Artificial Insemination in mares

Artificial insemination in mares North Park Veterinary Group has for the last 3 seasons been working in association with Newton Stud both on their own mares and visiting mares to provide artificial insemination using chilled or fresh semen. At present we do not inseminate with frozen semen. www.newtonstud.co.uk The owner Lorna Wilson is also a DEFRA approved AI technician and a member of the Association of Equine Artificial Inseminators. Whilst artificial insemination is not a cheap option there is a general agreement that it possesses a number of distinct advantages over natural breeding. The main advantage is that the best stallion for your mare can be used irrespective of location and enables the use of sires that have proven themselves able to pass on desirable characteristics to their progeny. Mares with a foal at foot, or mares with an injury not detrimental to foaling but that prevents them from supporting a natural covering can all benefit from AI. More importantly the use of AI can prevent the transmission of infection and lessen the risk of injury to the stallion, mare and handlers. Advantages of Artificial Insemination • Increased choice of stallions • Semen can be delivered direct to the centre • Reduced risk of injury to both horses and handlers • Less problems with non-venereal uterine infections than with natural covering If you are not currently a client of North Park Veterinary Group please visit our website- www.northparkvets.co.uk You will find plenty of information about us along with our locations and our billing Terms & conditions. Mares can be inseminated at your own premises, however the advantages in having the mare at Newton Stud are both safety and financial. Mares are placed in stocks for the rectal scanning and insemination procedures. A financial package per reproductive cycle reduces the overall costs involved. Before sending your mare for AI she must have a negative CEM (Contagious Equine Metritis) swab during the current year. This also shows she is not infected with Pseudomonas or Klebsiella. (both veneral diseases) The insemination package fee of £323.06 inc 20%VAT includes. A prebreeding check including scanning of the uterus and ovaries. An endometrial swab from the uterus when she is in season to show there are no bacteria that can reduce fertility. The laboratory fees associated with this swab. A smear test to examine the cellular content of the uterus – ‘Cytology’ All visits and ultrasound scans to time the insemination and the insemination( Lorna Wilson does the insemination). Chorulon or Ovuplant to synchronise ovulation. A post ovulation ultrasound scan A pregnancy scan at 15-17 days after ovulation. The insemination package does not include: Getting the mare to cycle normally. i.e. getting her into season. This may require repeated rectal/ultrasound examinations along with use of drugs to get the mare to cycle normally. E.g Regumate and/or Estrumate. Treatment of any uterine infections – these may need antibiotic wash outs of the uterus, saline flushes, oxytocin injections or a Caslicks operation. Repeated endometrial swabs and lab fees. Treatment of twinning. Mares that twin need repeated extra ultrasound scans along with manual pinching of one twin plus the associated drug costs. Any necessary sedation or drug costs to allow rectal /ultrasound scanning of the mare A second rectal ultrasound scan at 28-32 days to confirm the maintenance of the pregnancy diagnosed at 15-17 days post ovulation and minimize the presence of twins. If the mare does not conceive during the first insemination cycle then the process is repeated at a reduced cost of £258.44 per cycle inc 20% VAT. ( This is because I do not need to repeat the endometrial swab if it were initially clear) Twinning 15% of reproductive cycles in Thoroughbred mares produce twin follicles either in one ovary or one from each. Unfortunately few mares will carry twins to term and produce two live foals. Most abort in the last third of pregnancy. A single ultrasound scan at 15-17 days CANNOT eliminate the possibility of twins. A second scan between 28-32 days after ovulation minimizes the risk of missing twins but is not 100% reliable even with experienced vets. Rectal examination and Rectal tears Rectal examinations are carried out in horses for various reasons but probably more are done to assesses pregnancy or for reproductive reasons. Horses have an apparent anatomical weakness in their rectum which cattle do not have. The risk is small but cases can be life threatening. The risk is minimized when examining mares in stocks. Mares should be relaxed when being examined. Drugs may be used to relax your mare and improve safety for both her and the vet. Finally although most mares conceive a few fail to produce a live foal. Some mares fail to conceive despite extensive efforts by the owner, mare stud staff and vet. If you consider an 80% conception rate then 20 mares from a group of 100 will need a second insemination. Four will need a third and one may need a fourth insemination and this is with an 80% conception rate!! Good luck with your equine breeding programme and here’s looking forward to a foal next year. Jon Herrod-Taylor B.Vet.Med.MRCVS