Equine Repro Question - Oxytocin Protocol

[K_2]

Would like a little input with this situation.

Mare being live covered (TB breeding), breeding on what’s most likely day 4 and day 6 of heat (second cover may or may not be neccesary). Do you start the oxytocin protocol after the first cover during the cycle AND again after the second cover? OR just after the final cover?

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

Begin Oxytocin after the first cover, and continue until 3.5 (?) days after ovulation.

That said, why do two covers, especially with a mare you are worried about fluid? I would check to make sure you are breeding at a good time, and leave it to one cover. Also, as long as the stallion has good semen, earlier is better, as you have more time to clear the fluid before the cervix closes.

[Equine_Reproduction]

[QUOTE=K~2;4740430]
Would like a little input with this situation.

Mare being live covered (TB breeding), breeding on what’s most likely day 4 and day 6 of heat (second cover may or may not be neccesary). Do you start the oxytocin protocol after the first cover during the cycle AND again after the second cover? OR just after the final cover?[/QUOTE]

Depends. Is the mare pooling fluid? Having uterine clearance issues? If so, is the fluid pooling prior to breeding? If the mare is older, and has uterine clearance issues and is pooling fluid, we will often begin oxytocin prior to breeding. Small doses (10 I.U.) every six hours, round the clock beginning a day or two before breeding if the mare is having clearance issues. So, how to time it on the day you’re breeding? If you give the mare a shot of oxytocin at 9 a.m., breed two hours later at 11 a.m. and then the next oxytocin shot will fall 4 hours later, thereby never missing an injection. Continue with the low doses of oxytocin through ovulation. After ovulation, the dosage is increased to 20 I.U. every six hours up to three days post ovulation. If the mare is having chronic uterine clearance issues you do NOT want to miss a dosage and the trick is staying ahead of the problem. But, to know whether or not you have an issue, you do need to be following the mare. And, as Darlyn noted, if the mare ovulates in a timely fashion, a single breeding should be sufficient. By repeatedly breeding, you are adding to the problem by introducing more fluid that the mare will have to clear.

Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine-Reproduction.com, LLC
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

[K_2]

Thanks Kathy & Darlyn!

Just trying to cover my bases if the mare doesn’t ovulate and needs a second cover.

[crownridgefarms]

[QUOTE=Equine Reproduction;4741924]
Continue with the low doses of oxytocin through ovulation.http://www.equine-reproduction.com[/QUOTE]

every six hours still?

[Daventry]

@crownridgefarms;5651345

every six hours still?

Yep! :yes::yes::yes:

[quote=Equine Reproduction;4741924]After ovulation, the dosage is increased to 20 I.U. every six hours up to three days post ovulation.
[/quote]

[Equine_Reproduction]

[QUOTE=crownridgefarms;5651345]
every six hours still?[/QUOTE]

Yup. BET Pharm has come out with a BioRelease Oxytocin that is good for 12 hours :). YAY!!! So, that is definitely an option. We use it with regular oxytocin and use it at the end of the day so that we are able to cut out a few of the middle of the night, zombie walking, giving shots. Although one good thing about a broken back, I’m not out stumbling around in the middle of the night <grin>. That and I got out of having to load and unload 540 bales of hay! ALMOST worth breaking it <LOL>…almost.