Lactation and lactational effects on metabolism and reproduction in the horse mare

Deichsel, Katharina; Aurich, Jörg

doi:10.1016/j.livprodsci.2005.10.003

Cited by 18 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Females cycled within 45 days of delivery. This result is consistent with studies of domestic horses (Deichsel & Aurich, ). Plains and Grevy's zebras have also been found to cycle shortly after delivery (King, ), but Persian onagers can show suppression of ovarian activity for over a year (Schook et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Characterization of estrous cycles and pregnancy in Somali wild asses (Equus africanus somaliensis) through fecal hormone analyses

et al. 2018

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Although reproduction in the domestic horse has been well described, less is known about reproduction in wild equids. This study describes endocrine patterns associated with estrous cycles and pregnancy for Somali wild asses (Equus africanus somaliensis), an endangered African equid. Fecal samples were collected three times per week for more than 2 years from five female Somali wild asses at the Saint Louis Zoo; progestagen and estrogen metabolites were quantified using commercially available immunoassays. Progestagen analysis indicated that cycle lengths were 27.2 ± 1.2 days and females cycled throughout the year. Progestagen levels during early pregnancy were low and not sustained above baseline until approximately 40 weeks prior to partition. Concentrations increased markedly around 16 weeks prior to delivery and peaked 2-3 weeks before birth. Fecal estrogen levels also increased significantly starting 40-45 weeks before parturition and reached their maximal value approximately 20 weeks prior to birth. Neither foal heat nor lactational suppression of estrus was observed, and females cycled within 45 days after delivery. These data are the first to describe the reproductive physiology of Somali wild asses. As the species faces increasing threats in the wild, this information may support conservation efforts by assisting with ex situ breeding programs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Characterization of estrous cycles and pregnancy in Somali wild asses (Equus africanus somaliensis) through fecal hormone analyses

et al. 2018

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“…Although forage intake progressively substitutes calf reliance on milk intake after peak lactation (Le Du and Baker 1979), milk intake is still important to meet the energy needs of growing calves until weaning (Bailey and Lawson 1981). By contrast, lactating mares have a lower ability to mobilize body reserves and are unable to maintain milk production under conditions of nutritional deficiency (Deichsel and Aurich 2005). Therefore, the energy consumption by foals is reduced, adversely affecting their BW gains (Doreau and Boulot 1989).…”

Section: Animal Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative foraging behaviour and performance between cattle and horses grazing in heathlands with different proportions of improved pasture area

López

Celaya

Ferreira

et al. 2019

Journal of Applied Animal Research

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The objective of this study was to compare the diet selection and productive performance of beef cattle (Asturiana de los Valles breed) and crossbred horses grazing on heather-gorse shrublands with different available surface of improved pasture (IP): 80% (IP80) or 25% (IP25). Twelve and 10 lactating dams per species with their offspring were managed in IP80 (19 ha) and IP25 (22 ha), respectively, during two grazing seasons (spring-autumn). Visual recordings at IP25 indicated that horses grazed for longer than cattle. Both species grazed preferentially on IP and increased the utilization of shrublands as season advanced and available sward height in the IP area decreased. Diet composition estimates using faecal markers showed greater dietary percentages of white clover in cows than in mares during springsummer. During autumn cows selected greater percentages of heather and lower of gorse than mares. Mares achieved more favourable body weight (BW) changes than cows during the whole grazing season, although differences were mainly confined to IP80. Calves showed higher BW gains than foals during the whole grazing season, with scarce differences between vegetation mixtures. Mares compete with cattle for the use of quality pastures, negatively affecting BW recoveries of cows when both species graze together.

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“…More than 90% of domestic horses nursing foals ovulate within 20 days of parturition; therefore, lactational anestrus does not exist as a normal physiological condition in mares [63]. Prolonged (!60 days) lactational anestrus appears to occur only in ;18% of females that breed and foal earlier or later than the natural season (April-September), most often after artificial light manipulation [64,65].…”

Section: Reproduction In the Persian Onagermentioning

confidence: 99%

Fundamental Studies of the Reproductive Biology of the Endangered Persian Onager (Equus hemionus onager) Result in First Wild Equid Offspring from Artificial Insemination1

Schook

Wildt

Weiss³

et al. 2013

Biology of Reproduction

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We studied the Persian onager (Equus hemionus onager), an endangered equid subspecies. The objective was to characterize endocrine patterns and ovarian follicular dynamics of females as well as seminal traits and sperm sensitivity to cryopreservation in males as a prerequisite to testing the feasibility of artificial insemination (AI). Urinary progesterone and estrogen metabolite profiles were determined by enzyme immunoassay in 11 females. Serial ultrasonography of ovarian activity was performed for 2 mo in a subset of four females. Females were seasonally polyestrous (June-November). Ovarian morphometry via ultrasonography and urinary progesterone profiles were more reflective of reproductive events than urinary estrogen patterns, and preovulatory follicle size was smaller than reported for other equid species. There was evidence for lactational suppression of estrus for up to 1.5 yr in nursing dams. Electroejaculation allowed recovery of highly motile sperm from 7, anesthetized males on 57% of occasions. Spermatozoa, including motility and acrosomal integrity, were resilient to freeze-thawing. Artificial insemination was successful in 2 of 3 females following detection of a dominant follicle and deslorelin administration, resulting in births of a healthy female and male foal by using fresh/chilled and frozen/thawed sperm, respectively.

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Lactation and lactational effects on metabolism and reproduction in the horse mare

Cited by 18 publications

References 30 publications

Characterization of estrous cycles and pregnancy in Somali wild asses (Equus africanus somaliensis) through fecal hormone analyses

Characterization of estrous cycles and pregnancy in Somali wild asses (Equus africanus somaliensis) through fecal hormone analyses

Comparative foraging behaviour and performance between cattle and horses grazing in heathlands with different proportions of improved pasture area

Fundamental Studies of the Reproductive Biology of the Endangered Persian Onager (Equus hemionus onager) Result in First Wild Equid Offspring from Artificial Insemination1

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