How horses are reproduced
Horses are wonderful creatures that have lived next to humans for a long time. Unfortunately, some species are on the verge of extinction at the moment. Breeding horses in captivity is a complex process.
Horse breeding
Reproduction of offspring in vivo
In the wild, animals form herds of one male and 10-12 females. There is one main mare in the herd, which is always a priority for the male when he is sexually active. The stallion protects the herd and inseminates all females.
The horse is always ready to mate, unlike the females, so it can have sexual intercourse with mares that are not ready to reproduce. With such intercourse, pregnancy cannot occur, but early heat can begin.
When the horse is ready to mate, he shows this to the male:
- the tail is raised;
- the head is slightly tilted;
- hind limbs apart;
- she lets out a quiet whinny.
In addition to these signals, the scent of a mare during estrus attracts stallions even at a great distance.
Horse breeding in the wild takes place on a subconscious level to reproduce their own kind. Under natural conditions, mating lasts from early March to late July.
Preparing for insemination in a farm environment
Breeding purebred horses is a priority for every breeder. In captivity, mating takes place under the vigilant supervision of the breeder. Mating should take place directly during the sexual hunt at the female. The onset of this period can be recognized by the behavior of the horse.
During estrus, ovulation occurs and the released egg is ready for conception. Hunting time is 3-5 days, during which, in fact, the coating should pass.
Mating in a farm occurs in several stages. The first stage is the selection of animals for breeding. The mare reaches sexual maturity at the age of 3 years.
It is not recommended to breed horses until 3 years old, because their genitals are not yet ready for full reproduction of offspring. In addition to age, attention should be paid to the physical condition of the female. Before insemination, the stallions are examined, the semen is taken for analysis. When mating, one should take into account the purity of the pedigree, the temper of the male and female, as well as the diseases they have suffered, which can affect the development of offspring in the womb.
Before mating, animals should be prepared. Preliminary preparation starts in winter. Breeding individuals must be provided with a balanced diet. Overfeeding is not allowed to avoid excessive weight gain. Obesity has a negative effect on fertility in females and sperm quality in stallions.
Mares should receive the maximum amount of beneficial vitamins and minerals that play a role in the gestation process.All individuals, prepared for mating, must be hardy and physically prepared, therefore it is very important to provide the horses with sufficient walking and proper dressing. During this period, it is necessary to teach males to a bridle, and mares to a breeding harness.
Coating process
The first step is to decide on the method of fertilization of the female. The most common:
- manual;
- cooking;
- kosyachny.
In private farms, the first method is most often used. The probability of fertilization is 95%. With this method, animals reproduce in the same way as in their natural habitat, the breeder is only an observer. For mating, it is necessary to prepare a quiet place so that the horses feel at ease. The mare is installed in such a way as to provide unhindered access for the horse to her genitals.
If the female has an obstinate disposition, you will have to use a harness. To protect the male, the horseshoes should be removed from the female's hind legs. Before the animals get down to business, they need to be given a little time to get used to, to sniff. Animals should feel comfortable.
Cooking and mowing methods are practiced in the herd. Cooking is carried out in the pen. The inseminating stallion is left with 7 females, and he independently selects partners for mating. After covering, the mares are returned to the common herd, and the stallion is left in the stall. When he regains his strength, he can also be returned to the herd.
The mowing method differs in the number of females in the herd. Their number is from 20 to 25. Throughout the entire period of sexual hunt, the breeding stallion is in the female herd. The photo shows the mating flirting of horses.
Artificial insemination method
On large horse breeding farms, artificial insemination is carried out with pre-harvested seed material. Horses are selected as standard. The semen dose is diluted before being inserted into the mare's vagina: this increases the effectiveness of covering the females.
One diluted dose can cover about 20 females, and during mass sexual hunting - up to half a thousand. The advantage of this method is that the breeding male is not worn out. The semen is collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Freezing allows the semen to be used for a long time. Another benefit is the reduced risk of sexual transmission.
Semen collection is carried out under sterile conditions. Instead of a real female, an artificial model is slipped into the stallion. The genitals of an artificial mare often look like a rubber-coated metal tube. Inside is a sterile disposable sperm. To avoid injury to the male loins, the tube is treated with petroleum jelly and heated to the optimum temperature.
Artificial insemination of the female is carried out during estrus. Before starting to inject sperm, the genitals of the mare are washed and the tail is tied, be sure to put on a harness and fix the hind limbs. With the help of a gynecological mirror, an examination is carried out and the cervix is found, into which a catheter is inserted with a dose of semen.
Another type of artificial horse breeding is embryo transplantation. This process is very complicated and can only be done by an experienced veterinarian. This method is used to obtain the maximum number of foals from the best breeding mare.
How to determine if insemination is successful
After mating, it is necessary to ensure that the coverage has been successful. The control mating is carried out 2 weeks after the first insemination. If the first mating is successful, the female will not respond to the male's flirtations. If after 3 weeks the mare starts to estrus again, fertilization has not occurred.
A rectal examination can be performed 18-20 days after mating. The uterus is examined through the rectum.During pregnancy, the uterus is in good shape, becomes more elastic and changes shape.
Another method for determining pregnancy in a horse is an ultrasound scan. It is carried out after 50-70 days after mating.
In addition to the above methods, chemical methods for determining pregnancy are used. In blood tests, the level of hormones rises. Estrone sulfate will be determined in the urine. You can do a urine test yourself by purchasing a pregnancy testing kit at a veterinary store.
Caring for a pregnant individual
The gestation period for foals lasts 11 months. A balanced diet and proper exercise are critical. The diet should be roughage and vitamin complexes. 1-2 months before giving birth, it is necessary to vaccinate the mare against tetanus.
Females should not graze in the morning when there is abundant dew or on frosty grass. Very often there are cases when the uterus is aborted en masse on wet cold pastures. Reduce the amount of roughage a couple of weeks before giving birth. The feeding regimen is frequent in small quantities. Adequate drinking must be ensured.
Half a month before permission from pregnancy, the female should be transferred to a specially prepared paddock. It is very important to maintain sterility in the room. The paddock must be free to allow the animal to lie down.
Conclusion
Horse breeding is an important process in keeping stock and breeding new breeds. In captivity, breeders keep horse mating under control. Sexual hunting in females begins in early spring. The stream lasts 3-5 days. During this period, the coverage must pass.
Standard methods give good fertilization results. Covering mares can be done singly or in more natural conditions when the stallion is in a herd of 7-25 mares. In large farms, artificial insemination is used: it is more reliable and effective. Frozen sperm from one breeding horse cover up to half a thousand females per season.
The onset of sexual heat in females is determined by behavior. Horses that have reached the age of three are allowed to mate. Until this moment, the animals are not able to bear a foal. In addition to age characteristics, they look at the state of health, endurance, external data, purebredness, disposition, past diseases that can have a bad effect on genetics.
The control mating is carried out 2 weeks after the first insemination. If the female does not respond to the stallion, the first mating can be considered successful. A veterinarian can confirm pregnancy with a rectal examination already 16-20 days after mating. During pregnancy, the uterus becomes elastic and changes its shape.
During the gestation period, it is important to provide the mare with the necessary amount of balanced feed. Do not overfeed the animal. Adequate outdoor exercise plays an important role. Before giving birth, the female is transferred to a dry, spacious stall, protected from drafts, where the animal can lie down freely.