IMPACT OF ULTRASONOGRAPHIC MONITORING IN REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY OF MARES DURING MONTHS OF YEAR IN IRAQ

Abstract

The objectives of the present study were to illustrate the effect of seasons of year in the reproductive efficiency in mares and to investigate the optimal period for early pregnancy diagnosis using real-time ultrasonography. The present study was conducted on mares (n=70) which were from Iraqi equestrian club in Al- Ameria/ Baghdad. The mares were from different breeds (Arabian, cross breed and thoroughbred) and with age average from (4-14) year. These mares were examined for pregnancy diagnosis which was carried out by trans-rectal ultrasonography using a 5 MHz linear-array transducer from day 10 to day 40 post-breeding (last breeding day= Day zero). The current study showed higher (P<0.01) breeding rates in spring season. The results of ultrasonographic examination revealed higher accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis from (31-35) days post-breeding. Meanwhile, this study indicated that most of the conception rates were maximum in spring season, with a high significant differences (P<0.01) between pregnant, non-pregnant mares and the months of the year. Therefore, it can be concluded from this study that the season of the year have a significant effect in the incidence of heat in mares. Pregnancy diagnosis in mares can achieved accurately starting from day thirty-first of gestation onward.