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Gonçalves AR, Telo da Gama L, Antunes L, Guimarães H, Bliebernicht M, Duarte JC, Cosinha C, Duarte Rego B, Ferro da Costa P, Guimarães T, Rocha A, Bettencourt E. Impact of inbreeding and genetic parameter estimates for seminal traits in Lusitano horses. Theriogenology 2023; 208:43-51. [PMID: 37295289 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to establish baseline information for seminal traits in Lusitano stallions, to assess the impact of inbreeding, interval between collections and age on semen quality during the breeding and non-breeding seasons, and to estimate the corresponding genetic parameters. A total of 2129 ejaculates by 146 Lusitano stallions used for artificial insemination, obtained from four equine reproduction centers distributed throughout Portugal, over a period of 14 years (2008-2021), were included in the study. The seminal traits analyzed, and the corresponding means and standard deviations, were gel-free volume (56.95 ± 28.76 mL), concentration (186.48 ± 104.68 × 106), motility (64.1 ± 16.9%), total number of spermatozoa (TNS) (9.271 ± 4.956 × 109) and total number of motile spermatozoa per ejaculate (TNMS) (5.897 ± 3.587 × 109). These results are in the normal range of values described for other breeds. In the stallions analyzed, the mean value for the inbreeding coefficient was 7.93 ± 5.29%, and for age it was 12.70 ± 6.83 years. A significant decline in sperm concentration, motility, TNS, and TNMS was observed as inbreeding increased. The season also influenced sperm concentration, motility, TNS and TNMS, with the highest values observed during the breeding season. When considering the impact of age on Lusitano seminal parameters, results showed a nonlinear relationship, with a positive effect until 18 years of age for volume, motility, TNS and TNMS and a negative effect after this age, with a slow decrease. However, age had a markedly negative effect on sperm concentration. The interval between semen collections only affected (P < 0.05) sperm motility, with a regression coefficient of +1.89 ± 2.17% per additional day. Genetic parameters were estimated with an Animal Model, and the estimated heritability (repeatability) was 0.27 (0.35) for volume, 0.02 (0.38) for sperm concentration, 0.24 (0.44) for motility, 0.29 (0.39) for TNS and 0.41 (0.41) for TNMS. These results suggest that it is possible to improve semen quality by selection and that the properties of semen produced by a stallion tend to remain consistent throughout its lifetime. Furthermore, the impact of inbreeding should be taken into consideration when selecting Lusitano stallions for fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Gonçalves
- MED Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554, Évora, Portugal
| | - Luis Telo da Gama
- CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS). Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal; Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Luis Antunes
- Multivet, Serviços veterinários de Equinos e espécies pecuárias, Lda. Rua Professor Alfredo Reis n.º51, 7005-585, Évora, Portugal
| | - Helena Guimarães
- MED Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554, Évora, Portugal
| | | | | | - Cristina Cosinha
- LusoPecus, Rua da Fábrica 58C, 2135-144, Samora Correia, Portugal
| | | | | | - Tiago Guimarães
- Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal; ICBAS, Laboratório Associado Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - António Rocha
- Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal; ICBAS, Laboratório Associado Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Elisa Bettencourt
- MED Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554, Évora, Portugal
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Mure S, Oishi K, Hirooka H. A deterministic simulation model for the evaluation of reproductive performance in Thoroughbred mares. Theriogenology 2020; 161:237-242. [PMID: 33341503 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to develop a deterministic simulation model for evaluating the reproductive performance of Thoroughbred mares. As an application, the model was used to estimate the herd level asymptotic foaling percentage (AFP) for evaluating the performance of mares in stabilized mare herds using the convergent method for estimating a steady-state distribution of mares. In this model, it was assumed that the mares were mated only during the breeding season. The effects of early pregnancy loss and fetal loss on reproductive performance were investigated. The sensitivities of AFP to changes in conception rate (CR), early pregnancy loss rate (EPLR), fetal loss rate (FLR), and postpartum mating interval (PMI) were examined. Furthermore, the AFPs were compared for two types of postpartum first mating schedules: mating during the first postpartum estrus cycle (foal heat) and first mating during the subsequent cycle. The results indicated that AFP was sensitive to changes in EPLR, FLR, and CR. The comparison of the two types of postpartum first mating schedules showed that AFP after foal heat mating was higher than after the subsequent estrus mating even with the decrease in reproductive parameters caused by foal heat mating in the model. In addition, even if mares did not mate during foal heat, AFP could be improved by shortening the estrus cycle with the administration of PGF2α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Mure
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry Resources, Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazato Oishi
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry Resources, Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hirooka
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry Resources, Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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Jaworska J, Jaworski Z, McDonnell SM, Górecka-Bruzda A. Harem stallion changes are not associated with diminished reproductive performance of females in semi-feral Konik polski horses (Equus caballus). Theriogenology 2020; 151:1-6. [PMID: 32251935 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Infanticide, related to a stallion's aggression toward a foal sired by another stallion, and feticide related to a new stallion's aggression and/or pheromonal influence (the Bruce effect) inducing loss of a fetus sired by another stallion, a female's counteraction to infanticide, have been proposed for domestic horses (Equus caballus) in human-managed conditions. The aim of the present study was, in conditions close to natural, to investigate the influence of the natural succession of a harem stallion on the mares' subsequent reproductive performance. In a population of semi-feral Konik polski horses observed for 31 years (reproductive seasons) in 8 bands, harem stallion changed 10 times. These changes involved 26 out of 48 mares and 60 out of 609 observed mare-seasons (MS, a year in which a mare experienced a reproductive event). Binary distribution and log link function were assumed. The marginal model included the classification variable (SCH) and the continuous variables (age of the mare and calendar year of reproductive event (birth of a live foal, abortion, foals lost or barrenness) in a given MS was analyzed with generalized linear mixed model. The reproductive fitness of mares and their reproductive success (foal surviving ≥ 1 year), did not differ between MS with and without SCH. Older females were more likely to stay barren, with chances increasing by 21% with each successive year; and less likely to give birth to a foal (13% decrease of chance), and rear a foal to one year of age (12% decrease of chance). The age did not affect the probability of abortions. Of the 26 MS when mares were pregnant when the stallion had changed, there were 25 healthy foals born. For the entire 31 years of monitoring, no aggression toward any foal was observed and all foals that were born in the harem of a new, succeeding stallion successfully reached adulthood. Due to the lack of incidents of infanticide and the lack of evidence suggesting that the presence of a new harem stallion leads to the termination of pregnancies sired by another stallion, the Bruce effect was not confirmed as a biological strategy to reduce investment in pregnancy and potential infanticide in studied population of semi-feral horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Jaworska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Zbigniew Jaworski
- University of Warmia and Mazury, Department of Horse Breeding, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Sue M McDonnell
- Havemeyer Equine Behavior Laboratory, Section of Reproduction and Behavior, Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA
| | - Aleksandra Górecka-Bruzda
- Department of Animal Behavior, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Magdalenka, Poland
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Gee EK, Rogers CW, Bolwell CF. Commercial equine production in New Zealand. 1. Reproduction and breeding. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/an16728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The Thoroughbred and Standardbred studbooks are the largest in New Zealand, where the production of horses is pasture based. Each racing studbook is closed, and both have well structured systems in place for recording breeding data. There are significant pressures on the Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeding industries with declining broodmare numbers, and increasingly large book sizes for popular stallions. The breeding season for Thoroughbreds is very short, with disparity between the official breeding season and the physiologic breeding season for mares. These issues are confounded by variable gestation lengths of mares, making it difficult for mares to maintain yearly foaling patterns. However, the reproductive efficiency of Thoroughbred mares is improving, mainly due to veterinary and stud management practices such as those to ensure that dry mares are cycling at the start of the breeding season, foaling mares are bred on foal heat, and that mares are kept in good body condition at breeding. There is also a bias towards breeding younger mares with high fertility in preference to older mares, unless they have desired genetics or successful offspring. Careful management of popular Thoroughbred stallions ensures that large books of mares can be covered by natural service. In contrast, Standardbred stallions are collected every-other-day using an artificial vagina, allowing the breeding of mares at distant locations by artificial insemination, using chilled or frozen semen. Breeding horses kept at pasture under New Zealand conditions requires excellent stud management and veterinary management to achieve good outcomes.
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Alamaary MS, Haron AW, Ali M, Hiew MWH, Adamu L, Peter ID. Effects of four extenders on the quality of frozen semen in Arabian stallions. Vet World 2019; 12:34-40. [PMID: 30936651 PMCID: PMC6431823 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2019.34-40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Different types of extenders have a variety of components which show the tolerance effect on sperm protection during freezing procedures. In the present study, we have examined the impact of the extenders HF-20 and Tris, which were locally manufactured, and they are competing with commercial extenders INRA Freeze® (IMV Technologies, France) and EquiPlus Freeze® (Minitube, Germany) on the quality of horses frozen semen. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 ejaculates from three healthy stallions were collected and cryopreserved in the same environment. Each semen sample collected was divided into four equal parts and processed. All samples were analyzed before and after freezing for motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, and morphology. Furthermore, twenty mares were inseminated using post-thawed semen. Results: There were no differences observed among all extenders in all the parameters before freezing. Sperm cryopreserved using HF-20 showed better motility, viability, and plasma membrane integrity than Tris extender. The Tris extender showed the most inferior quality of post-thawed semen between all the extenders. HF-20, INRA Freeze®, and EquiPlus Freeze® extenders revealed the same capacity of semen preservation in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: HF-20 extender has the same quality as INRA Freeze® and EquiPlus Freeze® that can be considered as one of the best extenders for the semen cryopreservation in horses. In contrast, Tris extender needs some degree of improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohaammed Saad Alamaary
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.,King Abdulaziz Arabian Horses Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abd Wahid Haron
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Mohamed Ali
- Department of Animal Production and Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, AL Qassim University, AL Qassim State, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mark Wen Han Hiew
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Lawan Adamu
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Innocent Damudu Peter
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
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Lane EA, Bijnen MLJ, Osborne M, More SJ, Henderson ISF, Duffy P, Crowe MA. Key Factors Affecting Reproductive Success of Thoroughbred Mares and Stallions on a Commercial Stud Farm. Reprod Domest Anim 2016; 51:181-7. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.12655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- EA Lane
- Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis; University College Dublin; Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
| | - MLJ Bijnen
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine; University College Dublin; Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
| | - M Osborne
- Forenaghts Stud; Naas Co Kildare Ireland
| | - SJ More
- Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis; University College Dublin; Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine; University College Dublin; Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
| | | | - P Duffy
- Lyons Research Farm; University College Dublin; Newcastle Co. Dublin Ireland
| | - MA Crowe
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine; University College Dublin; Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
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Rezagholizadeh A, Gharagozlou F, Niasari-Naslaji A, Akbarinejad V, Ziapour S. Evaluation of Sperm Characteristics in Caspian Stallions Using Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis. J Equine Vet Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2015.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Hanlon DW, Stevenson M, Evans MJ, Firth EC. Reproductive performance of Thoroughbred mares in the Waikato region of New Zealand: 1. Descriptive analyses. N Z Vet J 2012; 60:329-34. [DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2012.693039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Hanlon DW, Stevenson M, Evans MJ, Firth EC. Reproductive performance of Thoroughbred mares in the Waikato region of New Zealand: 2. Multivariable analyses and sources of variation at the mare, stallion and stud farm level. N Z Vet J 2012; 60:335-43. [DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2012.696240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Blanchard T, Thompson J, Love C, Brinsko S, Ramsey J, O'Meara A, Varner D. Influence of day of postpartum breeding on pregnancy rate, pregnancy loss rate, and foaling rate in Thoroughbred mares. Theriogenology 2012; 77:1290-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2011] [Revised: 10/04/2011] [Accepted: 10/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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