Animal Sciences Commons^™

Forced Exercise Influences Embryo Quality And Blood Perfusion Of The Dominant Follicle In Mares, Rachael Smith

All Theses

Athletic mares are commonly utilized in an embryo transfer regimen during the breeding season, which allows owners to continue to train and compete with these animals. Evidence suggests exercising mares in a hot and humid environment detrimental to embryo recovery rates. However, the effects of exercise under milder temperatures and its influence on mare reproduction have not been thoroughly examined. Our goal was to compare embryo recovery rates and embryo quality scores of mares under mild environmental conditions of two differing exercise regimens versus a single Control group. Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to capture images of the blood flow …