Horse Ovulation Cycle
Breeding up to 6 hours post ovulation will typically result in similar pregnancy rates as would be seen with pre ovulatory breeding.
Horse ovulation cycle. After this ovulation the first 21 day interovulatory period of that breeding season occurs and a regular estrous cycle is established. Ovulation can be detected by a veterinarian through rectal palpation or ultrasonic evaluation. 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 estrus phase during which the mare is actively interested in and is receptive to the stallion.
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. The ovulation fossa is a wedged shaped area on the concave side of the mare s ovary and is the only portion of the ovary from which the egg may ovulate. Furthermore modern breeding management and technologies can increase the rate of conception a healthy pregnancy and successful. 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.
Ovulation the release of the egg from the ovary can occur at any time during the estrus phase. From september through march very few mares will cycle normally so conception is more difficult to achieve during these months. Ovulation of a follicle occurs releasing the ova for potential fertilization. Horse breeding is reproduction in horses and particularly the human directed process of selective breeding of animals particularly purebred horses of a given breed planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses.
Ovulation is that point in the cycle when the unfertilized egg leaves the follicle and heads into the fallopian tube to hopefully meet up with sperm that is swimming toward it. Jane williams from hartpury college explains the stages of the mares oestrus cycle and how this affects the behaviour in the ridden horse. The reproduction cycle of the mare is divided into two phases. Following ovulation the oocyte is passed into the oviducts where fertilization occurs.
Diestrus is normally 15 days but may vary from 12 18 days.