Parturition and postpartum reproductive performance in the multiparous mare fed to obesity /
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1988.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | ProQuest, Abstract Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | At 40 to 75 days of pregnancy, 20 multiparous Quarter Horse mares were assigned to one of two treatment groups: 1) control - fed to maintain a moderate degree of body fatness (condition score 5.5 to 7) and 2) obese - fed to achieve, foal and then maintain an extremely high degree of body fatness (condition score 9). Body fatness was monitored by estimating percent body fat from an ultrasonographic scan of rump fat thickness and by evaluating body condition using a scoring system based on visual and palpable fat cover (scores ranged from 1 to 9). Condition score, body weight and percent body fat were greater for obese compared to control mares during the last two trimesters of pregnancy and throughout the postpartum period (p<0.05). Gestation was not affected by treatment. Parturition was observed and video taped from a raised platform located outside of a foaling stall. The duration of stages II and III of parturition, all intermediate times, the interval from birth of the foal to standing and nursing, and the degree of cervical and vaginal bruising incurred during parturition were not different between treatment groups. Foal birth weight and placenta weight did not differ between treatment groups, however, the nonfoal/nonplacenta weight loss was greater in obese compared to control mares (33.2 vs 17.4 kg, SE = 3.6, p<0.05). Individual, daily teasing began 2 days postpartum and estrous intensity was subjectively evaluated using teasing scores (TS) ranging from 0 (rejection) to 4 (maximum receptivity). Follicular development and ovulation were monitored ultrasonographically. Mares were artificially inseminated beginning with the second postpartum ovulatory cycle and were removed from the study after 63 days of pregnancy. Duration of estrus, maximum TS and the number of mares exhibiting overt estrus (TS>2) did not differ between treatment groups during the first and second postpartum ovulatory cycles. The intervals from foaling to first cycle ovulation, first to second cycle ovulation and parturition to second cycle ovulation were also similar between treatment groups. All mares in both treatment groups conceived and maintained pregnancy. The first cycle conception rate and the number of cycles per conception did not differ between treatment groups. Excessive body fat stored during gestation in the multiparous mare did not adversely affect parturition or postpartum reproductive performance. |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Physiology of Reproduction." |
| Physical Description: | ix, 73 leaves ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-72). |