Artificial Insemination of the Mare
Horses have the lowest reproductive rate of the farm species. This infertility is caused by hormonal dysfunction, reproductive tract infections, lack of selection for fertility, management issues (estrus detection), and an arbitrary January birthdate target. Although AI has many advantages, some breed organizations prohibit or severely limit it's use. There are both advantages and disadvantages to using artificial insemination (AI) in the mare.
Advantages
- Disease control:antibiotic addition to extended semen inhibits transmission of bacterial infections
- May increase fertility in some subfertile stallions
- Reduces possibilty of injury to the mare, stallion and/or handlers
- Decreases the need to ship mares/foals to stallions for breeding
- Permits use of stallions with injuries, poor breeding habits or older stallions
- Permits evaluation of semen from each ejaculate
- Prevents overuse of stallion: more mares can be breed to a stallion per day
- Enables mares to be breed at the optimal time
Disadvantages
- Requires a higher level of management of both mares and stallions
- Requires trained personnel for AI and requires veterinarians for ultrasound
- Requires more labor:cycle manipulation, semen collection and shipping
- Requires purchases of equipment and AI supplies
- Requires insemination be done at the correct time with the correct procedure
- Requires planning to receive semen at the correct time
- Not all breeds allow AI for purebreds or limit number of mares bred to stallion
- May require parentage testing for registration
