obtained.
An article in the British Racehorse (Anon
1949) revealed no evidence of any progress in
the control of sterility in mares since the closing
years of the last century; the Stud Book showed
only a slight increase in fertility from 27% over
a period of some 50 years.
In dealing with the clinical aspect of this subject, Dimmock and Bruner (1949) said: “The
examination of brood mares for pregnancy and
the causes of non-conception is both an art and
a science. Exact clinical observations are required if laboratory studies are to be accurately
calculated. The successful student of equine
breeding hygiene is one who has, in addition to
both the skill and dexterity as a clinician, the
ability to interpret the findings and apply the
correct treatment and preventive measures.”
With the foregoing information in mind, it was
decided in 1950 to study the relationship of
clinical and bacteriological findings in non-pregnant mares to subsequent fertility. Additional
observations were made on other mares and
stallions, and an experiment was carried out on
venereal transmission in mice.
Publication Date: 1974-08-01 PubMed ID: 4608991DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1974.tb14104.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study is an examination of the relationship between clinical and bacteriological findings in non-pregnant mares with their subsequent fertility. The research also includes observations on other mares and stallions, and an experiment on venereal transmission in mice.
Historical Perspective
- Various records indicate varying degrees of fertility in horses. For instance, Day (1939) reported a high fertility rate of 95% in wild ponies, a drastic contrast to the 52% rate in heavy horses and 68% in thoroughbreds.
- Anderson (1922) argued that these variations were not due to physiological issues or disease, but rather man-made mating methods.
- New Zealand’s fertility rates, as documented by Bain in 1948, sat at 61%, while fertility rates in Western Australia varied between 17% and 50% prior to veterinary assistance.
- An article in the British Racehorse (1949) claimed there hadn’t been any progress in controlling sterility in mares since the previous century. The Stud Book only showed a slight improvement in fertility rates – a mere 27% increase over a period of approximately 50 years.
Clinical and Bacteriological Analysis of Mares
- Dimmock and Bruner (1949) advocated for precise clinical observation, stressing that without it, studies in the laboratory cannot be accurately calculated. They viewed the evaluation of mares for pregnancy and the causes of non-conception as both an art and a science.
- The authors emphasized that successful equine breeding hygiene is a combination of clinical skills, the ability to interpret findings, and the application of appropriate treatments and preventive measures.
Study Objective and Methodology
- Considering this existing knowledge, the researchers in this study set out in 1950 to explore how clinical and bacteriological findings in non-pregnant mares influence their future fertility.
- Further observations were made on other mares and stallions, going beyond just analysis of clinical and bacteriological elements in non-pregnant mares. This aimed at getting a comprehensive understanding of fertility issues in these equids.
- Additionally, an experiment was conducted on venereal transmission in mice as part of this comprehensive study of fertility.
Cite This Article
APA
Millar R, Francis J.
(1974).
The relation of clinical and bacteriological findings to fertility in thoroughbred mares.
Aust Vet J, 50(8), 351-355.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1974.tb14104.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Bacterial Infections / microbiology
- Bacterial Infections / veterinary
- Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
- Escherichia coli / pathogenicity
- Female
- Fertility
- Genitalia, Female / injuries
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Infertility, Female / microbiology
- Infertility, Female / veterinary
- Male
- Mice
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / microbiology
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / veterinary
- Semen / microbiology
- Staphylococcus / isolation & purification
- Streptococcus / isolation & purification
- Streptococcus / pathogenicity
- Uterus / microbiology
- Vagina / microbiology
Citations
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