Horse Breeding

When can my foal be vaccinated?

While vaccinations can be administered at any age without negative effects, vaccinating your foal too early will not be successful in mounting an immune response. A vaccination program should commence from three months of age for the best results. When your foal is born, they inherit disease immunity by consuming an adequate amount of their dam’s colostrum within two hours of birth. For the first three months of life, these colostral antibodies provide immediate and effective immunity from disease. Any vaccine administered before three months of age will fail to protect your foal as the same colostral antibodies prevent the vaccine from having any lasting effect. As such, you should wait until your foal reaches three months before commencing a vaccination program. First Vaccines At three months of age, your foal should receive a 2-in-1 vaccine, four weeks apart, to protect them against tetanus and a strangles vaccine two weeks after their first 2-in-1 to completely cover for strangles. Then, at four months of age, it’s highly recommended your foal receives the Hendra virus vaccine, depending on the area where you live. Vaccination is the simplest method to prevent the onset of diseases that can debilitate your young horse’s health and rapidly spread from horse to horse. While at first, vaccination may seem expensive, the costs are much higher if your horse becomes ill. Finally, Hendra virus not only poses a high health risk to horses, but also to any human who comes into contact with an infected horse. The consequences can be deadly, and vaccination is the only way to protect your horse, yourself, your family and the general public.

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Breeding Success: Is Your Mare or Stallion Fit for Breeding?

The reality is not every mare or stallion is fit for breeding. A fertility evaluation is the first step when deciding if you should breed your mare or stallion, and could potentially save you financial and emotional stress. A breeding soundness examination is carried out by a veterinarian to determine the breeding potential of your mare or stallion, and flag any physiological issues that may hinder breeding success, such as musculoskeletal problems. Not only does a breeding soundness examination protect your mare or stallion from potential risks, but it also ensures your breeding stock is in good condition for the rigours of breeding and producing a live, healthy foal. What’s Involved The first step in a breeding soundness examination is a physical examination of your mare or stallion by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian will check the horse’s history, and body condition and look for any signs of ill health. Diet, worming, vaccinations, dental, and hoof care should be up to date. The second step is an evaluation of the mare and stallion’s ability to reproduce successfully. For stallions, this will involve semen collection and testing to check sperm count, quality, and motility. For mares, this will involve an ultrasound of the reproductive tract. A breeding soundness examination also protects your mare or stallion from potentially passing on any sexually transmitted infections if they’re present. What’s Next If your mare or stallion is deemed fit for breeding, then you can start to consider your options and whether you intend to pursue live mating or insemination. If the outcome isn’t as successful as you hoped, then you may choose to breed another horse. The choice to breed, for any reason, should not be entered into lightly. With the high numbers of unwanted horses available, it’s important you carefully consider your reasons for producing a new foal and put the health and well-being of your breeding stock first at all times. Also Read: Preparing Your Stallion for Breeding Season Preparing Your Mare for Breeding Season

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Chilled Versus Frozen: Which Semen is Best for Your Mare?

When deciding between chilled and frozen semen, there are many things to consider, including the suitability of both mare and stallion, the cost, the location of the stallion in relation to your mare, and the success rate of your chosen veterinarian. If the stallion you’ve chosen is located more than 24 hours away by plane, the decision to use frozen semen is made for you. While, typically, chilled semen has a higher success rate, the importance of quality genetics from an international stallion may be a better option for your breeding program. However, if you’re still deciding between chilled or frozen, here’s what you should consider… Mare and Stallion Suitability Artificial insemination (AI) often represents a higher cost than live mating and requires a competent veterinarian who can successfully collect, handle and utilize the stallion’s semen. That being said, there are many benefits to AI. Foremost, is the ability to time insemination with ovulation. When considering AI, you first need to determine whether both stallion and mare are suitable. For the stallion, this involves: For the mare, this involves: Cost Most often, the use of frozen semen is more expensive than chilled semen. This is due to a number of reasons. Success rates with frozen semen can range from 0-70%, with the accepted international standard at only 70% for the first cycle. Frozen semen also has a very short life span, so the timing of the insemination procedure to your mare’s ovulation is critical to success. Often, mare owners will need to account for multiple attempts when using frozen semen. Your Veterinarian Last, and certainly not least, the success of using either chilled or frozen semen largely depends upon the skill of your veterinarian who is responsible for accurately predicting ovulation and managing the insemination procedure. The decision as to which veterinarian you use should be made carefully. At Exclusively Equine Veterinary Services, conception rates of over 85%  frozen semen have been achieved at our purpose-built breeding center.

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The First 48 Hours: Part 1

Your new bundle of joy has arrived and the most stressful part, the labour, is thankfully over. However, now, there are more things to worry about. Identifying problems early is critical. In this article, we discuss the first milestones, standing and nursing.  A Healthy Foal  When your new foal arrives, there are two important milestones which take place within the first two hours. Firstly, has your new foal been able to stand within an hour of birth? Secondly, has your new foal been able to nurse within two hours of birth? Once these have taken place, you should expect the passing of the meconium (first manure), followed by urination. The meconium is usually firm, ranging from black to mustard in colour and can measure up to 50cm in length. Standing Your new foal should be standing within two hours of birth. However, this may be inhibited if your foal has contracted tendons, which prevent their legs from fully extending. This condition can range from mild to severe where the foal can’t extend their legs at all. Other problems that prevent your foal from standing can be prematurity of the foal where the joints haven’t properly formed, or a stressful labour with the foal being exhausted or starved of oxygen during birth. The First Meal When your foal first nurses, they receive colostrum (a sticky creamy, yellow or white milk) from the mare, which gives them immunity until their own immune system starts to function at around three months of age. The foal may not be able to receive colostrum if they have a cleft palate, making it difficult to nurse, or if the mare doesn’t allow the foal to nurse at all. If your foal doesn’t receive an adequate amount or quality of colostrum, they are considered to have a naive immune system and this condition is called Failure of Passive Transfer, or FPT. A serious and potentially deadly condition, your foal requires immediate administration of plasma, possibly with oxygen and antibiotic therapy.

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If You Are Expecting: Part 3

A mare’s gestation is normally between 320 and 345 days – that’s a long time to wait for something to go wrong. Before your precious bundle arrives, there are three important areas of your mare’s health that you need to consider. In this article, we discuss the third, If You Are Expecting: Vaccinations And Worming.  In case you missed Part 1, click here, or Part 2, click here. Mare Care: Vaccinations and Worming  Protecting your mare and her unborn foal is easy with a sufficient vaccination and worming program prior to the foal’s arrival. Vaccinations The most important vaccination your mare should receive during her pregnancy is tetanus, which is usually combined with strangles, commonly named ‘2 in 1’. If you’re unsure about your mare’s vaccination history, it’s best to give her the full course of tetanus and strangles. However, if she’s had the initial course, then she should receive the annual booster four weeks prior to her due date. Herpes virus can cause abortion in pregnant mares and respiratory issues in unborn foals. There are vaccines available to protect your mare and foal against the most common – herpes virus 1 and 4. These vaccines should be administered at five, seven and nine months of gestation. Depending on where you live, you may also vaccinate against salmonella. Salmonella is usually caught by foals either through ingestion or contamination via the umbilicus, leading to infection and diarrhoea, which can develop into septicemia. Your mare should be vaccinated six weeks prior to foaling. If she hasn’t been previously vaccinated, she should also receive an initial vaccine four weeks prior to the six-week one. Worming Finally, worming every 8-12 weeks is crucial for your mare’s health. There are many wormers on the market, so make sure the label states your choice of wormer is safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re nervous about worming your mare, worm her on the day she foals and remove her from the foaling paddock to prevent contamination. Collect any manure from the paddock as well to remove all feces which may contain eggs.

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If You Are Expecting: Part 2

A mare’s gestation is normally between 320 and 345 days – that’s a long time to wait for something to go wrong. Before your precious bundle arrives, there are three important areas of your mare’s health that you need to consider. In this article, we discuss the second, If You Are Expecting: Her Housing. In case you missed Part 1, click here Mare Care: Housing  To ensure a safe and uneventful delivery for the mare and foal, it’s important that you decide on where your mare will foal down before the day arrives. Choosing the Paddock The ideal environment for foaling is a flat, grassed area with appropriate fencing to protect the newborn foal from predators. The paddock should also be free of manure and hazards. It should be rested for several weeks before your mare goes in to foal down. This will allow her to become accustomed to the pasture and pass on the antibodies to protect her foal after birth. You should also select a paddock away from other horses, so your mare can concentrate on the task at hand without the burden of nosey paddock mates. Choosing the Stable If you opt to stable your mare for foaling down, the stall needs to be at least 6 x 7 meters to prevent your mare from casting herself and give her ample room during labor. If the stall is too small, there is a risk of your mare injuring her foal during contractions or after birth. However, the advantages of stabling are protecting the mare and foal from the elements if it’s too rainy, windy, or cold, and supporting your foal’s body temperature. Foals can quickly use up their energy reserves when struggling to regulate their body temperature. Coming Up If You Are Expecting: Part 3

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If You Are Expecting: Part 1

A mare’s gestation is normally between 320 and 345 days – that’s a long time to wait for something to go wrong. Before your precious bundle arrives, there are three important areas of your mare’s health that you need to consider. In this article, we discuss the first, If You Are Expecting: Her Nutrition. Mare Care: Nutrition  Nutrition during pregnancy is vital for the growing fetus’ optimum development, as well as proper colostrum and milk production during lactation. The most common error is over-feeding the pregnant mare and under-feeding the lactating mare. When feeding the pregnant mare, it’s easiest to break it into three periods: Feeding Your Mare The first period is the best time to modify a mare’s body condition if required. Losing or gaining weight is safest during this period. Overweight mares risk having birthing problems, due to poor muscle tone and condition; whereas, underweight mares risk having no energy stores for birthing. The second period sees the fetus increase in size and weight by two-thirds. While your mare requires more energy and nutrients from her feed during this period, allowing your mare to gain too much weight can lead to problems for the foal. Finally, the third period is one of high physiological stress for the mare. The lactating mare’s nutrient requirements are greater than any other class of horse. Your mare’s nutrition must adequately support her recovery from parturition, and give her the nutrients she needs to produce colostrum and milk for her newborn foal. Coming Up If You Are Expecting: Part 2 Next week, we discuss the second most important aspect of mare care during pregnancy. Do you want to learn more about horse health? Click here to receive our free bi-weekly educational reports.

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Preparing Your Stallion for Breeding Season

A stallion in prime physical condition and mentally prepared will ensure a successful outcome for your clients and your stud. In this article, we outline the steps you should take to prepare your stallion for breeding as the season approaches.  Maintaining your stallion’s health is paramount year-round. A well-balanced diet, adequate exercise, correct training, and routine vaccinations, dental and hoof care are all important in preparing your stallion for the rigours of breeding. In the final weeks before breeding begins, there are several steps you should take. Evaluate his condition  If your stallion isn’t in good health, then his ability to breed may be affected. Your stallion should be in a healthy body condition, with vaccinations up to date, well-maintained teeth, and sound hooves. Most stallions should be managed similarly to a performance horse in moderate to heavy work, with a high-fiber, low-starch diet to meet their nutritional and energy requirements. Check his semen quality Semen volume and quality are fundamental to successful breeding, and you may need to monitor this particularly closely for first-time stallions and those coming out of competition. Conducting a breeding soundness exam will help you identify any problems early. A high sperm count and strong libido are crucial from the start to the end of the season. Test his training Finally, you should ensure your stallion is familiar with the breeding routine, including live cover and artificial insemination, depending on your stud. Correct training throughout the year, reinforced ahead of breeding, will limit aggressive behavior and the formation of bad habits. Your staff should also receive training, so horse and handler remain safe. Also Read: Preparing Your Mare for Breeding Season Is Your Mare or Stallion Fit for Breeding?

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Foaling Time or Time to Call the Vet?

When all goes to plan, foaling is stress free and usually over in 30 minutes to an hour. However, things can go wrong. In this article, we explain the situations you may encounter during foaling that mean it’s time to call the vet. Stages of foaling There are three distinct stages to a normal foaling: Stage One (30 minutes – 6 hours): This stage involves uterine contractions and cervical relaxation. The normal signs of stage one are rolling, pawing, kicking at the abdomen, anorexia, sweating and frequent urination. Stage Two (10 minutes – 1 hour): This stage is where the water breaks. You will see a sudden release of tan- or red-coloured fluid, followed by active abdominal contractions as the foal is delivered. The mare will usually lie down for this stage. Stage Three (1 – 3 hours): This stage is where the placenta is expelled. When the placenta has passed, you must check to ensure its intact. There should be one hole and no signs of tearing. When to interfere Immediate advice from a veterinarian is vital if: The mare has been streaming milk for 12 hours or more with no sign of labour The waters have broken, but there’s no sign of contractions or no further progress There’s malpresentation of the foal The placenta has appeared at the vulva before the foal The foal’s hoof is emerging through the mare’s anus The foal is unwilling or unable to stand within one hour after birth The foal is unwilling or unable to suckle within two hours after birth The mare is showing signs of colic post-foaling The placenta has not passed within four hours after birth You have concerns the entire placenta hasn’t been passed The placental membranes is covering the foal’s muzzle outside the pelvic canal During foaling, you should only intervene if you notice a problem. Seeking advice from a veterinarian is imperative if something goes wrong. It may be the difference between life and death for your mare or newborn foal.

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Preparing Your Mare for Breeding Season

Not every mare is fit for breeding and evaluating your mare’s breeding potential is the first step towards a positive pregnancy. In this article, we outline the three key areas that will ensure a safe and successful outcome. A healthy mare in good body condition, with regular worming, vaccinations, dental and hoof care, will have a better chance of delivering a healthy foal. Your mare’s overall health is fundamental in the development of your next rising star. While maiden or older mares who haven’t foaled before may experience more difficulties with conception, there are several steps that every mare owner should take during the final weeks to result in a positive pregnancy. 1. Conduct a breeding soundness examination Your veterinarian will conduct a physical examination of your mare, as well as an ultrasound of the reproductive tract. Aside from breeding potential, it’s also important you determine if your mare has any illness or injury that’ll worsen with pregnancy, or if she risks passing on any hereditary conditions to her foal. 2. Track her cycle Ultrasound examination of your mare’s ovaries and uterus over several days will help you accurately time insemination around ovulation. Regardless if you’ve chosen live cover, artificial insemination, or embryo transfer for your mare, tracking her cycle will give her the highest chance of conception. 3. Check for infection or inflammation Finally, to ensure the health of your mare and the stallion she’s breeding to, you should do a uterine culture to rule out bacteria, fungal, or yeast infections. Not only is this required by most studs and stallion owners, but an undiagnosed infection can lead to financial loss, wasting your mare’s cycles and hurting your back pocket. Also Read: Preparing Your Stallion for Breeding Season Is Your Mare or Stallion Fit for Breeding?

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