REPRODUCTIVE EVALUATIONS
The goals of a mare reproductive evaluation are to evaluate the potential of a mare to become pregnant and carry a foal successfully to term, as well as identify reproductive abnormalities that may limit fertility. Reproductive examinations are performed in open (non-pregnant) mares prior to the onset of the breeding season, in problem mares during the breeding season, and in barren mares at the end of the breeding season.
Services include:
- Reproductive history
- Physical examination
- Perineal conformation
- Estrous detection
- Palpation and ultrasound
- Vaginal speculum examination
- Uterine culture and cytology (if needed)
- Endometrial biopsy
- Other tests (if needed)
Treatments for uterine infections can be completed concurrently with breeding management in many cases. A variety of new therapeutics is available to assist mare owners with problem or hard-to-breed mares.
A comprehensive breeding soundness evaluation for pre-purchase (including a veterinary report) is also available.
BREEDING MANAGEMENT
Our team can manage mares for live-cover breeding and artificial insemination with fresh, cooled-transported, or frozen semen. We offer reproductive services via outpatient/trailer-in appointments for mares being bred to carry their own pregnancy, as well as mare drop-off for complete reproductive management.
EMBRYO TRANSFER AND FREEZING
Embryo transfer is a reproductive technique that allows valuable mares to produce more than one foal per year, older mares can donate embryos to young recipients, sub-fertile mares can donate embryos which are transferred to reproductively healthy mares, and mares in athletic competition can donate embryos and remain in training.
Our embryo services are offered Feb. 1-July 1, and include:
- On-site donor mare management
- Receiving shipped embryos from your local veterinarian
- Outpatient (trailer-in) embryo recovery
- Transfer into owner-provided recipient mare
- Vitrification (freezing) of embryos
FOALING MANAGEMENT
Our staff of equine professionals will foal out your pregnant mare and provide routine care for the newborn foal to a limited number of mares with potential foaling dates from Jan. 2-June 15
Services include:
- 24-hour monitoring
- Large (24 ft. x 12 ft.) indoor foaling stalls
- Video surveillance in each foaling stall
- Milk calcium screening to predict impending foaling
- Neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) testing pre-foaling
- Foal alert (monitoring alarm to detect onset of foaling)
- Veterinarian attending each foaling
- Evaluation of the quality of the dam's colostrum by specific gravity and refractometry
- Umbilical cord care (navel dipped with Nolvasan® solution 2-4 times per day)
- Measurement of the antibody level in foal's blood at 12 and/or 24 hours of age to detect failure of passive transfer
- Enema administered to newborn foal to decrease risk of meconium impaction
- Mare dewormed after foaling to limit parasite infestation of foal
- Newborn foal and postpartum mare examinations
Additional services available (at an additional cost):
- Supplemental colostrum, colostrum substitute (i.e. Seramune®), or plasma therapy if needed
- Veterinary services for non-routine events (i.e. dystocia, retained placenta, etc.)
- Foal heat breeding services for mare