Breeding Services

At the practice we run an equine reproduction centre in conjunction with Meadow Stud, we are a BEVA approved practice for Artificial Insemination and a DEFRA approved centre for collection, storage and distribution of frozen semen. We are equipped with the most upto date technologies that allow us to provide all of the most modern reproductive techniques available in equine breeding today, from artificial insemination to stallion fertility assessment to embryo transfer. The centre runs in conjunction with Meadow Stud and oversees all of the breeding that takes place with its resident stallions but the centre also accepts mares for breeding to non-resident stallions.

Although the practice undertakes all aspects of modern equine practice the majority of our case load is in the area of equine stud medicine. Both veterinary surgeons have a specialist interest in equine breeding and both have breeding stock themselves.

The equine reproduction centre is based at Meadow Stud and we readily accept patients at this location for reproductive work, but we also supply breeding services away from the practice itself, this includes both routine and emergency reproductive services to a large number of Thoroughbred, Warmblood, Arabian, Pony and Irish Draught studs throughout the western counties and welsh bordering areas as well as to many private breeders.

At the practice we are equipped with:

• 24 Hour on-site Veterinary Surgeons
• Mare stocks and examination area with diagnostic ultrasound
• Dedicated reproduction laboratory
• Frozen semen storage facility
• Neonatal care facilities
• Designated foaling boxes with 24 CCTV cover + foaling alarms
• Stallion barn
• Semen collection area with dummy mare and teasing boards
• Mare and foal stabling and safe individual paddocks and group paddocks
• Dedicated team of fully trained stud grooms

Some of the breeding services we provide include:

• Pre-breeding disease screening
• Pre-breeding examinations
• Pregnancy diagnosis and monitoring
• Investigation of problem breeder mares
• Stallion fertility assessment and sub-fertility investigation
• Fresh, chilled and frozen artificial insemination
• Foaling service
• Neonatal intensive care
• Neonatal surgical procedures
• Embryo transfer
• Post foaling checks

For more detailed information on any of the above services please see below under the appropriate heading.

 

Pre-breeding disease screening

A vital part of modern stud practice is to guarantee that before a stallion is bred from or before a mare is sent off to stud a number of disease-screening tests are performed. Different studs and breeding centres will vary in their requirements with regards to what diseases must be tested for and certified negative before breeding can take place.

The most commonly performed screening tests are;

• Clitoral swab (screened for CEM - Contagious equine metritis)
• Blood sample screened for EVA - Equine Viral Arteritis
• Blood sample screened for EIA - Equine Infectious Anaemia (aka Coggins test)

Although the above three tests are the most commonly performed, it is vital to contact the stud / breeding centre to ensure all the screening required by that establishment is performed.

Our centre has in place a biosecurity protocol which covers all the important venereal pathogens which are of importance in equine breeding.

 

Pre-breeding examinations

The purpose of a pre-breeding examination is to check for any identifiable problems that could adversely affect a mares fertility, either in terms of conceiving or her ability to hold her foal until term. Ideally the pre-breeding checks should be carried out early in the breeding season, this will allow any problems to be identfied and treated and thus increasing her chances of breeding successfully that season.

A pre-breeding examination will include the following:

1. History

• Name, age and breed
• Previous breeding history; number of foals, any previous breeding problems etc
• Current and previous health problems
• Vaccination and worming status etc etc

2. Gynaecological examination

• Vulval, vaginal and cervical inspection
• Manual palpation per rectum and vagina
• Ultrasound examination of the reproductive tract
• Swabs taken from the uterus for bacteriological culture and cytological examination

 

Pregnancy diagnosis and monitoring

We provide routine pregnancy diagnosis and monitoring both from the practice and at a clients premises. Mares should be first scanned for pregnancy at around 13-14 days post insemination, this early scan will allow identification of and reduction of a twin pregnancy should one occur. Second pregnancy scans are usually carried out around 28-30 days post-insemination to check that the developing embryo appears healthy and to check for a heart beat.

For mares that have a known history of breeding problems, more frequent ultrasound scans can be performed if necessary.

 

Investigation of problem breeder mares

We routinely accept mares for investigation of sub-fertility or infertility. The procedures carried out are influenced by the specific problems a mare may have had in the past or from our findings from our initial examinations. Some commonly used techniques involve;

• Clitoral swab culture and analysis
• Cervical and uterine swab culture and analysis
• Genital tract inspection and manual palpation
• Genital tract ultrasound examination
• Blood Hormone assays
• Endoscopic evaluation of the uterus and caudal reproductive tract
• Endometrial biopsy collection and analysis

The information gathered from the above tests will allow a breeding programme to be devised to maximise the chances of a pregancy in as little time as is possible and at as little cost as possible.

 

Stallion fertility assessment and sub-fertility investigation

Stallion infertility can be a problem that can quickly bring the economical viability of a breeding enterprise to a stand still. We routinely assess stallion fertility prior to that animal standing at stud, those techniques used are also used to investigate reduced fertility of a stallion. Some of those techniques are listed below;

• Semen collection and gross inspection
• Semen culture and sensitivity
• Semen staining and cytological examination
• Clinical examination of the external genitalia
• Urethral swab culture
• Testicular ultrasound examination
• Testicular biopsy
• Ultrasound examination of the internal parts of the male genital tract

Information gathered will allow a breeding plan to be devised and any treatments outlined to help increase fertility of those sub-fertile stallions.

 

Fresh, chilled and frozen semen artificial insemination

Meadow Equine Practice has overseen the use of Artificial Insemination at Meadow Stud and AI centre over the last 12 years, inseminating upto 200+ mares a season. The use of alternative breeding techniques has greatly advanced our knowledge of equine reproductive medicine and helped to increase pregancy rates. At the practice we also annually take around 60+ mares for frozen A.I with excellent pregancy rates obtained year on year.

We accept mares as referral cases from other practices or breeders for gynaecological / reproductive work, namely Frozen semen A.I, Embryo transfer or problem breeder investigation.

Mares can either visit the practice and board with us (both grass livery and boxed livery available) to under go reproductive management or we can visit the mare out at an owners premises. For frozen A.I because of the amount of labour and repeat ultrasound examinations required we only perform Frozen A.I if the mares are boarding with us.

We have a specifically designated laboratory dedicated to equine reproduction, we use all the most update technologies available to help us provide the reproductive services we do.

 

Foaling service

We offer a second to none foaling service. For a fixed fee your mare will board with us at the practice, and thoughout the final stages of her pregnancy be monitored meticulously. Your mare will be monitored by the on-site Veterinary Surgeons upto her due date in a specifically designated foaling box, these boxes are covered with CCTV 24 hours a day, nearer the time of foaling the mares will also be monitored with foaling alarms, the alarms are attached to the mare and a special sensor detects when the mare starts to sweat as she goes into labour. Your mare whilst foaling down at the practice will benefit from two permanently on-site veterinary surgeons who monitor and assist if necessary the foaling itself, any treatments required are also therefore given without delay. We also have on-site a specifically designated foal intensive care box incase any foal born at the practice requires nursing.

 

Neonatal intensive care

At the practice we have a designated facility to handle sick foals requiring intensive care. The designated room is fully equipped with monitoring equipment, heated bed and heating lamps, laboratory investigation, infusion pumps, oxygen, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, plasma and various other treatments. The room enables the mare to be placed next door and via a barrier can see and hear her foal next door, helping to reduce maternal stress of detachment from her foal. Having two veterinary surgeons living on-site allows constant monitoring and treatment of sick foals.

 

Routine neonatal surgical procedures

Throughout the stud season we regularly perform surgical procedures to treat some commonly occuring neonatal conditions, e.g. hernia repair, periosteal strips (to correct angular limb deformities), castrations, entropion repair and joint flushes of septic and infected joints.

 

Embryo transfer

Embryo transfer is also available at the practice, if you are interested in embryo transfer we offer to perform the work at a set price, please call the office to talk to one of our vets about embryo transfer.

 

Post foaling checks

At the Meadow Equine Practice we urge clients and mare owners everywhere to have their mare and foal examined after the foal is born, this will help identify any potential problems before they happen, these could be anything from identifying damage to the mare during foaling to retained fetal membranes to neonatal problems such as prematurity, septicaemia, angular limb deformities etc. Quick identification and treatment of such problems will save time, money, reduce the chances of the foal contracting life-threatening diseases and help preserve the reproductive health of the mare. To have your mare and foal checked over by one of our vets please call the office to arrange an appointment as soon as the mare has foaled.