The case of horses: types, preparation, timing. Breeding and breeding horses

For the successful conduct of any industry of livestock, including horse breeding, an important indicator is the reproduction of livestock. The success of the entire farm depends on the correctly conducted mating of horses, whether it be a private stable or a stud farm. All possible factors that can affect the final result are taken into account - getting offspring.

Breeding

The question of animal breeding methods in zootechnical science is one of the main ones. Depending on the goals set for breeders, different options are used. When breeding and breeding horses take into account the species, pedigree, linear affiliation of animals. Methods:

1. Thoroughbred breeding. The ability of individuals to persistently betray distinctive breed properties to subsequent generations is a very important biological feature. Improving and maintaining the breed is the main goal of purebred breeding, where animals of the same breed are used for reproduction.
2. Crossbreeding.

Crossbreeding can be reproductive, the goal is breeding a new breed. Two (simple reproductive crosses) or more (complex reproductive crosses) of the original breeds are used. A complex, lengthy and risky (it is difficult to predict the result) method helped to develop hundreds of new breeds of farm animals. A vivid example of complex reproductive crosses is the Oryol trotter breed.

Absorption crossing aims to improve local livestock. Local queens are covered with a manufacturer with the required characteristics. Individuals of the first generation are again covered with males of an improving breed, and so on until the fifth generation (after the fifth, animals are considered purebred and are usually bred “inside themselves”). An effective and accessible method allows for significantly improving livestock performance over 4-5 generations.

Allocate industrial crossing. The goal is to use the phenomenon of heterosis. Use two types:

• simple - with the participation of two breeds; the resulting crosses are no longer used in reproduction;
• complex, the first generation crossbreeds are covered with a representative of the third breed, reinforcing heterosis.

Both options are practiced in the work of herd horse breeding.

The goal of variable crosses is to maximize the benefits of first generation crossbreeds. In essence, it is similar to industrial crossbreeding. Part of the uterus remains for future use. A crossbred uterus with ½ or ¼ blood shares is crossed with a purebred producer of the original breed. Thus, it is possible to maintain the phenomenon of heterosis for several generations. Three-breed variable crossbreeding sometimes ends with the breeding of new breeds, so the French breeders got a Norman horse.

Introductory crossbreeding aims to: instill in the main breed any qualities without changing the type and characteristic features of the breed being improved. Thus, many modern animal breeds were “corrected”. A vivid example is the Oryol trotter, in the veins of which one can meet the blood of English thoroughbred horse and Arabian breeds.

There is still hybridization. Goals - breeding new breeds, restoration of lost species. Two types of mating of horses and donkeys are known. A pair of stallion + donkey gives loshakas small and stubborn to mom, not very hardy. From a pair of donkey + mare mules are born - obedient and rather large to mom, unpretentious and hardy - to dad.

Pet hygiene

There are several methods for breeding horses:

• manual;
• cooking;
• mowing;
• artificial insemination.

Each of the above options has its advantages and disadvantages. With a different method of keeping horses, the most suitable method is chosen.

In mating, horses must be at least 3 years old. Every year, in the horse farms, the entire population is checked for infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases (squatting).

The following factors influence the successful mating of horses:

• feeding and keeping conditions (depleted and sick animals are excluded from the random company);
• the factory condition is considered the best for mating, too plump mares may not come into the hunt;
• mating time; ovulation usually occurs at night, so the best time for insemination is early morning;
• age; a young healthy body is better prepared to bear healthy offspring.

The time of year for mating horses depends on the method of maintenance. In herd horse breeding and in the wild, the random period mainly passes from the beginning of spring (March) to mid-summer (July). With stable maintenance, they practice earlier dates - January-February. Winter foals are stronger and by the time they go to the pasture they are ready to pinch the grass.

Selection of animals

Choosing a pair for mating, take into account many nuances. In purebred breeding, not only the quality of the breed indicators is important, but also the origin of the animal. Close inbreeding (mating of close relatives) is rarely used. Purebred horse breeding has its own lines of styers and sprinters, and this indicator is also monitored during selection.

Be sure to pay attention to the size of the animals. The uterus may be larger than the manufacturer, but you can not cover a horse mare with a heavy horse stallion. In private small farms, often to improve the livestock they cover with thoroughbred stallion outbred mares. In this case, thoroughbred young animals are not born, it can not be used for breeding.

As a rule, in a matched pair, both partners have the same pedigree indicators or they are better for a stallion. The stronger, higher class, physically healthy breeding producer, the more chances to get good foals from him.

Hunting

They mare when they come to the hunt. The cycle is repeated every 16-24 days. Duration can vary from 2 days to 12 or more. After a foal, the female may come to hunt for 3-5 days. Understanding when a horse is ready for mating helps to monitor its behavior. Signs of the hunt:

• at the beginning of the cycle, the animal begins to show concern, this is especially noticeable in the presence of males (it does not matter - gelding or stallion);
• the external genitalia increase slightly, sometimes the contractions of the muscles of the vulva are noticeable;
• mucus is secreted from the genital slit; its consistency depends on the day of the hunt;
• when the male approaches, the mare assumes a characteristic pose and can urinate.

Not all mares can be seen hunting, there are animals in which it proceeds secretly. In order not to miss the right moment of mating, they use “probes”. When they communicate, it immediately becomes clear whether the mare is ready to let the producer in. They begin to cover from the first day, until the female begins to “beat off” the stallion.

After mating, the mare is checked with a “probe”. If until 30 days she does not show desire, then she is considered a foal. To confirm, rectal examinations are performed 32 days after mating. In case of signs of hunting, the mare is again. Too long hunting may indicate possible diseases of the animal's reproductive system. It should be noted that there is a false hunt when a foal mare shows its signs.

Hand mate

Hand mating of thoroughbred horses is one of the most popular and easiest ways of inseminating mares. The probability of fertilization is up to 95%. Given that a person directly controls the insemination process, it is very important to follow a few simple rules:

1. The arena for mating is equipped with a short hitch in the corner of the room. The horse guide holding the mare will be in a safe area, and the female will receive additional emphasis for the chest.
2. The place for insemination should be quiet, the presence of strangers is unacceptable.
3. It is safer to bring the manufacturer on two cords to two breeders. This will help to control the stallion’s position on the mare and prevent him from jumping onto her side.
4. Mare's bandage tail. This will protect the penis of the stallion from damage and contamination, facilitate the mating process.
5. Before mating stallions unchained. Horseshoes can injure a mare.
6. A mare’s hat is put on a mare itself. So she will not be able to strike the manufacturer with her hind legs.

The prepared mare is led out to the arena, then the stallion is led out. Until there is a good erection, he is held back, preventing him from jumping onto the mare. At the moment of jumping in cords, the position of the male on the female is controlled, forcing him to approach her clearly from behind. After jumping, if necessary, one of the breeders guides the stallion's penis into the vagina. Coitus lasts no more than 12-15 seconds. After mating, the stallion is taken to the stall, and the mare is walked for about five minutes.

One stallion per day can cover two mares. The gap between the cages should be at least 10 hours. Mares are covered in 36 hours. The load on one manufacturer is from 15 to 40 goals, it all depends on the age and physical condition of the male.

Cooking mate

Horse breeding is used for herd keeping. It includes several stages:

• in the herd, a group of mares is selected in the hunt and placed in a separate paddock - cooking;
• for the selected queens, a stallion is selected, he is released to them into the pen;
• he finds mares ready for mating and covers them:
• the process lasts several days.
• after completion of the mating, the stallion returns to the stable, and the mares to the herd.

The load on the stallion is determined by the livestock specialist, based on his age, physical and physiological condition. This method makes it possible to cover with a valuable stallion mares from different herds. At the same time, the producer himself is not exposed to such danger as if he was constantly in the herd. Usually thoroughbred stallions are of great value and are not accustomed to herd keeping.

Mowing

The mowing of horses does not require human intervention. The herd is divided into several schools of no more than 20 head of mares. Each group is assigned one stallion, which is constantly with the herd.

An experienced mowing maker himself determines the mare in the hunt and covers it. An unmistakable choice of the best time for mating provides a high percentage of mares' fermentability. Mating occurs under conditions as close to natural as possible. The leader guards his little herd. Among the mares, their own hierarchy is established. There is an alpha female, she directs the movement of the group and determines the place for grazing.

With this method, it is impossible to control the foals of females. Only after a foal does it become clear how successful the random season was. On the other hand, foals born in the herd are healthier and better adapted to the herd content. The process of "socialization" of young animals occurs naturally with minimal losses. Producers who have grown outside the herd cannot become good kosyachnye stallions.

Artificial insemination

For artificial insemination, a “personal presence” of a male person is not required, only sperm is needed. There are several options for using it:

1. Fresh, almost never processed. The mare should be in the same room as the stallion. It is impossible to transport sperm.
2. Chilled, it remains viable up to 30 hours (and even up to 48 hours after insertion into the uterus). It can be transported in specially equipped containers that maintain a constant temperature.
3. Frozen semen can be stored for a long time. In Dewar vessels, it can also be transported to neighboring continents. Before use, the sperm is thawed, checked for quality and only then used.

The process itself takes a little time. It comes down to the fact that the specialist, using the appropriate equipment, introduces the early collected sperm from the desired stallion into the mare uterus.

Artificial insemination of horses is widely used by all breeders of the world. This method has a number of undeniable advantages:

• absolute human control over the mating process;
• dilution of sperm allows you to economically spend the seed material of the most valuable producers;
• one dose of sperm is enough to fertilize up to 200 mares, in natural conditions this is physically impossible;
• there is no risk of spreading genital infections
• egg fertility is almost 100%;
• offspring from a particular stallion receive regardless of its location;
• from one producer, you can get more offspring.

There was an opportunity for years to save sperm. In many countries of the world, banks have been created to save seed material from the best breed producers.

Breeding in nature

In the wild, natural mating of horses occurs in herds, without any human intervention or control. Animals live in small groups, usually up to 10-12 mares per stallion. By external signs and smell, the male determines the female, which is ready for mating. He persistently takes care of her and impregnates her until she begins to fight him off. Mares do not allow the stallion until they are two years old.

Observations of animals show that the male is capable of simultaneously courting several females. Mating occurs more than once a day. The stallion must be physically strong and resilient. In addition to his direct fatherly duties, he still manages to fight off an attempt on his "harem" by other stallions.

The strongest survive in the wild, so there are always those who want to buy mustangs for household needs. They are hardy, with excellent health, large enough, have the ability to develop high speed. Tamed mustangs often take part in various competitions.