Reproduction – Equine

PEAK VETS offer complete stud medicine veterinary services to all horse breeders within the Scenic Rim and surrounds, for those wanting to breed their first foal or to large established studs, breeding multiple foals every year. Our soul focus is providing complete and quality service for our clients and their horses and striving for the best possible outcomes.

Our reproduction services include:

    • Broodmare management – follicle testing, clit and uterine swabs, pregnancy testing and caslick surgery.
    • Infertility investigation – management of “problem breeders”
    • Artificial insemination – chilled and frozen semen
    • Storage of Frozen Semen
    • Uterine Flushing
    • Twin Management
    • Management of Neonatal foals
    • Embryo transfer
    • Recipient mare

Broodmare management

In the preparation of broodmares prior to going to stud for natural cover or for artificial insemination, we can perform a breeding soundness examination to assess the mare’s suitability for breeding.

Initially, an evaluation of the mare’s external genitalia and an internal examination of the reproductive tract is performed. The mare’s reproductive tract (cervix, uterus, and ovaries) is examined with an ultrasound. Any abnormalities can be identified, and we are able to determine the stage of her cycle. This procedure is performed rectally therefore, for the safety of your mare and our staff, we require a suitable equine crush. Upon booking your mare in for a scan with us, please outline if you have suitable facilities or if our vet will need to bring our portable crush with them.

With regular reproductive scans during breeding, we can accurately assess follicular activity on the ovaries, detect ovulation, manage any post-breeding reproductive issues (such as fluid in the uterus or infection), and ultimately diagnose early pregnancy from 14 days.

Various pathology tests may be required by the stallion owner prior to breeding which are often performed during these examinations. This includes clitoral and/or uterine swabs to ensure transmissible venereal diseases such as Pseudomonas or Klebsiella bacteria are not present before a mare is allowed to be bred.

AI

Artificial insemination gives you access to a broad range of stallions from around the world, allowing your mare to remain in her own environment and avoiding the need for travel. Whether it is fresh, chilled, or frozen, we will do an initial examination of the semen under a microscope to identify the mobility of the sample. The mare will then be closely monitored and scanned regularly to ensure optimal timing for the insemination.

There are several steps involved in the process of AI:

  1. Breeding soundness examination – The mare is assessed both externally and internally for suitability for breeding.
  2. Co-ordination with stallion owner/collection centre/veterinarian/owner – Details regarding stallion contracts, semen ordering process, collection days, and shipping vary from stallion to stallion and must be organised in advance.
  3. A series of pre-breeding scans to assess for stage of cycle
  4. Ordering of semen – Once the mare is approaching ovulation, semen is ordered for collection and shipping.
  5. Insemination – The time of insemination depends on whether chilled or frozen semen is used and when your mare is ovulating
  6. Post insemination scans and treatments – The mare is scanned in the days following insemination for confirmation of ovulation and assessment and management of any post-breeding issues (e.g., infection, fluid)
  7. Pregnancy scans – Performed at 14-, 30- and 45-days post-ovulation.

Costs: AI services are charged out on an itemised basis. Costs can vary considerably depending on number of scans required, drugs used, and treatments required.

Embryo Transfer

Embryo transfer is the process of removing an embryo from the uterus of a desired mare and transferring into the uterus of a recipient mare to carry to term and raise. The advantages of embryo transfer are:

  • Continuing to perform the desired mare
  • Multiple foals can be produced from the desired mare in the one breeding season
  • Problem breeders can be avoided

Problem breeders, infertility investigation and high-risk mare management.

“Problem breeders” is the name given to a mare that fails to conceive under good management conditions for two or more oestrous cycles in one breeding season, fails to maintain a pregnancy, or displays abnormal reproductive behaviour or oestrous cycles.

All problem mares should have a reproductive evaluation performed before breeding. The goals of the examination are to

  • Determine if a reproductive abnormality is present.
  • Formulate a treatment plan, if needed, based on any reproductive abnormalities detected.
  • Provide a prognosis for future fertility.
  • Develop a breeding management program for the future tailored to the specific needs of the individual mare.

Stud Reproduction

Our vets service the following studs: