Accurate recordkeeping is paramount on horse farms, particularly within the breeding shed. Comprehensive records are indispensable for effective breeding management, precise foaling date estimations, and thorough evaluation of breeding performance, all of which are crucial for informed decision-making. The level of detail required in these records can vary significantly based on the farm’s specific breeding practices. Farms with extensive operations utilizing artificial insemination and advanced reproductive technologies will have distinct needs compared to those managing a smaller number of mares through live cover without the aid of palpation or ultrasound. This guide aims to provide a framework for designing effective recordkeeping systems tailored to individual farm requirements.
Mare Records: The Foundation of Breeding Success
Breeding Records
Essential breeding records for each mare should encompass the year, the mare’s name, color, age, and farm number. For larger operations, assigning numbered neck bands to individual mares facilitates quick and accurate identification. These records should also detail the stallion the mare is booked to, her owner, and her previous breeding results.
A dedicated record for each mare is vital to track changes in breeding status and procedures. This can be managed using a daily calendar to meticulously document all relevant information.
The use of standardized symbols is a common practice to denote various breeding activities. The dates of a mare’s arrival and departure from the farm are critical for determining care charges. Recording foaling dates provides insight into expected heat cycles and subsequent reproductive activity. Documenting a mare’s breeding procedures aids in scheduling heat detection, insemination, pregnancy confirmation, and veterinary treatments. Furthermore, noting the dates of breeding helps in estimating the anticipated foaling time.
During the breeding season, mares typically cycle every 22 days. As ovulation approaches, most mares exhibit increased receptivity to stallions, a period known as heat, which can last from three to seven days. A mare’s sexual receptivity is often quantified using teasing codes, typically on a scale of 1 to 5, where a ‘1’ signifies resistance to the teaser stallion and a ‘5’ indicates strong, visible signs of heat. Recording these teasing responses is key to identifying heat cycles and determining optimal breeding times.
Advanced techniques such as palpation and ultrasound offer additional documentation for confirming ovulation and pregnancy. Figure 1 illustrates the use of symbols for recording breeding activities, with explanations provided on page 4 of the original publication. For instance, an ‘F’ denotes that a mare foaled on February 1st. Teasing responses were recorded on February 8th, 10th, 12th, and 14th. A teasing code of ‘4’ on February 10th and 12th indicated the mare was receptive for breeding, with the ‘B’ marking her as bred on those dates. The ‘P’ signifies palpation on the 10th, 12th, and 14th, and ‘Ov’ indicates ovulation occurred post-palpation on the 12th. An initial pregnancy check in March confirmed pregnancy (PR), and a Caslicks procedure was performed on March 15th, noted by ‘C’.
Daily Palpation Record
Commercial breeding operations frequently employ palpation or ultrasound to assess the reproductive tract’s condition, follicular status, and pregnancy. A daily palpation record should meticulously document the tease score, cervical tone and shape, uterine tone and condition, and follicle size and location. Similar to other records, symbols are utilized for these notations.
During estrus, the equine uterus is relaxed with minimal tone, and palpation reveals flattened uterine horns upon compression. In contrast, during diestrus, the horns feel more tubular and firm. Uterine tone generally increases significantly during pregnancy. The palpation record allows for concise narrative notes describing tone and shape. Ultrasound provides further detail on endometrial folds, intralumenal fluids, and uterine horn shape.
Rectal palpation and ultrasound of the cervix offer insights into variations in cervical tone. When a mare is pregnant or in diestrus, the cervix is tightly closed, very firm, and easily distinguishable. During heat, the cervix gradually flattens and loses tone, reaching maximum relaxation as ovulation nears. Cervical shape and tone should be recorded either through written descriptions or a scoring system.
Rectal palpation and ultrasound also document follicular consistency and size. A dominant follicle typically increases in size as ovulation approaches, at a rate of 2 to 3 mm per day, though this can be as high as 5 mm daily or show no growth for several days. Monitoring follicle presence and progression aids in timing insemination and recognizing individual mare patterns.
Figure 2 presents a segment of a daily palpation record, with notations explained on page 5 of the original publication. The notation ‘TS: 4’ indicates the mare was highly receptive to the stallion during teasing on February 10th. Markings on the ovary diagrams denote a dominant follicle of 40 mm on the left ovary (FS: 40 mm) and several smaller follicles on the right. The cervix score (CX: A) signifies a very flattened cervix. Narrative comments regarding the uterus indicate minimal tone, and remarks confirm insemination.
Other Essential Breeding Farm Records
Beyond breeding and palpation reports, every mare arriving at the farm should have a receiving record detailing her breeding and management history. Recommended information includes mare and owner identification; recent vaccination and deworming history; health status of the mare and foal; a current, negative Coggins test; history of any foaling difficulties; and treatments for reproductive diseases. Additionally, notes on handling challenges and recent feeding history will greatly assist in her management on the farm. This record should accompany the breeding contract and be returned upon the mare’s arrival at the breeding farm.
Stallion Records: Monitoring Reproductive Health
Farms employing live cover meticulously record the number of daily breedings for each stallion. Those utilizing artificial insemination document semen evaluation, including volume, concentration, morphology, and motility. These parameters are critical for determining the appropriate semen volume for an insemination dose. Motility, the measure of sperm movement, is typically estimated using a microscope, while concentration is quantified via a spectrophotometer. A morphological assessment estimates the percentage of abnormal sperm.
Regular review of daily records helps establish a stallion’s average semen production throughout the breeding season. Understanding expected semen production levels informs the number of mare bookings. Any unexpected changes in semen quantity or quality can signal health issues requiring immediate veterinary attention.
Evaluating Breeding Activity Through Records
The ultimate objective of a breeding farm is the production of live foals. To ascertain success, several key ratios are calculated from breeding records.
The pregnancy rate is a routine evaluation, calculated as the number of mares pregnant on a specific day divided by the total number bred. This rate can be assessed over a single ovulatory period or the entire breeding season. For example, if early pregnancy checks of 20 mares reveal 17 with embryos and three open, the pregnancy rate is (17/20) * 100 = 85%.
The number of cycles per pregnancy further defines breeding efficiency, with a lower average indicating greater efficiency. For instance, if records show 10 mares settled on their first cycle, five on their second, and two on their third, the average cycles per pregnancy would be calculated as [(10 1) + (5 2) + (2 * 3)] / 17 = 1.5 cycles per pregnancy.
Foaling rates represent the percentage of matings resulting in a live foal, determined by dividing the number of live foals by the number of mares bred. If 15 out of 20 bred mares produce foals, the foaling rate is (15/20) * 100 = 75%.
While the foaling rate offers an overall measure of efficiency, it doesn’t pinpoint the specific factors influencing the outcome. More granular ratios, such as pregnancy loss rate, embryo loss rate, fetal loss rate, and stillbirth fetal loss rate, help identify issues at particular stages of gestation. Pregnancy loss rate is the number of mares not foaling divided by those confirmed pregnant on the first check (typically around day 20). Embryo loss rate is the number not pregnant at the end of the embryo stage (e.g., day 40) divided by the number pregnant on a specific earlier day (e.g., day 20). Fetal loss rate is the number of mares not foaling divided by those pregnant on a specific later day (e.g., day 40). Stillbirth rate is the fetal loss rate near term (around 300 days).
Summary and Recommendations for Optimal Recordkeeping
- Informed Decision-Making: Records provide essential information for selecting mares for breeding and predicting conception likelihood.
- Preparation and Prediction: A mare’s past breeding records are invaluable for preparing her for the current season and accurately forecasting her breeding status.
- Success Evaluation and Improvement: Records are critical for assessing the success of foal production and identifying areas needing improvement in breeding management.
- Accuracy and Accessibility: Records must provide clear, accurate, and easily accessible information.
- Consistency: Designating one individual to oversee recordkeeping throughout the breeding season ensures clarity and consistency.
- Interconnectivity: Record systems should facilitate cross-referencing between different records, such as linking breeding records to palpation records.
- Efficiency: The design should minimize recording time without compromising accuracy or detail.
- Technology Adoption: Larger farms should seriously consider implementing computer programs for enhanced recordkeeping capabilities.
Kris Hiney
Extension Equine Specialist
