Factors concerning early embryonic death in thoroughbred mares in South Korea

Young Jin Yang, Gil Jae Cho

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

A total of 384 Thoroughbred mares were investigated to determine and evaluate the features of early embryonic death at nine equine farms on Jeju Island, South Korea, from 2001 to 2003. Overall, 771 matings for 384 mares resulted in 376 pregnancies 15 days after ovulation. Subsequently, 12.2% (46/376) of these early conceptuses were lost within 45 days after ovulation. Furthermore, about three quarters of the 46 embryonic deaths occurred between 16 and 25 days after ovulation. The incidence of embryonic death was highest in the barren (17.2%), more than 15 years old (15.4%), and more than 10 parities (18.2%) groups compared with the other groups (9.1-16.9%). Mares mated in March, April, and during the first estrus postpartum had higher embryonic death rates, (19.6%, 17.2%, and 24.6%, respectively). Mares with abnormal fluid and cysts in the uterus (18.0%) or multiple embryonic vesicles (23.1%) had higher embryonic death rates than those with normal uterine conditions (9.8%) or single embryonic vesicles (10.5%). The condition of mares, such as breeding condition and the environment of the embryo or fetus, are the major factors in relation to occurrence of early embryonic death.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)787-792
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Veterinary Medical Science
Volume69
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2007

Keywords

  • Breeding condition
  • Embryonic death
  • Thoroughbred
  • Uterine environment

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