Skip to main content
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica logoLink to Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
. 1991 Sep 1;32(3):307–312. doi: 10.1186/BF03546959

Onset of Luteal Activity in Foaling and Seasonally Anoestrous Mares Treated with Artificial Light

Igångsättning av lutealfasen hos fölston och anöstrala ston behandlade med artificielt ljus.

Erkki Koskinen 1,, Eeva Kurki 1, Terttu Katila 1
PMCID: PMC8127909  PMID: 1814179

Abstract

Sixty-four mares (27 foaling, 37 barren or maiden), mainly Finnhorses, were subjected to treatment with 14.5 h of light and 9.5 h of darkness, starting at the beginning of December. The onset of cycling in non-foaling mares was estimated by weekly serum progesterone determinations. All of the non-foaling mares cycled in the middle of March. They started to cycle on average in the middle of February, 11.1 weeks after the beginning of the trial. There were statistically significant differences in relation to breed (Finnhorses started to cycle 2 weeks later than warm blooded, p < 0.02) and in relation to age (brood mares with mean age 10 years, started to cycle 10 days later than those 3 years old, p < 0.03). However, there was no statistical significant relation to previous lactation, although lactating mares lactating up to the previous autumn started to cycle 7 days later than dry mares (p < 0.15).

Artificial insemination of 14 mares in the 2nd oestrus of the year, in March, resulted in 12 foalings in the subsequent year (86 %).

The following winter, all pregnant mares (N = 27) were exposed to the same kind of light treatment, starting on 1st December. The 1st mare foaled at the end of January. The time from foaling to 1st post partum ovulation was significantly longer (17.0 days) in foalings taking place within 10 weeks from the beginning of the light treatment period, than in foalings occurring after more than 10 weeks of lighting (12.1 days)(p < 0.01).

Keywords: light treatment, progesterone determination, horses

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (814.0 KB).

References

  1. Allen WR. Practical control of anestrus in thoroughbred broodmares. Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhof Publishers; 1985. pp. 98–107. [Google Scholar]
  2. Burkhardt J. Transition from anoestrus in the mare and the effects of artificial lighting. J. Agr. Sci. 1947;37:64–68. doi: 10.1017/S0021859600013083. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cooper WL, Wert NE: Wintertime breeding of mares using artificial light and insemination: six years’ experience. Proc. 21st Amer. Ass. Equine Pract. 1975, pp 245–253.
  4. Freedman LJ, Garcia MC, Ginther OJ. Influence of photoperiod and ovaries on seasonal reproductive activity in mares. Biol. Reprod. 1979;20:567–574. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod20.3.567. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Kenney RM, Ganjam VK, Bergman R V. Non-infectious breeding problems in mares. Veterinary Scope. 1975;19:16–24. [Google Scholar]
  6. Koskinen E. Post-partum ovarian activity in Finn-horse mares with special reference to seasonal effects. Acta vet. scand. 1991;32:000–000. doi: 10.1186/BF03546960. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Koskinen E, Katila T. Onset of luteal activity in non-foaling mares during the early breeding season in Finland. Acta vet. scand. 1991;32:319–325. doi: 10.1186/BF03546961. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Kooistra LH, Ginther OJ. Effect of photoperiod on reproductive activity and hair in mares. Amer J. vet. Res. 1975;36:1413–1419. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Loy RG: Effects of artificial lighting regimens on reproductive patterns in mares. Proc. 14th Amer. Ass. Equine Pract. 1968, pp 159–169.
  10. Loy RG. Characteristics of postpartum reproduction in mares. Vet. Clin. N. Amer. Large Anim. Pract. 1980;2:345–359. doi: 10.1016/S0196-9846(17)30167-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Nishikawa Y: Studies on Reproduction in Horses. Japan Racing Association, Tokyo, Japan, 1959, pp 43–48.
  12. Oxender WD, Noden PA, Hafs HD. Estrus, ovulation, and serum progesterone, estradiol, and LH concentrations in mares after an increased photoperiod during winter. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1977;38:203–207. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Palmer E: Reproductive management of mares without detection of oestrus. J. Reprod. Fertil. 1979, Suppl. 27, 263–270. [PubMed]
  14. Palmer E, Driancourt MA, Ortavant R: Photoperiodic stimulation of the mare during winter anestrus. J. Reprod. Fertil. 1982, Suppl. 32, 275–282. [PubMed]
  15. Palmer E, Driancourt MA. Some interactions of season of foaling, photoperiod and ovarian activity in the equine. Livestock Prod. Sci. 1983;10:197–210. doi: 10.1016/0301-6226(83)90035-0. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  16. Scraba ST, Ginther OJ. Effects of lighting programs on onset of the ovulatory season in mares. Theriogenology. 1985;24:667–679. doi: 10.1016/0093-691X(85)90165-7. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  17. Sharp DC, Ginther OJ. Effects of light and temperature in anestrous mares. J. Anim. Sci. 1973;36:250–251. doi: 10.2527/jas1975.4151368x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Sharp DC, Ginther OJ. Stimulation of follicular activity and estrous behavior in anestrous mares with light and temperature. J. Anim. Sci. 1975;41:1368–1372. doi: 10.2527/jas1975.4151368x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Sharp DC. Transition into the breeding season: clues to the mechanisms of seasonality. Equine vet. J. 1988;20:159–161. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1988.tb01488.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica are provided here courtesy of BMC

RESOURCES