Thanks it does make interesting reading. I have found over the years that having one stallion on the place amongst his mares makes for a very successful hit rate with foals being born and mares getting infoal, trouble is when a visiting mare then goes home to live with another stallion very close by, then there is always a risk. If you think about it we should really try to reproduce a natural state with all animals as they reproduce and lead a much happier and healthy life.
I agree Sue , it has been known that mare's coming here have been scanned in foal first time, then go home only to reobsorb sometimes ! but what is the alternative ? I couldnt keep them for the full 11 months !
This is an interesting article. My own findings are that when I had no stallions before and used to send my mares away, I often ended up out of pocket with keep and stud fees and no foal. I now have 3 covering stallions which I collect from and inseminate my own mares at home and have enjoyed a 100% hit rate. All three stallions are stabled and have paddocks next to the mares and they are all very relaxed about each other. If I were to use an outside stallion now I would only use one that could provide me with chilled semen so my mare could stay at home. This is something I would definately recomend to other mare owners providing mare & stallion in question had no fertility issues.
Breeding - fascinating article on bbc website
United Kingdom
Posted - 31 Mar 2011 : 11:08:00 AM
