Equine Ovulation Cycle
The estrus phase during which the mare is actively interested in and is receptive to the stallion.
Equine ovulation cycle. Ovulation time in mares is often manipulated to synchronize shipments of semen or availability of a stallion for breeding. The entire estrous cycle from ovulation to ovulation takes approximately 21 days. Ovulation is that point in the cycle when the unfertilized egg leaves the follicle and heads into the fallopian tube to. Ovulation of a follicle occurs releasing the ova for potential fertilization.
The cavity left behind on the ovary by the evacuated follicle fills rapidly with blood and in some cases forms a corpus hemorrhagicum prior to creation of luteal tissue to become a corpus luteum cl as a result of the presence of lh. After this ovulation the first 21 day interovulatory period of that breeding season occurs and a regular estrous cycle is established. Breeding up to 6 hours post ovulation will typically result in similar pregnancy rates as would be seen with pre ovulatory breeding. By the sixteenth day of the cycle the developing follicle has reached the size at which it secretes enough hormone to bring on the external characteristics of heat.
Managing a mare s estrous cycle is an integral part of breeding management and human chorionic gonadotropin hcg is one hormone option for doing just that. The duration of estrus however can vary so the most consistent period in the estrous cycle is the length of diestrus. Although the mare continues to ovulate regularly every 21 days throughout the breeding season the length of estrus varies ranging from 2 8 days and the length of diestrus varies accordingly to maintain a 21 day interval. The reproduction cycle of the mare is divided into two phases.
The normal equine estrous cycle 64 66. Several drugs are useful to hasten ovulation to a more fixed time to coordinate a schedule that works with breeding farms for both the stallion and the mare. The normal estrous cycle in the mare is 21 to 22 days long as defined by the intervals between ovulation. They will be receptive to breeding for about five days at the end of the cycle.
Around day 20 the follicle reaches its full size and ruptures releasing the egg into the fallopian tube ovulation. Owners who want to schedule breeding can have a veterinarian examine the mare by ultrasound or palpation to check the progress of follicles as they form and mature on the mare s ovaries. A visible leaking of the follicular fluid outside the main portion of the follicle per ultrasound is indicative of immediately impending or ongoing ovulation.