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Effect of Rectal Palpation on Pregnancy Rate of Nonlactating, Normally Cycling Mares¹

Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523

Abstract

The effect of rectal palpation on pregnancy rate of nonlactating, normally cycling mares was studied over a 3-year period. Each palpation was conducted by an experienced followed by an inexperienced, palpator and palpation time was not limited, and must be considered excessive in relation to routine breeding practices. In 1971, first-cycle pregnancy rates of mares palpated daily during estrus and mares palpated daily until 50 days of pregnancy were 25.0 and 27.3% compared to 50.0% for the nonpalpated, control mares; after four cycles the pregnancy rates were 75.0, 72.7 and 91.7%, respectively (P>.05). Daily palpation during early pregnancy was not detrimental to fertility, since no abortions or interruptions of pregnancy prior to the 50-day pregnancy examination could be attributed to palpation. Palpated mares had shorter (P<.05) durations of estrus than nonpalpated mares (5.6 and 5.9 vs 7.9 days).

In 1972, first-cycle pregnancy rates for the two groups of mares palpated daily during estrus were lower (P<.05) than the pregnancy rate of control mares that were not palpated, 16.7, 16.7 and 61.1%, respectively.

¹ Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Biophysics. Supported in part by grants-in-aid from American Breeders Service; the National Association of Animal Breeders; and the Arabian Horse Registry of America, Inc., through the Morris Animal Foundation. The authors wish to express appreciation to the numerous veterinary and graduate students who assisted in the collection of these data and to Diamond Laboratories, Inc., for supplying the MIP-TESTS for these trials. Portions of these data were presented at the 19th annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, 1973 and at the "First International Symposium Upon Equine Reproduction," Cambridge, England, 1974.

² Department of Clinical Sciences.

³ Present address: Gleannloch Farms, Spring-Cypress Rd., Spring, TX 77393.

⁴ Present address: Alberta Department of Agriculture, Animal Industry Division, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.