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Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere 2014; 42(03): 145-149
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1623222
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH

Reproductive performance of Arab mares in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Fortpflanzungsfähigkeit von Araberstuten im Königreich Saudi-Arabien
A. Ali
1   Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Buraydah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
,
M. Alamaary
2   Ministry of Agriculture, King Abdul-Aziz Center for the pure Arabian horses (Dirab), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
,
F. Al-Sobayil
1   Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Buraydah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 12 November 2013

Accepted after revision: 21 February 2014

Publication Date:
05 January 2018 (online)

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Summary

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of the Arab mares in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: Managers of 26 studfarms containing 1014 Arab mares at five districts were asked to complete a questionnaire on the reproductive efficiency of their mares. Results: The mean age at first mating was 3.06 ± 0.5 years. Mares were mated equally in winter and all over the year. Natural mating was mostly used (76.9%). The means of estrus duration and estrus interval were 6.58 ± 1 days and 19.57 ± 1.8 days, respectively. The means of first service and overall pregnancy rates and the number of cycles/pregnancy were 52.71 ± 20.2%, 83.72 ± 15.0%, and 1.46 ± 0.3, respectively, with no effect of the postpartum interval, district, or season. The average pregnancy duration was 335.5 ± 10.2 days. It was shorter in mares mated by day 9 postpartum than in those mated later (p < 0.05). The ratio of stallion/mares ranged from 1:4 to 1:24, with no correlation with the pregnancy rates or the number of cycles/pregnancy. Discussion: Photoperiodic regulation and changes in the hypothalamichypophyseal axis of mares are usually associated with the seasonal reproductive activity of mares in the temperate but not in subtropical areas. Short duration of gestation for mares mated by day 9 after foaling may be related to the nutritional status of dams. Conclusion: The obtained data represent the first record of the reproductive performance of Arab mares in the KSA, which could be used to anticipate their performance under different managements. Clinical relevance: The Arab mares in the KSA are not seasonal and can reproduce efficiently all over the year. District and season did not influence the fertility.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel dieser Studie war, die Reproduktionsleistung von Araberstuten im Königreich Saudi-Arabien (KSA) zu ermitteln. Methoden: Manager von 26 Gestüten mit 1014 Araberstuten in fünf Bezirken wurden gebeten, einen Fragebogen über die reproduktive Effizienz der Stuten auszufüllen. Ergebnisse: Das mittlere Alter bei der ersten Paarung betrug 3,06 ± 0,5 Jahre. Stuten wurden teilweise im Winter, teilweise das ganze Jahr über belegt. Überwiegend erfolgte die Belegung durch den natürlichen Deckakt (76,9%). Die mittlere Brunstdauer und das interovulatorische Intervall lagen bei 6,58 ± 1 bzw. 19,57 ± 1,8 Tagen. Die Mittelwerte der Erstbelegungs- und Gesamtträchtigkeitsrate sowie die Zyklen pro Trächtigkeit betrugen 52,71 ± 20,2%, 83,72 ± 15,0% bzw.1,46 ± 0,3, wobei kein Einfluss des postpartalen Intervalls, der Bezirke oder der Jahreszeit festgestellt wurde. Die durchschnittliche Trächtigkeitsdauer betrug 335,5 ± 10,2 Tage. Sie war bei Stuten, die am Tag 9 nach der Geburt belegt wurden, kürzer als bei Stuten, bei denen die Belegung später stattfand. Das Verhältnis Hengst/Stuten reichte von 1:4 bis 1:24 ohne Korrelation mit der Trächtigkeitsrate oder der Anzahl der Zyklen pro Trächtigkeit. Diskussion: Die photoperiodische Regulation und Veränderungen in der Hypothalamus-Hypophysen-Achse von Stuten sind in der Regel mit der saisonalen Fortpflanzungsaktivität der Stuten in den gemäßigten, nicht aber in subtropischen Gebieten verbunden. Die kurze Trächtigkeitsdauer bei den am Tag 9 post partum gedeckten Stuten kann in Zusammenhang mit deren Ernährungszustand stehen. Schlussfolgerung: Die gewonnenen Daten stellen den ersten Datensatz über die Reproduktionsleistung von Araberstuten im KSA dar, mit deren Hilfe der Einfluss des Betriebsmanagements auf die Leistung der Stuten beurteilt werden kann. Klinische Relevanz: Die Araberstuten in Saudi-Arabien zeigen keine saisonale Reproduktion und können sich effizient das ganze Jahr über fortpflanzen. Bezirk und Jahreszeit beeinflussten die Fruchtbarkeit nicht.

Key words

Reproduction - horse - pregnancy rate - pregnancy duration

Schlüsselwörter

Reproduktion - Stute - Trächtigkeitsrate - Trachtigkeitsdauer
 

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