What is live cover in horse breeding?

Do breeding farms collect a stallion after he covers the mare?

Some breeding farms are already working in a gray area by collecting a stallion after he covers a mare and then she is infused post-breeding. Who’s to say they don’t breed a second mare with part of that collection?

How do you know if a mare is suitable for breeding?

Basic conformation should be considered to determine if the mare is sound enough to withstand the act of breeding and that she will not pass on any severe conformational abnormalities. Hoof and leg abnormalities, like acute laminitis or joint disorders (osteoarthritis, bursitis), may make her reluctant to stand for breeding.

How does a stallion breed a mare?

In pasture breeding, the stallion is allowed to run with one or more mares in a field. The stallion is responsible for determining the readiness of each mare for mating (i.e., he is responsible for estrus detection). In general, once a stallion gains experience in pasture mating, he is unlikely to attempt to breed a mare that is not in estrus.

How does a horse get pregnant from a stallion?

It involves the stallion mounting the mare, inserting his penis into the mare’s vagina, and vigorously thrusting until he ejaculates, then dismounting. If mishaps occur, the mare may not become pregnant, or injuries (to mare, stallion, or farm personnel) might occur.

How do I know if my mare is fertile?

The best thing to do to properly evaluate your mare’s reproductive health and capacity is have your veterinarian perform a BSE (breeding soundness exam) on your mare. Rectal palpation with ultrasound will help your vet evaluate the health of your mare’s uterus and monitor her ovarian activity.

What should I know about my mare before inseminating?

Knowledge of your mare’s normal pattern and timing is extremely useful for the breeder to know. Since most veterinarians wrap mare’s tail before palpating and inseminating, it wouldn’t hurt to rehearse this a number of times so she becomes accustomed to it.

Can a horse get pregnant or stud in horse reality?

Currently, there are no limitations or risks connected to pregnancies or studding in Horse Reality. Horses do not lose energy or can’t get hurt in the process.

What is the best time to inseminate a horse?

Success rates are much higher if the mare is inseminated within 24 hours prior to ovulation, or up to 6 hours after. Stallions learn to ejaculate into an artificial vagina (AV), which is a specialized large rubber tube with a reservoir end to catch the semen.

How long does it take to inseminate a mare with frozen semen?

With frozen semen, there is a much shorter “life” expectancy of the sperm cells in the mare’s reproductive tract. Ideally, we have an approximately twelve-hour time frame surrounding ovulation to inseminate the mare for optimal success – 6 hours prior to and 6 hour after ovulation.

How to breed a horse with artificial insemination?

When bred via artificial insemination, fresh-extended, cooled, or frozen semen may be used. These mares are followed more carefully by a veterinarian with palpation and ultrasound in order to breed as close to ovulation as possible. Each of these methods has its own pros and cons.

What happens to mares after insemination?

Some of these mares are also insensitive to the ovulatory drugs we use. After insemination, some mares (especially older maidens) become inflamed, pooling uterine fluid or worse, become infected.

When is the best time to use artificial insemination (AI) in horses?

Veterinarians have a choice of several drugs that are known to induce ovulation within known time periods, and using AI immediately after ovulation is the best bet for settling the mare.

How do you induce a mare to inseminate?

The mare should be checked to see that she has developed a ripening follicle before insemination, and various drugs can be administered to induce ovulation. Semen that is not destined for immediate use can be either cooled or frozen.

How long does semen live in a horse?

Keep in mind that most semen will live for approximately 48 hours. It is preferred to inseminate the mare at least 36 hours before ovulation. Silent HeatMares that exhibit no behavioral signs of estrus are called “silent heat” or “covert” mares.

When should I inseminate my mare for pregnancy?

Your best chances to catch your mare (catch referring to conceiving) are inseminating her three days before the end of the estrus cycle to six hours after it. Keep in mind that most semen will live for approximately 48 hours. It is preferred to inseminate the mare at least 36 hours before ovulation.

Should I use frozen semen when breeding a mare?

The benefits of using frozen semen when breeding a mare are numerous. Cryopreservation (freezing) allows long-term sperm storage, which in turn allows a breeder to buy and store semen from a stallion of interest and save it for the right mare in the future.

What is the semen quality of my mare?

0 – 24 semen quality = 40%. If the covering has failed, you will receive a message within the first 2 days after breeding that your mare does not seem to be carrying an embryo. This is because in real life, you will approximately know within 40-50 days if your mare got pregnant, which roughly translated to 2 days in Horse Reality.

What happens if a mare loses an embryo?

Most losses occur early in pregnancy and 15-20% of mares that conceive will lose the embryo before day 50. If the embryonic loss is detected, the mare can be served again later in the breeding season and this is an important reason for repeating pregnancy tests.

Why can’t some mares get pregnant?

Some of these mares are also insensitive to the ovulatory drugs we use. After insemination, some mares (especially older maidens) become inflamed, pooling uterine fluid or worse, become infected. Mares that have fluid in their reproductive tract 24 hours after breeding will likely not conceive.

What is artificial insemination in horses?

Artificial insemination (AI) is the process of introducing semen from a donor stallion into a mare when she is in estrus by means other than sexual intercourse to achieve pregnancy. The process has been used in livestock for decades, especially cattle, but more recently the practice has become more utilized in horses.

Can I breed my mare through artificial insemination?

Breeding your mare through artificial insemination can be a rewarding and exciting event. It requires a thoughtful matching of not only your mare, but of the prospective stallion.

Why do we use artificial insemination?

Reasons to use artificial insemination If the stallion is competing, the breeding season would interrupt his schedule The stallion is abroad or too far away to make natural covering viable A stallion has died but semen was frozen for use after his death A gelding has performed well and semen was frozen prior to castration

How do you perform artificial insemination (AI) in horses?

This requires ultrasounds to be conducted more frequently to “catch” ovulation as it occurs. In order to perform AI, the mare is secured in a palpation chute, if available, and her tail is wrapped and moved to the side to avoid contamination and interference.

How do you induce a mare to ovulate?

A mare will normally ovulate about 24 to 48 hours before the end of estrus. If you are shipping semen, you may want to use the hormone hCG (human chorion gonadotropin) to induce ovulation in order to maximize the chances of the mare’s conceiving.

How long does it take to recover an embryo from a horse?

The embryo is usually recovered from the donor mare by uterine lavage (wash) at around 6 to 8 days after ovulation. The embryo is then placed in the uterus of a synchronized recipient mare. A valuable mare can produce more than one foal per season.

What causes late pregnancy loss in horses?

Placentitis (Inflammation of the placenta) is another major cause of late pregnancy loss and has a tremendous economic impact on the horse industry, said Ball. Multiparous or older mares are at particular risk of developing placentitis; however, infection can occur in any age at any time of gestation.