Exposure to stallion accelerates the onset of mares' cyclicity.

Détails

ID Serval
serval:BIB_A80DEF1A547C
Type
Article: article d'un périodique ou d'un magazine.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Titre
Exposure to stallion accelerates the onset of mares' cyclicity.
Périodique
Theriogenology
Auteur⸱e⸱s
Wespi B., Sieme H., Wedekind C., Burger D.
ISSN
1879-3231 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0093-691X
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
2014
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
82
Numéro
2
Pages
189-194
Langue
anglais
Résumé
Horses (Equus caballus) belong to the group of seasonally polyestrous mammals. Estrous cycles typically start with increasing daylight length after winter, but mares can differ greatly in the timing of onset of regular estrus cycles. Here, we test whether spatial proximity to a stallion also plays a role. Twenty-two anestrous mares were either exposed to one of two stallions (without direct physical contact) or not exposed (controls) under experimental conditions during two consecutive springs (February to April). Ovarian activity was monitored via transrectal ultrasound and stallion's direct contact time with each mare was determined three times per week for one hour each. We found that mares exposed to a stallion ovulated earlier and more often during the observational period than mares that were not exposed to stallions. Neither stallion identity nor direct contact time, mare age, body condition, size of her largest follicle at the onset of the experiment, or parasite burden significantly affected the onset of cyclicity. In conclusion, the timing of estrous cycles and cycle frequency, i.e., crucial aspects of female reproductive strategy, strongly depend on how the mares perceive their social environment. Exposing mares to the proximity of a stallion can therefore be an alternative to, for example, light programs or elaborated hormonal therapies to start the breeding season earlier and increase the number of estrous cycles in horses.
Mots-clé
Anestrus, Cyclicity, Estrous cycle, Horse, Ovulation
Pubmed
Web of science
Création de la notice
20/03/2014 7:34
Dernière modification de la notice
20/08/2019 15:12
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