Factors Affecting Reproductive Efficiency Flashcards
What are factors affecting reproductive efficiency in a mare?
-age and # of pregnancies
-reproductive health: tract abnormalities in the vulva, vagina/vestibule, cervix, and uterus
Urine pool
when urine accumulates in the vagina
-can happen due to conformation, age, or foaling complications
Inflammation of the uterus
-multiple possible causes
-an endometrial (uterine) cytology looks for inflammatory cells
Infection of the uterus
bacterial infections or yiest/fungal infections (less common)
-can do an endometrial culture
Endometrial abnormalities of the uterus
-endometrial cysts (can see with an ultrasound)
-endometrial fibrosis (can see with a biopsy)
Endometrial biopsy’s are done…
when a mare is having trouble getting in foal or staying in foal
Category I biopsy
normal
-70-80% live foal rate
Category II biopsy
mild to moderate fibrosis/inflammation
-40-70% live foal rate (depending on if its mild or moderate)
Category III biopsy
severe fibrosis/inflammation
-<20% live foal rate
Spermatogenesis is…
a continuous process of
From initiation of sperm to maturation is how many days?
about 57 days
Time from initiation to ejaculation is about how many days?
57-63
When will you see an event that affects spermatogenesis in semen quality?
57-63 days later
How long can sperm remain in the tail of the epididymis?
for several days
Daily sperm output
of mature sperm that can be harvested each day
