Lesson #1



Equine Science & Technology

Unit Title: Horse Reproduction and Parturition CIP: 020221-09

Instructor:

Objectives:

After completing this unit of instruction, students will be able to:

A. Describe the physiology of the reproduction tracts of stallions and mares;

B. Summarize the estrus cycle and proper times to breed;

C. Describe proper horse gestation management;

D. Explore equine reproductive technology;

• Artificial insemination

• Embryo transfer

• Cloning

E. Discuss proper care during pregnancy and parturition; and

F. Describe the horse condition scoring system.

Click here for this lesson’s PowerPoint presentation

Interest approach:

Ask students to name a part on a car. Ask students to briefly explain each parts function in the operation of the car. Then ask students “Why is it important for a car mechanic to be able to identify and know the function of these parts?” After a brief discussion, ask students “Is it important for a livestock producer to know the parts of an animal?”

If so, “why?”

Curriculum & Instruction

|Curriculum |Instruction |

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|A. Describe the physiology of the reproduction tracts of stallions and mares. |PowerPoint presentation: |

| |“09 Horse Reproduction & Parturition.ppt” |

|Reproductive organs of the stallion | |

|The primary sex organ of the stallion is the testicle, of which there are two. The testicles |A1. Lecture and discussion. |

|produce (1) sperm and a hormone called testosterone, which regulates and maintains the male | |

|reproductive tract, and is responsible for the masculine appearance and behavior of the stallion. |A2. Write the bolded terms on the board to|

|Sperm production takes place within the testicles in the seminiferous tubules-a mass of minute, |the side. As terms are brought up in the |

|coiled tubules, the inner wall or surface of which produces the sperm. |lecture, write the definitions next to |

|These tubules merge into a series of larger ducts, which carry the sperm to a coiled tube called |each. |

|the epididymis. The epididymis is the place where the sperm are stored and where they mature. | |

|The testicles and epididymis are enclosed in the scrotum, the chief function of which is | |

|thermo-regulatory- to maintain the testicles temperatures several degrees cooler than the body | |

|proper. | |

|From the epididymis the sperm move through a tube, the vas deferens, into the urethra. The urethra| |

|has a dual role; it carries (1) urine from the bladder through the penis and (2) sperm from the | |

|junction with the vas deferens to the end of the penis. | |

|Along the urethra are the accessory sex glands- the prostate, the vesicular glands (seminal | |

|vesicles), and the bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands. Their fluids nourish and preserve the sperm and| |

|provide a medium for its transport. The combined sperm and fluid is called semen. | |

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|Reproductive organs of the mare | |

|The primary sex organ of the mare is the ovary, of which there are two. The ovaries are bean-shaped| |

|organs, 2 to 3 in. long that produce eggs. Each egg is contained in a bubble-like sack called a | |

|follicle. There are hundreds of follicles on every ovary. | |

|When the follicle is about 1 in. in diameter a hormone causes it to rupture and discharge the egg. | |

|This process is known as ovulation. | |

|The egg is then trapped in a funnel-shaped membrane called the infundibulum, which surrounds the | |

|ovary. The infundibulum narrows into a tube called the oviduct. | |

|The oviduct then carries the egg to the uterus, or womb, the largest of the female reproductive | |

|organs. There the unborn young (the fetus) will develop. | |

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|B. Summarize the estrus cycle and proper times to breed. | |

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|Fillies generally start a heat cycle when 12 to 15 months. | |

|The mare is seasonally polyestrous. This means that she typically has multiple estrous cycles only | |

|during a certain time of year. | |

|During the anestrous (nonovulatory) period, most mares show no behavioral signs of sexual | |

|receptivity (estrus) and fail to develop follicles that ovulate. | |

|In the Northern Hemisphere, the anestrous period of the mare occurs most frequently during the | |

|winter (mid-November to mid-February). | |

|During the ovulatory season, the mare undergoes a series of cycles, each of which is approximately | |

|21 days in length, with some shorter and others longer. | |

|The estrus cycle is divided into two physiological parts: estrus and diestrus. | |

|Estrus refers to the time the mare is in heat and sexually receptive to the stallion. | |

|Diestrus refers to the longest period (15 to 19 days) of the estrous cycle; it is the time the mare| |

|is not receptive to the stallion. Mares do not always follow a cycle, they can be erratic. |B1. Lecture with discussion. |

|Estrus usually lasts 3 to 7 days. Ovulation generally occurs 24 to 36 hours prior to the end of | |

|estrus. | |

|The hormones produced by the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and ovaries are responsible for both| |

|the release of the egg and the behavioral signs of estrus. | |

|Estrogen- the primary hormone responsible for causing the characteristic changes that occur in the | |

|mare’s genital tract. | |

|Leutenizing hormone (LH) – This is the primary hormone responsible for ovulation. It is highest at | |

|ovulation. | |

|Progesterone- This hormone, which is produced in the corpus luteum, is primarily responsible for | |

|the recognition and maintenance of pregnancy. | |

|Ovulation occurs in response to increased levels of LH. If the mare is not pregnant, the corpus | |

|luteum (CL) begins to regress in response to prostaglandin. | |

|Progesterone levels decrease when the CL regresses. About the same time, FSH levels increase | |

|causing follicular growth in preparation for ovulation during the following estrus. | |

|Mares are long-day breeders, and thus the percentage of ovulating mares increases significantly as | |

|the daily photoperiod increases above the 12-hour vernal equinox. | |

|Generally, the maximum number of naturally occurring mares occurs during the maximum daylight | |

|periods of June. | |

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|C. Describe proper horse gestation management. | |

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|The average gestation period of mares is 340 days, or a little more than 11 months. | |

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|Care of the pregnant mare | |

|Pregnant mares are often housed separately from other horses. | |

|Pregnant mares should be closely monitored for any signs of sickness or possible abortion. Mares | |

|should receive routine health care, including worming, vaccinations, and care of the teeth and | |

|feet. | |

|Which vaccinations are given depends on the farm and location and should be determined after | |

|consultation with a local veterinarian. | |

|Approximately ten days before the foal is to be expected arrangements for the place of foaling | |

|should be completed. | |

|During the spring, summer, and fall months when the weather is warm, the most natural and ideal | |

|place for foaling is a clean, open pasture away from other livestock. | |

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|D. Explore equine reproductive technology. | |

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|Artificial Insemination | |

|Artificial Insemination (AI) is less widely practiced in horses than in dairy cattle. | |

|AI permits more mares to be bred to a stallion, makes for a higher conception rate, lessens the | |

|hazard of transmitting an infection or a disease, and lessens the risk of injury to the stallion or|C1. Compare the gestation periods of |

|the mare. |various agricultural animals. |

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| |C2. Why are some gestations longer than |

|Kinds of Processed Semen |others? |

|Three kinds of processed semen are used in horses: | |

|Fresh semen-Fresh semen is collected, and an extender is usually added. The semen may be stored in |C3. Note the relationships between market |

|a refrigerator at about 55° F and used within 24 hours. |cycles and gestation periods. |

|Cooled Semen-Cooled semen is slowly cooled from body temperature down to 41° F. Cooled semen is | |

|usually viable for 24 to 72 hours, depending on the stallion. |Market cycles: |

|Frozen semen-Following collection, an extender is added to semen that is to be frozen. The semen |Poultry – Months |

|can be stored indefinitely. The drawback is that pregnancy rates in horses using frozen semen are |Swine – 3 years |

|only approximately 35 %. |Cattle – 8 to 10 years |

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| |It takes longer for markets to adjust |

|Embryo Transfer |according to the time to reproduce a herd.|

|An embryo can be nonsurgically removed from the uterus of one mare, transferred, and inserted into | |

|the uterus of another mare. | |

|Embryo transfer allows reproduction by older, less fertile mares, reproduction by two-year-old | |

|mares, and increased production of foals from genetically superior mares. | |

|This method is very expensive, and the yield is not high. | |

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|Cloning |D1. Allow the class to share information |

|A cell, group of cells, or organism descended from and genetically identical to a single common |about technology being used in their |

|ancestor. |agricultural homes & businesses. |

|In cloning, a cell is propagated from a host cell. | |

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|E. Discuss proper care during pregnancy and parturition. | |

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|When rendering assistance to a mare that is about to foal the following precautions should be | |

|followed: | |

|Cleanliness | |

|Quietness | |

|Gentleness | |

|Perseverance | |

|Knowledge, skill, and experience | |

|If foaling has been normal, the attendant should enter the stall to make certain that the foal is | |

|breathing and that the membranes have been removed from its mouth and nostrils. | |

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|F. Describe the horse condition scoring system. | |

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|Condition score is a method used to quantify the amount of subcutaneous fat cover. | |

|If a mare is not in acceptable condition, her diet must be changed to move her in the direction of | |

|a five score. | |

|Thin mares must gain weight since poor nutrition causes mares not to cycle normally. | |

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| |E1. Parturition – The act or process of |

| |giving birth |

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| |F1. Horse Condition Scores: |

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| |A scale of 1 to 9 with |

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| |1 – Poor/thin |

| |9 – Extremely fat |

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| |Refer to Table 1 |

Review & Evaluation

Objectives will be reviewed before examinations. Exams will be developed based on objectives as taught in class.

Instructional Support

A. References

Ensminger, M. E. (2004). Equine Science (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall

B. Teaching Aids and Equipment

- Overhead projector

- Board with chalk/marker

C. Facilities

- Room _____________

|TABLE 1: Description of individual condition scores |

|Score |Description |

|1. |Poor |Animal extremely emaciated. Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae and ischii projecting |

| | |prominently. Bone structure of withers, shoulders and neck easily noticeable. No fatty tissue can be |

| | |felt |

|2. |Very thin |Animal emaciated. Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes, transverse processes of lumbar |

| | |vertebrae feel rounded. Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae and ischii prominent. Withers, |

| | |shoulders and neck structures faintly discernable |

|3. |Thin |Fat build up about halfway on spinous processes, transverse processes cannot be felt. Slight fat cover |

| | |over ribs. Spinous processes and ribs easily discernable. Tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae |

| | |cannot be visually identified. Tuber coxae appear rounded, but easily discernable. Tuber ischii not |

| | |distinguishable. Withers, shoulders and neck accentuated |

|4. |Moderately thin |Negative crease along back. Faint outline of nbs thin discernable. Tailhead prominence depends on con |

| | |formation, fat can be felt around it. Tuber coxae not discernable. Withers, shoulders and neck not |

| | |obviously thin |

|5. |Moderate |Back level. Ribs cannot be visually distinguished but can be easily felt. Fat around tailhead beginning|

| | |to feel spongy. Withers appear rounded over spinous processes. Shoulders and neck blend smoothly into |

| | |body |

|6. |Moderately fleshy |May have slight crease down back. Fat over ribs fleshy feels spongy. Fat around tailhead feels soft. |

| | |Fat beginning to be deposited along the side of the withers, behind the shoulders and along the sides |

| | |of the neck |

|7. |Fleshy |May have crease down back. Individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat. |

| | |Fat around tailhead is soft. Fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders and along the neck |

|8. |Fat |Crease down back. Difficult to feel ribs. Fat around tailhead very soft. Area along withers filled with|

| | |fat. Area behind shoulder filled with fat. Noticeable thickening of neck. Fat deposited along inner |

| | |thighs |

|9. |Extremely fat |Obvious crease down back. Patchy fat appearing over ribs. Bulging fat around tailhead, along withers, |

| | |behind shoulders and along neck. Fat along inner thighs may rub together. Flank filled with fat |

Information found at



Name____________________________ Date___________________

Equine Science and Technology

Horse Reproduction

Quiz

Multiple Choice. Circle the correct answer.

1. All of the following are kinds of semen used in artificial insemination EXCEPT

A. Boiled semen

B. Cooled semen

C. Fresh semen

D. Frozen semen

2. What is the process of recovering a fertilized egg from the uterus of one mare and transferring it to the uterus of another for gestation?

A. Artificial insemination

B. Cloning

C. Embryo transfer

D. Estrus manipulation

3. What is the method used to quantify the amount of subcutaneous fat cover?

A. Condition score

B. Conformation formula

C. Edward’s formula

D. Skin palpation

4. The average gestation period of mares is

A. 175 days

B. 260 days

C. 340 days

D. 380 days

5. The primary sex organ of the stallion is the

A. Epididymis

B. Gonad

C. Sperm

D. Testicle

6. What is the primary sex organ of the mare?

A. Egg

B. Estrus

C. Follicle

D. Ovary

Matching. Write the correct letter of the term next to the description. The term may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

|Description |Item |

| | |

|_______ Each egg is contained in a bubble-like sack called a(n) ___. |12 to 15 |

| |18 to 20 |

|_______ Fillies generally start coming into heat when they are ____ months of age. |Anestrous |

| |Diestrus |

|_______ Refers to the time the mare is in heat and sexually receptive to the stallion. |Estrus |

| |Follicle |

|_______ Rupture of the follicle and discharge of the egg is known as ___. |Fresh |

| |Leutenizing |

|_______ This term is when the mare has multiple estrous cycles during the year. |Ovary |

| |Ovulation |

|_______ The primary hormone responsible for ovulation. |Polyestrous |

| |Testosterone |

|_______ The testicles produce this hormone. | |

| | |

|_______ The three kinds of semen used in horses – cooled, frozen and ___. | |

| | |

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Equine Science and Technology

Horse Reproduction

Key

Multiple Choice

1. A

2. C

3. A

4. C

5. D

6. D

Matching

7. F

8. A

9. E

10. J

11. K

12. H

13. L

14. G

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