A mare is a female horse aged 3 or older. A mare's reproductive abilities begin to decrease at age 16. Foaling occurs after an 11 month gestation period. Mares experience seasonal estrous cycles controlled by exposure to light and melatonin levels. Stallions reach puberty at 15 months but are usually not used for breeding until age 3. Sperm production takes 57-60 days. Foals are born front feet first and must drink the mare's first milk, called colostrum, within 30 minutes. Proper nutrition and vaccination protocols are important for mare and foal health during and after pregnancy.

1. Equine Reproduction

2. The MareA Mare is a female horse 3 years or olderA mare’s reproductive abilities begin to decrease at 16 yrs of age

3. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:What is the difference between a mare and a filly?According to the American Quarter Horse Association breed registry, in what month would a horse born in March be considered a yearling? At what age does a mare’s reproductive ability decrease?What is a A wet mare?What is a mare classified as if she has never been bred before?Mare is 3 or over, Filly is under 3January16 yearsA mare that is nursing a foalMaiden

4. The MareGestationPregnancyLasts 11 months

5. The MareSeasonal PolyestrousIncreasing day length turns the mare “on”Decreasing day length turns the mare “off”June 21EstrousMar 21Sept 21AnestrusDec 21

6. The MareAnestrusShort days or absence of light causes pineal gland in brain to produce more melatoninHigh levels of melatonin suppress production of GnRH by the hypothalamus – keeping the mare in anestrous

7. The MarePut her “under lights”It will take 60-90 days to induce ovulationUp to 16 hours of light/dayMore than 16 hrs may cause her to not cycle properly1 - 200 watt light bulb in a 12x12 stallShould be able to read a newspaper in any corner of the stall Use of lights will also cause her to shed – have a blanket ready!

8. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:During the winter months, mares are in what state of reproduction? What is a mare called that is not currently pregnant but was bred in previous or current seasons?What are 2 causes of a mare being unable to breed, or barren? AnestrousBarrenUterine infection, improper nutrition, old age

9. The MareEstrousAlso spelled oestrousLasts 18-21 days, Average is 21 daysHas 2 phasesEstrus (or heat)Diestrus

10. The Mare

11. The MareSigns of EstrusInterest in the stallionVulval winkingSquattingTail raisingUrination

12. The MareSigns of DiestrusKickingBitingStrikingLaying the ears backOverall hostile attitude toward the stallion

13. The MareTeasingExposing the mare to a stallion daily while watching for the signs of estrus to determine how close she is to ovulationScored from 0-4A score of 0 means the mare is in diestrousA score of 3-4 means the mare is in estrous and can be bred

14. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Question:What is the average length of an estrous cycle during the breeding season in a mare?What is the range for scoring Behavioral Estrus in mares? 18-21 days0-4

15. The MareEstrous

16. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:The corpus luteum produces what hormone?In the absence of light, the brain’s pineal gland will respond by producing what? Melatonin inhibits what hormone? What is the study of hormones and their effects called? ProgesteroneMelatoninGnRHEndocrinology

17. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:The hypothalamus triggers what reproductive hormone?The hormone responsible for stimulating ovulation is what?Name two hormones used to manipulate a mare’s estrous cycle?GnRHLuteinizing hormoneProgesterone, prostaglandins, hCG

18. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:Why breed a mare as soon after January 1st as possible?How can you “induce” a mare to begin cycling?How many days does a mare need to be under artificial lighting to see a response?So that the foal will be born as close to Jan 1 as possiblePut her under lights60 days

19. The Mare

20. The Mare

21. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:What organ is multi-layered, hollow, y-shaped and found in the mare’s reproductive tract?What are the highly coiled tubes that connect the tip of the uterine horn with an ovary?What acts as a physical barrier between the vagina and the uterus?UterusFallopian tubesCervix

22. The Mare

23. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:What is the general shape of the mare’s ovaries?Name the 6 main parts of the mare’s reproductive tract:What is at the ovarian end of the oviduct?Name the three layers of the uterus Like a kidney beanVulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, oviduct, ovariesInfundibulumSerous, Endometrium, Myometrium

24. The Mare

25. The MareThe Ovarian Cycle

26. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:How many ovaries does a mare have?What structure on the ovary forms from the tissues remaining after a follicle ruptures at ovulation?The medulla is what part of the ovary?Blood vessels and nerves which serve the entire ovary pass through what? 2Corpus luteumThe outermost area of the ovary Hilus

27. The StallionA male horse that has not been geldedReach puberty at approximately 15 months of ageMost wait until stallion is 3 yrs to use

28. The StallionHas increased fertility in summerReduction in sperm production by 50% September thru FebruaryCan also be put “under lights” (just like mares) to increase sperm output in winter monthsIncreased light causes lowered melatonin production by the pineal glandMELATONINMELATONINMELATONINMELATONIN

29. The StallionDecreased melatonin causes the Hypothalamus to produce more GnRHProduction of GnRH by the Hypotahlamus causes the Pituitary gland to produce FSH and LHHypothalamusPituitaryGnRHFSHLHFSH causes the Sertoli cells to produce sperm cellsTestisSertoli cellsLH causes the Leydig cells to produce testosteroneSperm cellsTESTOSTERONELeydig cells

30. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:In the stallion the hormones FSH exerts its effects on which cells?Sertoli Cells

31. The Stallion

32. The Stallion

33. The Stallion3 phases of sperm production – in the seminiferous epitheliumSpermatocytogenesis – initial division of spermatogoniaMeiosis – spermatogonia are reduced in chromosome number to form spermatidsSpermiogenesis – maturation of spermatidsEach phase takes 18-19 dysOnce they are released into tubules they are called spermatozoa

34. The StallionSperm cells take 57-60 days to be producedThe average ejaculate contains 5-10 billion sperm cellsStressors such as fever, illness, high environmental temperatures, etc will affect quality

35. The Stallion3 segments of the EpididymisHead (caput)Body (corpus)Tail (cauda)Spermatozoa undergo changes allowing them to swim and fertilize eggsBodyTailStorage of sperm cellsHead

36. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:The retention of one or both testicles in the body cavity is called what? Name the 3 parts of the epididymus:What is the master organ and site for the production of spermatozoa and testosterone? CryptorchidismHead, body & tailThe testicles

37. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:Where are sperm produced?Define DSO. How many days does it take to produce sperm?Seminiferous tubulesDaily Sperm Output- number of spermatozoa which can be collected per 24-hr period from a stallion and is determined by collecting the stallion for seven days. 57-60 days

38. The Stallion & The Mare2 Types of serviceNatural or live coverArtificial Insemination or A.I.

39. The FoalThe Foaling Process slide show

40. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions: During a normal foaling, will the back feet or front feet come out first?In the United States, what is the average age a foal is weaned?What is the recommended age to start de-worming a foal? What is it called when foals fail to form certain types of nerves in their intestinal tracts and die of colic within several days of birth? Front Feet 4-6 months 8 weeks Lethal White Syndrome

41. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:A newborn foal must drink the mare’s first milk. What is this milk called?Most foals should be born within how many minutes?During what stage of gestation do the nutritional requirements of the mare increase?Colostrum 30 The last 3 months

42. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:How many weeks before a foaling will a mare’s udder start to fill with milk?A mare should be immunized for tetanus how many days prior to foaling? The reproductive efficiency of a horse is lower, average, or higher than most domestic animals? 2-6 weeks 30 days Lower

43. ReproductionQuiz Bowl Questions:A foal normally weights approximately what percent of the mare’s body weight?Nutrition represents what percent of the total cost of managing a broodmare?What horse bi-product has been an essential component in the world’s leading human estrogen replacement therapy since 1942? 9-10% 70-80% PMU – Pregnant Mare Urine

44. ReproductionThe End!