Fetal Development, Placenta and Position in the Uterus

Embryo moves throughout the uterus

Day 5 to 14

Embryo implantation in the uterus; progesterone secretion in the ovaries

Day 16 to 17

Heartbeat is detectable with ultrasound

Day 24 to 26

Equine chorionic gonadotropin hormone (eCG)- Check pregnancy status, facial features, stifle and elbow joints development, head and limb movements

Day 35 to 40

Gender determination; hooves development

Day 60 to 90

Hair begins to grow around muzzle and eyes; hooves developed; very active until 5 months

Month 4-5

Mane and tail development; fetus moving to cranial position (facing mare’s cervix)

Months 6-7

Hair development all over its body

Months 8-11

Increase of 40% protein requirement (rapid development, udder development, and colostrum production

Day 226-300

Mare’s pelvic muscle relax (bag), perineum softens (relaxin hormone)

1-3 weeks pre foaling

Teats begin to distend due to colostrum

5-10 days pre foaling

Waxing up of teats occurs, where milk turns into a waxy substance

24-72 hours pre foaling

The vulva elongates and swells; calcium levels in mammary secretions rise

Less than 24 hrs pre foaling

Average gestation of a mare

320-345 days

Amount of sunlight

Photoperiod

Mares that are pregnant earlier in the year

Longer pregnancy

Mares that are pregnant late spring

Shorter pregnancy

Dysmaturity (less mature than its age) and twins

Longer pregnancy

Foals born before what day are premature

320 days

What type of vaccine is giving to pregnant mares

Killed vaccine

When do you give mares the vaccine?

4-6 weeks pre foaling

What two viruses are recommened?

Equine Herpes and Rotavirus

EHV-1 associated with abortion in mares: 5, 7, and 9 months of gestation

Equine Herpes Virus

Foal diarrhea: 8, 9, 10 months of gestation and antibodies are present in colostrum

Rotavirus

Done every 3 months throughout the pregnancy

Regular parasite control

What type of feeding is given all times of pregnancy?

Ad libitum

What type of grass causes dystocia, lack of milk, prolonged gestation

Fescue grass