Equine embryo transfer (ET) is a process where a donor mare is inseminated, and instead of carrying the pregnancy, the embryo is harvested and transferred to a recipient mare. The recipient mare then carries the pregnancy to term and delivers the foal. This technique allows the donor mare to continue her activities, such as competition or breeding, without the interruption of pregnancy. Additionally, ET makes it possible to produce multiple offspring from a mare within a single breeding season, which is particularly valuable for mares with superior genetics or those actively involved in competition. The ability to produce multiple high-quality foals in a single year without affecting the donor mare's performance is one of the major advantages of this technique.
How It Works
From February 1st to July 1st MareShare will implant your embryos. Use your local veterinarian or preferred breeding facility to produce an embryo. Once the embryo is flushed or grown, it can be cooled or frozen and sent to us. We’ll then implant the embryo into a recipient mare’s uterus. About a week later, we’ll perform an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy and ensure everything is progressing normally. If all looks good, the recipient mare will carry, birth, and raise the foal, while the donor mare continues her training and competitive schedule.
How Does This Help Me?
Reduce frequent trips, trailering donor mare's for breeding. Your time is valuable. Frozen embryos do not have to be synchronized to the donor and can be transferred at the connivence of the horse owner. The recipient can be shipped or picked up following a heartbeat confirmation. MareShare maintains very close communication between all parties involved.
Why It Matters
Breeders are increasingly prioritizing the establishment of superior dam lines, recognizing that even the best stallion can't compensate for a mare that isn't exceptional herself. With this shift in focus towards the mare's genetic contribution, embryo transfer (ET) has become an essential tool for enhancing the quality of competitive quarter horses. By using ET, breeders can maximize the reproductive potential of top mares, producing multiple high-quality offspring in a single season. This not only boosts the overall quality of the foals but also helps in increasing numbers, improving genetic diversity within the breed, which is crucial for the long-term health and performance of quarter horses.
What are the advantages of doing an Embryo Transfer?
An embryo is either flushed from the uterus of a donor mare or grown in a lab through a process similar to IVF in vitro fertilization (ICSI) and transferred to a recipient mare. The recipient mare then carries until the foal has dropped and nurses until weaned.
Embryo transfer (ET) offers several key advantages in equine breeding:
1. Continued Performance: Donor mares can continue to compete and earn in the arena without the interruption of pregnancy, allowing them to maintain their sports careers while still contributing genetically.
2. Reproduction Despite Complications: Foals can be produced from mares that are unable to carry a pregnancy beyond 15 days, making ET a valuable option for mares with reproductive challenges.
3. Increased Reproductive Output: Multiple pregnancies can be achieved from a single donor mare during a breeding season, significantly increasing the number of offspring she can produce.
4. AQHA Registration: The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) now permits multiple foals produced by embryo transfer, even if they come from the same stallion and donor mare, to be eligible for registration each year, provided they meet the registration requirements.
5. Early Reproduction in Young Mares: Younger mares can begin producing offspring earlier in their lives, potentially enhancing their value and genetic impact.
6. Flexible Breeding Timelines: ET allows breeders to obtain foals from mares that foal late in the breeding season, enabling these mares to conceive earlier the following year and remain on a more optimal breeding schedule. Embryos can be collected from donor mares at the end of the rodeo or show season and transferred at a preferred date.
7. BioSecurity: Protect your valuable mares from disease or abortion. Recipient Mares managed offsite reducing risk of exposure.
How is the success rate of ET improved?
Health and Nutrition
Are your mares protected from the extremely contagious diseases that can cause permanent damage or abortion’s? Abortion in horses may result from a variety of causes. Infectious agents, such as bacteria, viruses or fungi, may attack the fetus or its membranes, resulting in fetal death and expulsion. Introduction and transmission of infectious diseases often occur when large quantities of horses are held in close proximity.
A few examples-
Equine herpesvirus (EHV-1 abortion virus) is most often associated with abortions in mares, while herpesvirus EHV-4 (rhinopneumonitis virus) is usually associated with respiratory disease in young horses. Both subtypes have the potential to cause respiratory disease and abortion.
Equine rotavirus is a potentially deadly virus that causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms in foals. It is estimated that up to 50% of foals contract this virus. This virus is highly contagious and can quickly become deadly in young foals.
Equine arteritis virus (EAV) has the potential to cause abortion as well as the more commonly observed contagious respiratory disease and semen-shedding state in infected carrier stallions.
Leptospirosis infection in horses is manifested as either abortion or recurrent uveitis (moon blindness) in the horse. Leptospires are very common in domestic and wild animals, and can also infect humans. In particular regions, there will be one or more maintenance hosts that serve as the reservoir for the infection.
You may be familiar with the term “herd immunity”. There is no substitution for proper biosecurity. MareShare’s protocols are gold standard. We take the necessary steps to prevent and minimize exposure. Our mares are quarantined upon intake. We maintain a strict vaccination plan and targeted parasite prevention. Facility managers design stalls and turn-out areas including paddocks and pastures to reduce the risk for disease transmission. We have controlled/limited access to the facility. We disinfect stalls and practice good hygiene.
Why MareShare nutrition matters- Body Condition and proper nutrition play a vital role for both donor mare and recipient mare, pre and post gestation. Studies suggest nutrition, not only contributes to the health and longevity of the mare but also her ability to reproduce more consistently. Our mares are cared for being provided with balanced diets and high quality forage. We use specially designed supplements including Omega-3 fatty acids to support mare nourishment , reproduction and fertility.
Amazing foal instinct, finding the milk!
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