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Communication
between the mare owner, the stallion farm and the veterinarian
is critical!
- Call
both the veterinarian and the stallion farm on the first day
of the mare's heat cycle. Your veterinarian will determine
the optimal time for insemination by palpating the ovarian
follicles.
- As soon
as your veterinarian selects the breeding dates, call the
stallion farm with the dates. Remember, they need to collect
and ship the semen the day before you have chosen to inseminate.
When
the semen arrives.....
- Inform
your veterinarian that the shipment has arrived.
- DO NOT
OPEN THE CONTAINER UNTIL THE MARE IS READY TO BE INSEMINATED.
- It is
highly advised that the semen is inseminated within 24 hours
of collection. However, if deemed necessary by your veterinarian,
insemination may be postponed for up to 48 hours.
- DO NOT
WARM THE SEMEN PRIOR TO INSEMINATION. The mare's body will
provide the necessary warmth. A non-toxic syringe (at room
temperature) should be used for the insemination and the semen
should only remain in the insemination pipette for the shortest
time possible.
- If you
have a microscope, you may want to keep a small aliquot of
semen to check the motility. When checking the motility, the
sample should be warmed to body temperature to obtain a representative
motility value.
After
the insemination.....
- Relax
for five days after the mare goes out of heat.
- After
5 days, start teasing your mare again. If your mare is not
in foal and recycles early, this could indicate an infection.
- Have
your veterinarian perform an ultrasound exam to check for
an embryo. An ultrasound exam can be performed as early as
15 days after ovulation.
- Your
mare can be in foal at 21 days and suffer an early fetal loss
so you must have her checked again whether or not she comes
back into heat.
- Check
the breeding contract for stipulations regarding time restrictions
for pregancy chekcs after the last date bred.
- To protect
your rebreeding rights, make sure you fill out all the required
paperwork, within the specified time period, and return it
to the stallion farm.
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