312
Equine vet. Educ. (2000) 12 (6) 312-317
Special Article
Retrospective study on the efficacy of hCG in an equine
artificial insemination programme using frozen semen
S. BARBACINI, G. ZAVAGLIA, P. GULDEN, V. MARCHI AND D. NECCHI
Studio Veterinario Cristella, Via Argine 39, 26046 S. Daniele Po (CR), Italy.
Introduction
In the last few years, European horse breeders have used
frozen semen more intensively. The per cycle pregnancy rate
obtained with equine frozen semen is generally lower (40%
vs. 60–70%) than that achieved with fresh or cooled semen
(Jasko 1992). For most stallions, this reduced fertility with
frozen semen is true in spite of the more intense
reproductive management applied to mares inseminated
with frozen/thawed spermatozoa (Pace and Sullivan 1975;
Pickett et al. 1987; Brinsko and Varner 1992; Jasko 1992).
Evidence suggests that the freezing and thawing
process causes irreparable damage to equine male
gametes, shortening the time they are maintained in a
viable state within the female reproductive tract (Pickett
et al. 1987; Brinsko and Dickson 1992; Jasko 1992; Pickett
and Amann 1993; Samper 1995).
For this reason, the timing between insemination and
ovulation must be synchronised accurately, since
inseminating mares too far from ovulation (earlier than
12 h before or later than 6 h after ovulation) leads to
substantial fertility reduction (Pace and Sullivan 1975;
Aliev and Ochkin 1979; Aliev 1981; Volkmann and van Zyl
1987; Pickett and Amann 1993; Katila et al. 1996).
Moreover, veterinarians using frozen semen are frequently
obliged to use only one insemination dose per cycle, because
often only a few doses are purchased for each breeding.
As a result, ovulation is generally induced in an effort
better to predict its time of occurence and achieve greater
synchronism with insemination. The most common drugs
for inducing ovulation in the mare are hCG and GnRH,
even though crude extract of equine gonadotropin (CEG),
equine LH (eLH) and PGF2α have been used (Chavatte
and Palmer 1998).
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was the first drug
used to induce ovulation in the mare (Day 1939) and, at the
moment, it is probably the most widely used worldwide by
equine practitioners. The efficacy of hCG to induce
ovulation in cycling oestrous mares with at least one 35 mm
ovarian follicle has been previously demonstrated by many
authors (Day 1939; Loy and Hughes 1966; Voss et al. 1975;
Webel et al. 1977; Driancourt and Palmer 1982; Michel et al.
1986; Wilson et al. 1990; Kilicarslan et al. 1996; Rossdale
and Lambrecht 1998).
Nevertheless, many studies have been performed in
the last decade to find alternative pharmacological
solutions for inducing ovulation in the mare, since it was
EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION
demonstrated (Roser et al. 1979; Duchamp et al. 1987;
Wilson et al. 1990) that frequent use of hCG in the mare
may lead to the formation of anti-hCG antibodies, with a
subsequent loss of pharmacological efficacy (Sullivan et al.
1973; Voss et al. 1975).
Studies have been conducted on the use of injectable
GnRH (Ginther and Wentworth 1974; Irvine et al. 1975;
Oxender et al. 1977; Michel et al. 1986; Duchamp et al.
1987; Johnson 1987; Bott et al. 1996), implants of the
GnRH analogue deslorelin (McKinnon et al. 1993; Meinert
et al. 1993; Jochle and Trigg 1994; Lubbecke et al. 1994;
Squires et al. 1994; Jochle 1995; Mumford et al. 1995;
Meyers et al. 1997; Rossdale and Lambrecht 1998), crude
extract of equine gonadotropin (Duchamp et al. 1987;
Bézard et al. 1989; Battut et al. 1998), equine LH (Bruyas
et al. 1993) and PGF2α (Harrison et al. 1987, 1991; Savage
and Litrap 1987; Vidament et al. 1992).
The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the
efficacy of hCG, when used in a large scale equine
artificial insemination programme utilising frozen/thawed
semen. Specific attention was given to the effect of season,
mare’s age and reproductive status on the response to
hCG administration.
Materials and methods
Case details
Data were collected, during the period 1994–1999, from the
records of 559 cycling Warmblood mares age 3–23 years
inseminated with good quality frozen/thawed semen at 2
different artificial insemination centres located in Northern
Italy. A cycling mare was considered to be a subject that
displayed at least one ovulation before entering our
artificial insemination programme using frozen semen.
The broodmare population was subdivided into 3
reproductive groups: 155 maidens (mean age = 7.5 years),
224 foaling mares (mean age = 9.8 years) and 180 barren
mares (mean age = 12.7 years). Age groups were divided as
follows: 3–9 years (n = 220), 10–16 years (n = 251), and
>16 years (n = 88). A total of 1040 cycles were monitored:
55 in February, 125 in March, 229 in April, 251 in May,
222 in June and 158 in July.
Distribution of the oestrous cycles was 308, 313 and
419 in the maiden, foaling and barren groups,
respectively; and 456, 439 and 145 in the youngest,
intermediate and oldest groups, respectively.
S. Barbacini et al. 313

42% 9% 6% 10%
90% 0–24 h
0-12 h 25–48 h
80% >48 h
13-24 h
25-36 h 70%
37-48 h
>48 h 60%

50%
34%
40%

Fig 1: Ovulation distribution after hCG administration: 30%

general results.
20%

All mares were monitored during oestrus using linear
scan ultrasonography with a 5 MHz transrectal
transducer (Sonoace 600V)1, according to a scheme
previously described (Barbacini et al. 1999).
Administration of 2000 iu hCG (Corulon2 or Vetecor3),
was performed i.v. when at least one follicle of 35 mm or
greater was detected via ultrasonography, together with
the presence of endometrial folds. Ultrasonography was
performed 12 h after hCG injection and subsequently at 4
to 6 h intervals until ovulation took place. Each mare
included in this study received an average of 1.87 hCG
injections (1040 cycles/559 mares), and only one
treatment/oestrous cycle was given. Mean number hCG
administrations were 1.99, 1.40 and 2.33 for maiden,
foaling and barren groups, respectively; and 2.07, 1.75 and
1.64 for the youngest, intermediate and older groups,
respectively. When ovulation did not occur within 48 h of
the hCG injection, the mare was considered to have had an
inappropriate response to the treatment (Ginther 1992a).
Artificial inseminations were performed within a 6 h
pre- and a 6 h postovulation period. Pregnancies were
detected ultrasonographically 14 days postovulation and
scans repeated at Days 30 and 50 of gestation.
As described by Gardiner and Gettinby (1998), data
obtained were examined statistically using an analysis of
variance test (ANOVA).
Results
General
The total and per cycle pregnancy rates observed 14 days
after ovulation were 77% (429 pregnancies/559
10%
0%
Early Late
season season
Feb/Mar/Apr May/June/July
Fig 2: Effect of season (early or late) on the ovulation
distribution after hCG administration.
broodmares) and 41% (429 pregnancies/1040 cycles)
respectively. Ovulation distribution after the hCG
treatment is summarised in Figure 1. Ovulation occurred
within 48 h in 91% of cases and in the period 25–48 h in
75%. In 93 cycles (9%) an ovulation did not occur within
48 h of treatment.
Reproductive status
Table 1 shows the influence of the mare’s reproductive status
on the time period between hCG treatment and ovulation.
There was no difference (P>0.5) between maiden and
foaling groups, but in the barren group there was a wider
distribution (P<0.05) of ovulation response to hCG (0–24 h,
18%; 25–48 h, 69%; >48 h, 13%) from that observed in the
maiden and foaling groups.
A significantly higher number of barren mares
(P<0.05) did not react to hCG treatment compared to the
other groups.
Age
Age did not affect ovulation distribution in the 2 youngest
groups (P>0.5) and ovulation rates in the 25–48 h period
for the 3–9 and 10–16-year-old groups were 79% and 78%,

TABLE 1: Number (%) of oestrus cycles distributed according to periods following hCG injections in maiden, foaling and
barren mares

Mean No.
Number of hCG injections
0–12 h 13–24 h 25–36 h 37–48 h >48 h cycles per mare

Maiden (n = 155) 14 (5%) 34 (11%) 126 (41%) 121 (39%) 13 (4%) 308 1.99
Foaling (n = 224) 23 (7%) 23 (7%) 106 (34%) 136 (43%) 25 (8%) 313 1.40
Barren (n = 180) 28 (7%) 48 (11%) 114 (27%) 175 (42%) 54 (13%) 419 2.33
314
TABLE 2: Influence of age on ovulation distribution after hCG administration
0–12 h 13–24 h 25–36 h
3–9 years (n = 220) 24 (5%) 52 (11%) 163 (36%)
10–16 years (n = 251) 24 (5%) 32 (7%) 150 (34%)
>16 years (n = 88) 16 (11%) 24 (17%) 36 (25%)
respectively. Older mares (>16 years) had a wider ovulation
distribution (P<0.05) than the mares included in the 2
youngest groups: 0–12 h (11%), 13–24 h (17%), 25–36 h
(25%), 37–48 h (29%) and >48 h (19%).
Table 2 shows that the percentage of mares reacting
inappropriately (>48 h) to the hCG treatment significantly
(P<0.05) increases with age.
Season
The data reported in Table 3a show the ovulation
distribution according to the month of hCG treatment. The
percentage of ovulations occurring after 48 h from the
drug administration did not rise (P>0.5) with the
progression of the season (February to July), despite the
increased number of hCG injections received by each mare
during the whole breeding season.
Moreover, Figure 2 shows that the percentage of
cycles that do not respond adequately to hCG are similar
(P>0.5), irrespective of the time of the year.
The data given in Table 3b and Figure 2 clearly
demonstrate that late in the season (May, June and July)
the ovulation distribution is significantly (P<0.05) moved
towards the 0–24 h period. Twenty-one per cent of the
ovulations induced with hCG in the last 3 months of the
breeding season took place during the first day following the
injection and 70% occurred in the 25–48 h period, whereas
in the first part of the breeding season (February, March
and April) 83% occurred in the 25–48 h period (P<0.05) as
opposed to 9% in the first day following the treatment.
Discussion
The total and per cycle pregnancy rates obtained in this
retrospective study are similar to those previously
reported using frozen/thawed equine semen (Pickett et
al. 1993; Metcalf 1995; Samper 1995; Barbacini et al.
1999). Routine use of hCG did not affect fertility in our
artificial insemination programme, confirming previous
reports of the use of fresh semen or with natural mating
(Loy and Hughes 1966; Voss et al. 1975; Michel et al.
1986; Kilicarslan et al. 1996).
Induction of ovulation is necessary in a programme in
which many mares have to be inseminated with frozen
semen, irrespective of the drug used. It is of practical
importance to know if there are any particular clinical
requirements for inducing ovulation in mares inseminated
during different times of the year and belonging to different
Efficacy of hCG in an artificial insemination programme
Mean No.
Number of hCG injections
37–48 h >48 h cycles per mare
194 (43%) 23 (5%) 456 2.07
191 (44%) 42 (10%) 439 1.75
41 (29%) 28 (19%) 145 1.64
age or reproductive groups. In this study, hCG treatment
obtained reliable results, since more than 90% of ovulations
occurred within 48 h of the treatment with 75% ovulating
within the interval 25–48 h. Therefore, using hCG allows
ovulation and fertilisation to be synchronised with the
minimal effort and quantity of semen.
The mean number of injections received by each mare
during a breeding season was 1.87. Analysis by different
groups of treatment (reproductive status, age and month)
shows that, even when hCG was given more than twice
per breeding season, the mean number of administrations
barely exceeded 2.00. Consequently, despite reports that
hCG induces formation of antibodies after a mare is
treated for 2 to 5 consecutive cycles (Roser et al. 1979;
Duchamp et al. 1987; Wilson et al. 1990), equine
practitioners need not be concerned when employing the
treatment in conjunction with the use of frozen semen.
This is also supported by the fact that even late in
the season (Fig 2), when the concentration of mares
treated many times is higher, the percentage of cycles
that do not respond adequately to hCG treatment is not
statistically different (P>0.5) from that seen early in the
season (9 vs. 8%).
The percentage of cycles that do not ovulate within 48 h
from hCG treatment is influenced (P<0.05) primarily by
reproductive status or mare’s age (Tables 1 and 2), with
age probably the major factor, since even within different
reproductive groups, the percentage of cycles that do not
respond adequately to the drug increases with age. Mean
age was 7.5, 9.8 and 12.7 years for the maiden, foaling and
barren groups, respectively.
Barren mares had a wider ovulation distribution
compared to maiden and foaling mares: 69% (P<0.05) of
ovulations occurred in the 25–48 h period and 13%
(P<0.05) occurred after 48 h from hCG injection.
It could be assumed that this lack of ovulation
homogeneity depends on the fact that the barren group
included not only older mares, but also many subjects with
fertility problems not depending on the uterus, like
anomalies of the ovarian activity or abnormal hormonal
production. Table 2 shows that mares belonging to the
older group did not definitely react to the hCG treatment,
since ovulation distribution was dramatically different
(P<0.05) from that seen in the 2 youngest groups. This
may be due to reduced efficiency of the hypothalamus,
pituitary gland and ovaries of older subjects compared to
younger mares.
We do not think any responsibility could be given to a
massive production of anti-hCG antibodies, since the mean
S. Barbacini et al. 315

TABLE 3a: Influence of season on ovulation distribution after hCG administration

Mean No.
Number of hCG injections
0–12 h 13–24 h 25–36 h 37–48 h >48 h cycles per mare

February (n = 51) 0 (0%) 3 (5%) 21 (38%) 26 (47%) 5 (9%) 55 1.08

March (n = 94) 3 (2%) 2 (2%) 49 (39%) 57 (46%) 14 (11%) 125 1.33
April (n = 160) 12 (5%) 15 (7%) 84 (37%) 103 (45%) 15 (7%) 229 1.43
May (n = 156) 25 (10%) 27 (11%) 59 (24%) 122 (49%) 18 (7%) 251 1.61
June (n = 119) 14 (6%) 41 (18%) 62 (28%) 80 (36%) 25 (11%) 222 1.86
July (n = 67) 9 (6%) 17 (11%) 72 (46%) 44 (28%) 16 (10%) 158 2.36

TABLE 3b: Influence of season on ovulation distribution inseminated with frozen/thawed semen differently
after hCG administration according to the time of the year.
For instance, during the last part of the breeding
Number of
0–24 h 25–48 h >48 h cycles
season, more attention should be paid to the follicular
activity that take place in the first day following the hCG
February (n = 51) 3 (5%) 47 (85%) 5 (9%) 55 treatment, since mares tend to ovulate more frequently
March (n = 94) 5 (4%) 106 (85%) 14 (11%) 125 (21%) in the 0–24 h period than subjects treated during
April (n = 160) 27 (12%) 187 (82%) 15 (7%) 229 February, March or April (9%). The significantly greater
May (n = 156) 52 (21%) 181 (72%) 18 (7%) 251 number of ovulations that occurred before 24 h should not
June (n = 119) 55 (25%) 142 (64%) 25 (11%) 222
be attributed to hCG itself but to the fact that probably,
July (n = 67) 26 (16%) 116 (73%) 16 (10%) 158
late in the season, the oestrous endogenous LH peak takes
place sooner than it does earlier in the season. An LH
endogenous peak is considered responsible for ovulation
number of injections received by this group was very low occurring earlier than 24 h after hCG treatment (Freeman
(1.64). Moreover, the abnormal ovulation distribution et al. 1991; Grondahl et al. 1993; Battut et al. 1998).
affected not only the >48 h period but also the other 4 time Moreover, since during the vernal transitional phase LH is
intervals, removing the suspicion that the hCG not regularly produced by the pituitary gland of the mare,
administered was always inactivated by specific antibodies. practitioners should be very careful in administering hCG
It has been reported that older mares have reduced early in the season to subjects that have not yet displayed
reproductive efficiency (Ginther 1992b), but few studies at least one ovulation. Use of hCG in transitional mares
have been carried out on equine gerontology. Only a few could lead to very poor results, because LH secretion is
studies have been conducted on uterine (Doig et al. 1981; inadequate and follicles present on the ovaries are often
Waelchli 1990; Ricketts and Alonso 1991), oviductal steroidogenically incompetent (Sharp and Davis 1993).
(Saltiel et al. 1986) and ovarian ageing (Douglas et al. Furthermore, the seasonal variation of ovulation
1985; Fonda et al. 1998; Carnevale et al. 1993; Carnevale distribution observed in this retrospective study after hCG
and Ginther 1995), but no attention has ever been given to administration suggests that researchers should consider
alterations that could eventually affect the endocrine the variable ‘month’ when performing studies on the
system function of the geriatric mare. efficacy of drugs for inducing ovulation in the mare.
The impossibility of foreseeing the ovulation Finally, the percentage of cycles that did not ovulate
distribution in old mares after hCG administration, within 48 h of the treatment did not increase (P>0.5) with
further complicates the intensive breeding management the mean number of injections received by each mare
that should be applied with the use of frozen semen. It is
(Table 3a), suggesting that the response to hCG
for this reason, and also because the fertility of older
administration does not decrease as it is given repeatedly
mares is very low when using frozen semen (Barbacini et
to the same mare.
al. 1999), that we always try to recommend geriatric
In conclusion, this retrospective study provided much
mares should be inseminated with fresh or cooled semen.
information about the efficacy of hCG on induction of
Data reported in Tables 3a and 3b not surprisingly
ovulation in cyclic oestrous mares included in an artificial
show that late in the breeding season (May, June and
insemination programme using frozen/thawed semen:
July) mares react more promptly than during the first
part (February, March and April) to the hCG treatment • Fertility is not affected by hCG use;
(P<0.05). This is a result of the fact that the mare’s • hCG is an indispensable drug for the equine
reproductive activity and hormonal production are practitioner because of its reliability in inducing
physiologically controlled by a seasonal rhythm ovulation in a given time. Such a characteristic allows
(Ginther 1992c). better reproductive management of mares, since the
The fact that ovulation distribution in the first half of timing between insemination and ovulation can be
the season is clearly different from the second, should accurately synchronised in broodmares inseminated
encourage practitioners to manage mares to be with frozen/thawed semen;
316
• Barren and geriatric mares receiving a hCG injection
should be subjected to a more intense ultrasonographic
management, because the ovulation distribution
observed in these 2 groups of animals is wider than in
maiden, foaling or younger mares;
• The ultrasonographic management of a mare that has
to be inseminated with frozen semen should vary
depending on the period of the breeding season during
which hCG is administered;
• hCG inactivation by specific antibodies should not
overconcern equine practitioners, since data reported
in this large field retrospective study (559 mares and
1040 cycles) show that only 9% of the cycles considered
did not result in an ovulation.
Manufacturers’ addresses
1Medison, Kretz Technik, Zipf, Austria.
2Intervet,
Milan, Italy.
3Serono, Rome, Italy.
References
Aliev, A. (1981) The effect of Ovaritropin on reproductive function
of mares and the optimum time of insemination with frozen-
thawed semen. Anim. Breed. 49, 805. (Abstr.)
Aliev, A. and Ochkin, D. (1979) The optimum time of
insemination. Anim. Breed. 47, 576. (Abstr.)
Barbacini, S., Marchi, V. and Zavaglia, G. (1999) Equine frozen
semen: results obtained in Italy during the 1994–1997 period.
Equine vet. Educ. 11, 109-112.
Battut, I., Colchen, S., Fiéni, F., Tainturier, T. and Bruyas, J.F.
(1998) Rates of success in non-surgical embryo collections at
144, 156 or 168 hours after ovulation. Equine vet. J., Suppl.
25, 60-62.
Bézard, J., Magistrini, M., Duchamp, G. and Palmer, E. (1989)
Chronology of equine fertilisation and embryonic development
in vivo and in vitro. Equine vet. J., Suppl. 8, 105-108.
Bott, R.M. Gimenez, T., Shambley, M.O. and Bailey, M.T. (1996)
Induction of ovulation in the mare with the synthetic GnRH
analogue Leuprolide. Equine Pract. 18, 30-33.
Brinsko, S.P. and Verner, D.V. (1992) Artificial insemination and
preservation of semen. Vet. Clin. N. Am. 8, 205-218.
Bruyas, J.F., Rémy, B., Beckers, J.F., Martin, S., Fiéni, F. and
Tainturier, D. (1993) Use of equine LH (eLH) to induce
ovulation in cycling donor mares. In: 9ème Colloque
Scientifique de l’Association Européenne de Transfert
Embryonnaire. p 174. (Abstr.)
Carnevale, E.M., Griffin, P.G. and Ginther, O.J. (1993) Age-
associated subfertility before entry of embryo into the uterus
in mares. Equine vet. J. 15, 31-35.
Carnevale, E.M. and Ginther, O.J. (1995) Defective oocytes as a
cause of subfertility in old mares. Biol. Reprod. Monogr. 1, 209-
214.
Chavatte, P. and Palmer, E. (1998) Induction of ovulation in the
mare. Equine vet. Educ. 10, 26-30.
Day, F.T. (1939) Ovulation and the descent of the ovum in the
fallopian tube of the mare after the treatment with
gonadotrophic hormones. J. Agric. Sci. Camb. 29, 459-469.
Doig, P.A., McKinght, J.D. and Miller, R.B. (1981) The use of
Efficacy of hCG in an artificial insemination programme
endometrial biopsy in the infertile mare. Can. vet. J. 22, 72-76.
Douglas, R.H., Burns, P.J. and Hershman L. (1985) Physiological
and commercial parameters for producing progeny from
subfertile mares by embryo transfer. Equine vet. J., Suppl. 3,
111-114.
Driancourt, M.A. and Palmer, E. (1982) Seasonal and individual
effects on ovarian and endocrine response of mares to a
synchronisation treatment with progestagen-impregnated
vaginal sponges. J. Reprod. Fert., Suppl. 32, 283-291.
Duchamp, G., Bour, B., Combarnous, Y. and Palmer, E. (1987)
Alternative solutions to hCG induction of ovulation in the
mare. J. Reprod. Fert., Suppl. 35, 221-228.
Fonda, E.S., Hackett, G.E., Burril, M.J. and Cogger, E.A. (1998)
Comparison of LH and progesterone secretion in young and
aged mares. J. anim. Sci. Suppl. 1, 429.
Freeman, D.A., Weber, J.A., Geary, R.T. and Woods, G.L. (1991)
Time of embryo transport through the mare oviduct.
Theriogenology, 36, 823-830.
Gardiner, W.P. and Gettinby, G. (1998) Mathematics and
Statistics for the Biosciences, Ed: Eliis Horwood, Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge.
Ginther, O.J. (1992) Reproductive Biology of the Mare, 2nd edn.,
Equiservices, Wisconsin. (a) pp 233-290, (b) pp 499-558,
(c) pp 105-134.
Ginther, O.J. and Wenthworth, B.C. (1974) Effect of a synthetic
gonadothropin-releasing hormone on plasma concentrations of
luteinising hormone in ponies. Am. J. vet. Res. 35, 79-81.
Grondahl, C., Grondahl Nielsen, C., Eriksen, T., Greve, T. and
Hyttel, P. (1993) In vivo fertilisation and initial embryogenesis
in the mare. Equine vet. J., Suppl. 15, 79-83.
Harrison, L.A., Squires, E.L. and McKinnon, A.O. (1987) Acute
effects of Luprostiol on LH and FSH during estrus in cycling
mares. Proceedings of the Equine Nutrition Physiology
Symposium, 10, pp 265-268.
Harrison, L.A., Squires, E.L. and McKinnon, A.O. (1991)
Comparison of hCG, buserelin and luprostiol for induction of
ovulation in cycling mares. Equine vet. Sci. 11, 163-166.
Irvine, D.S., Downey, B.R., Parker, W.G. and Sullivan, J.J. (1975)
Duration of oestrus and time of ovulation in mares treated
with synthetic GnRH. J. Reprod. Fert., Suppl. 23, 269-274.
Jasko, D.J. (1992) Pregnancy rates utilising fresh, cooled and
frozen thawed semen. Proc. Am. Ass. equine Practnrs. 38, 649-
660.
Jochle, W. (1995) Control of ovulation in the mare with Ovuplant
- a short-term-release implant (STI) containing the GnRH
analogue deslorelin acetate: Studies from 1990 to 1994 - a
review. Tierarztl. Prax. 23, 381-393.
Jochle, W. and Trigg, T.E. (1994) Control of ovulation in the mare
with Ovuplant - a short term release implant (STI) containig
the GnRH analogue deslorelin acetate: Studies from 1990 to
1994. J. equine Vet. Sci. 14, 632-644.
Lubbecke, M., Klug, E., Hoppen, H.O. and Jochle, W. (1994)
Attempts to synchronize oestrus and ovulation in mares using
progesterone (CIDR-B) and GnRH analogue deslorelin.
Reprod. Domest. Anim. 29, 305-314.
Johnson, A.L. (1987) Gonadotrophin-resealing hormone
treatment induces follicular growth and ovulation in
seasonally anoestrus mares. Biol. Reprod. 36, 1199-1206.
Katila, T., Celebi, M. and Koskinen, E. (1996) Effect of timing of
frozen semen insemination on pregnancy rate in mares. Acta
Vet. Scand. 37, 361-365.
S. Barbacini et al.
Kilicarslan, M.R., Horoz, H., Senunver, A., Konuk, S.C., Tek, C.
and Carioglu, B. (1996) Effect of GnRH and hCG on ovulation
and pregnancy in mares. Vet. Rec.139, 119-120.
Loy, R.G. and Hughes, J.P. (1966) The effect of human chorionic
gonadotrophin on ovulation, length of oestrus and fertility in
the mare. Cornell Vet. 56, 41-50.
McKinnon, A.O., Nobelius, A.M., Tarrida del Marmol Figueroa, S.,
Skidmore, J., Vasey, J.R. and Trigg. T.E. (1993) Predictable
ovulation in the mares treated with an implant of the GnRH
analogue deslorelin. Equine vet. J. 25, 321-323.
Meinert, C., Silva, J.F., Kroetz, I., Klug, E., Trigg, T.E., Hoppen,
H.O. and Jochle, W. (1993) Advancing the time of ovulation in
the mare with a short-term implant releasing the GnRH
analogue deslorelin. Equine vet. J. 25, 65-68.
Metcalf, L. (1995) Maximizing reproductive efficiency in private
practise: the management of mares and the use of
cryopreserved semen. In: Proceedings of the Annual
Convention of the Society for Theriogenology. pp 155-159.
Meyers, P.J., Bowman, R.T., Bloodgett, H.S., Gimenez, T., Reid,
M.P., Taylor, B.C., Thayer, J., Jochle., W. and Trigg, T.E. (1997)
Use of GnRH analogue, deslorelin, in a slow-release implant to
accelerate ovulation in oestrus mares. Vet. Rec. 140, 249-252.
Michel, T.H., Rossdale, P.D. and Cash, R.S.G. (1986) Efficacy of
human chorionic gonadotrophin and gonadotrophin releasing
hormone for hastening ovulation in Thoroughbred mares.
Equine vet. J. 18, 438-442.
Mumford, E.L., Squires, E.L., Jochle, E. Harrison, L.A., Nett,
T.M. and Trigg, T.E. (1995) Use of deslorelin short-term
implants to induce ovulation in cycling mares during three
consecutive estrus cycles. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 39, 129-140.
Oxender, W.D., Noden, P.A. and Pratt, M.C. (1977) Serum
luteinising hormone, estrus and ovulation in mares following
treatment with prostaglandin F2α and gonadotrophin-
releasing hormone. Am. J. vet. Res. 38, 649-653.
Pace, M.M. and Sullivan, J.J. (1975) Effect of timing of
insemination, numbers of spermatozoa and extenders
components on the pregnancy rate in mares inseminated with
frozen stallion semen. J. Reprod. Fert., Suppl. 23, 115-121.
Pickett, B.W. and Amann, R.P. (1993) Cryopreservation of semen.
In: Equine Reproduction, Eds: A.O. McKinnon and J.L. Voss,
Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, London. pp 767-789.
Pickett, B.W., Squires, E.L. and McKinnon A.O. (1987)
Preservation of stallion semen by freezing. In: Procedures for
Collection, Evaluation and Utilisation of Stallion Semen
Artificial Insemination, Anim. Rep. Lab. Bulletin. No. 3.
Colorado State University, Fort Collins. pp 75-98.
Ricketts, S.W. and Alonso, S. (1991) The effect of age and parity
on the development of equine chronic endometrial disease.
317
Equine vet. J. 23, 189-192.
Roser, J.F., Kiefer, B.L., Evans, J.W., Neely, D.P. and Pacheco,
C.A. (1979) The development of antibodies to human chorionic
gonadotrophin following its repeated injection in the cyclic
mare. J. Reprod. Fert., Suppl. 27, 173-179.
Rossdale, P.D. and Lambrecht, P. (1998) Comparison of the
interval between administration of hCG or GnRH implant and
ovulation in oestrus mares. Equine vet. Educ. 10, 76-79.
Saltiel, A., Paramo, R., Murcia, C. and Tolosa, J. (1986)
Pathological findings in the oviducts of mares. Am. J. vet. Res.
47, 594-597.
Samper, J.C. (1995) Stallion semen cryopreservation: male factors
affecting pregnancy rates. In: Proceedings of the Annual
Convention of the Society for Theriogenology. pp 160-165.
Savage, N.C. and Litrap, R.M. (1987) Induction of ovulation in
cycling mares by administration of a synthetic prostaglandin,
fenprostalene, during oestrus. J. Reprod. Fert., Suppl. 35, 239-
243.
Sharp, D.C. and Davis, S.D. (1993) Vernal transition. In: Equine
Reproduction, Eds: A.O. McKinnon and J.L. Voss, Lea and
Febiger, Philadelphia, London. pp 133-143.
Squires, E.L., Moran, D.M., Farlin, M.E., Jasko, D.J., Keefe, T.J.,
Meyers, T.J., Figueiredo, E., McCue, P.M. and Jochle, W.
(1994) Effect of a dose of GnRH analogue on ovulation in
mares. Theriogenology 41, 729-735.
Sullivan, J.J., Parker, W.G. and Larson, L.L. (1973) Duration of
estrus and ovulation time in non lactating mares given human
chorionic gonadotrophin during three successive estrus period.
J. Am. vet. med. Ass. 162, 895-898.
Vidament, M., Arnaud, G., Triaalud-Geyl, C., Duchamp, G. and
Palmer, E. (1992) Analogues of GnRH (Buserelin) and of
PGF2α do not induce ovulation in mares. Proceedings of the
International Congress on Animal Reproduction 12, 1927-1929.
Volkmann, D.H. and van Zyl, D. (1987) Fertility of stallion semen
frozen in 0.5 straws. J. Reprod. Fert., Suppl. 35, 143-148.
Voss, J.L., Sullivan, J.J., Pickett, B.W., Parker, W.G., Burwash,
L.D. and Larson, L.L. (1975) The effect of hCG on duration on
oestrus, ovulation time and fertility in mares. J. Reprod. Fert.,
Suppl. 35, 557-561.
Waelchli, R.O. (1990) Endometrial biopsy in mares under non-
uniform breeding management conditions: prognostic value
and relationship with age. Can. vet. J. 31, 379-384.
Webel, S.K., Franklin, V., Harland, B. and Dzuik, P.J. (1977)
Fertility, ovulation and maturation of eggs in mares treated
with hCG. J. Reprod. 51, 337-328.
Wilson, C.G., Downie, C.R., Hughes, J.P. and Roser, J.F. (1990)
Effects of repeated hCg injections on reproductive efficiency in
mares. Equine vet. Sci. 10, 301-308.