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[Willow Glen Stud]

Hi Dallas,

I was just wondering on the Maximum Time Life Cycle for Chilled Semen.
I am interested in transporting Chilled Semen from QLD to Victoria, however I do not
know the time restraints I would need to consider in getting the Chilled Semen to Melbourne in time for Mare Insemination.

I understand and correct me if I am wrong, but Chilled Semen has a much higher fertilisation rate than Frozen Semen.
As the stud offerrs both Chilled Semen and Frozen Semen - Chilled Semen would be a better option, I think ?

Any advice you can give, would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, Peter

[Dallas]

Hi Dallas,

I have a friend that has a mare that is about 8-9 weeks from foaling. Yesterday she went down to the paddock after some huge storms and found her front and hind legs on one side were all swollen. The vet came and gave her bute and antihistamines and this morning is talking about doing bloods as she hasn't improved. The foal is still moving around.

I would have thought that bute at this late a stage unless medically essential would be a be choice?

The mare been at her farm for a couple of months, but since she arrived she's had endless amounts of rain. She's also just started giving her some new Lucerne chaff, I think normally she gets a grassy hay? I know i'm not giving you a lot to work with here, but any ideas?

Menna

Hi Menna, hope things have improved by now. If not, locating the source of inflammation or edema is important. Sometimes this could be an injury or infection (eg. a knock, fall, rain scald/mud fever, strain etc.). There may also be factors which increase inflammation generally, including pregnancy, heat, diet (some people find lucerne can trigger swelling).

If you haven't had your vet and farrier rule out a source of inflammation, this is the next step.

Bute (Phenylbutazone) is safe in pregnancy, but like most medications, best avoided unless needed. It is appropriate for short term problems to keep the mare comfortable and prevent secondary problems (stiff or painful joints may prevent mobility and lead to swelling elsewhere.)

Let me know if you have any more relevant information.

[Dallas]

Hi Dallas,

I was just wondering on the Maximum Time Life Cycle for Chilled Semen.
I am interested in transporting Chilled Semen from QLD to Victoria, however I do not
know the time restraints I would need to consider in getting the Chilled Semen to Melbourne in time for Mare Insemination.

I understand and correct me if I am wrong, but Chilled Semen has a much higher fertilisation rate than Frozen Semen.
As the stud offerrs both Chilled Semen and Frozen Semen - Chilled Semen would be a better option, I think ?

Any advice you can give, would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, Peter

The fertility of chilled semen varies greatly depending on the stallion and the method of preservation. Good fertility is often retained for 24-48 hours, but it is important to confirm the results for a particular stallion with the Stallion owner.

Likewise, frozen semen fertility rates vary greatly between stallions and depend on careful selection of preservation technique (which must be tailored to the individual stallion).

Please note though that fertility rate is greatly influenced by inseminator (vet) technique and experience. If your vet has inseminated 1000 horses successfuly, their chance of inseminating your mare with medium fertility semen is much higher than someone who is still learning how to inseminate (and even more important, select the time for insemination).

Similarly, fertility rates are very strongly influenced by mare fertility. If your semen has poor fertility, it will be much harder to get an older mare or difficult breeder in foal than a young broodmare with previous breeding success.

Frozen and chilled both have pros and cons, and in the end in largely comes down to managing costs, time and other resources. While chilled semen has somewhat higher fertility, you will pay collection and transport costs (and follow up visits for pregnancy diagnosis etc) for every breeding, and these can add up to exceed the stud fee over a few cycles.

My advice: first select the stallion you want and then ask both the stallion owner and your vet (an experienced Repro vet) what they reccomend. Get a likely and worst case pricing on both. Repeat breedings are common (horses rarely exceed 70% fertility even with ideal cirumstances, and with AI, frozen, suboptimal mare fertility etc often under 50%)

Then look at the management required to deliver optimal fertility. Careful identification of the fertile period or timing this using hormones will increase the success (and reduce the number of required inseminations) for both frozen and chilled semen.

There are a number of excellent books on AI, but first chat to your chosen stud master and vet.

Good luck

[WolfeArabians]

Hi Dallas,
We have had issues with our mares foaling early the last two seasons. The first one was in 2008, the mare aborted the foal 93 days before term and we assumed it was due to issues with the mare as we had troubles putting her in foal the year before (absorbed at around 3 months). This year, we lost a foal about 32 days before term and this mare has NEVER had any issues breeding or carrying before (she's 8 years old now). Our vet isn't much help as he says that there could be many reasons why the mares are foaling early and I am just about ready to pull my hair out. There have been no signifigant changes in diet or exercise and I have a strict vaccination schedule as I am always terrified that we are going to run into these issues. I have two more mares due in August and I just don't want this to happen yet again, any insight or advice on what my vet should check into?
Thanks SO much!

[carrerapark]

Hi Dallas,
I have an orphaned foal, he was orphaned at 3 weeks of age, he is now 7 weeks and thriving.
I am just wondering what age I could start to wean him off the milk mixture he is getting?
He gets the milk 4 times per day, plus between his first and second drinks he gets pony pellet (dry), then between his second and third drink he gets a small feed of pony pellets and chaff, this time it is wet, he also get lucerne hay 24/7 and picks at the grass in his yard.
He has put on weight and is full of life.

[Dallas]

Hi Dallas,
We have had issues with our mares foaling early the last two seasons. The first one was in 2008, the mare aborted the foal 93 days before term and we assumed it was due to issues with the mare as we had troubles putting her in foal the year before (absorbed at around 3 months). This year, we lost a foal about 32 days before term and this mare has NEVER had any issues breeding or carrying before (she's 8 years old now). Our vet isn't much help as he says that there could be many reasons why the mares are foaling early and I am just about ready to pull my hair out. There have been no signifigant changes in diet or exercise and I have a strict vaccination schedule as I am always terrified that we are going to run into these issues. I have two more mares due in August and I just don't want this to happen yet again, any insight or advice on what my vet should check into?
Thanks SO much!

A routine breeding exam and culture should be part of the workup.
Herpes virus and other causes of abortion should be considered.
Also review your pasture, feeding patterns etc.
Given the multiple problems, I would suggest referral to a reproduction centre.

Good luck

[Dallas]

Hi Dallas,
I have an orphaned foal, he was orphaned at 3 weeks of age, he is now 7 weeks and thriving.
I am just wondering what age I could start to wean him off the milk mixture he is getting?
He gets the milk 4 times per day, plus between his first and second drinks he gets pony pellet (dry), then between his second and third drink he gets a small feed of pony pellets and chaff, this time it is wet, he also get lucerne hay 24/7 and picks at the grass in his yard.
He has put on weight and is full of life.

Hi Carrerapark, glad your foal is doing well.
I would encourage the access and consumption to the various feeds you are offering and start reducing his feed volumes and number now. By 8-12 weeks most foals can be weaned if they are feeding well. Focus on good quality roughage and pasture, and ensure he is getting adequate macro and micro-nutrients using a supplement or pellets (as you are doing). More is not better... some people make the mistake of adding too much protein or minerals which makes for expensive horse poo and may even cause problems in the rapidly growing young horse.
Be sure to worm all young horses regularly, at least monthly at this age.

Good luck, hand rearing a foal is very challenging but rewarding.