E. Malschitzky et al., Artificial photoperiod in pregnant mares and its effect on pregnancy length and postpartum reproductive performance, PFERDEHEILK, 17(6), 2001, pp. 565
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of prepartum artifi
cial photoperiod on pregnancy length and reproductive performance in mares.
The study included 145 Thoroughbred mares with age between 4 and 23 years.
The mares were submitted to a 15 hour light/9 hour dark photoperiod/day (1
0W/m(2)) during different lengths of time before fooling, constituting the
following groups: <30: less than 30 days of artificial photoperiod; 30-45:
from 30 to 45 days of artificial photoperiod; 46-60: from 46 to 60 days of
artificial photoperiod; >60: more than 60 days of artificial photoperiod. I
n the moment of delivery, mares were classified according to body condition
score (crescent range from 1 to 5) and, when necessary, submitted to surgi
cal repair of the vulva within 30 minutes. Mating occurred when a follicle
larger than 40 mm was detected, associated with decrease of uterine edema,
Twin pregnancies were reduced manually. The number of days in which mares w
ere submitted to artificial photoperiod influenced significantly the anoest
rus rate postpartum (p=0.033), as well as the interval between parturition
and the first ovulation (p=0.019). Mares submitted to a larger artificial p
hotoperiod showed anoestrus postpartum rate significantly smaller than that
observed in mares submitted to artificial photoperiod of less than 30 days
(>60 - 0%; <30 - 16.7%). Parturition-ovulation interval was significantly
shorter in mares submitted to artificial photoperiod for more than 30 days
(p<0.001). Body condition was influenced by photoperiod. Treatment groups s
ubmitted to artificial photoperiod for more than 45 days presented better b
ody condition than that submitted for less than 30 days. The body condition
influenced anoestrus postpartum rate (p=0.07) and parturition-ovulation in
terval (p=0.073). Comparing only mares with body condition score 4 (n=81),
a reduction in parturition-ovulation interval in mares submitted to a longe
r artificial photoperiod was seen (p=0.072). Pregnancy length was not influ
enced (p=0.077) by the length of photoperiod. There was no influence either
on pregnancy rate in foal heat (p>0.1), or on embryo death rate (p>0.1), o
r on number of cycles per pregnancy rate (p=0.798). It was concluded that t
he use of a 15-hour light/9 hour dark photoperiod/day (10W/m(2)) during at
least 60 days before delivery decreases significantly the incidence of anoe
strus postpartum. The use of this photoperiod for more than 30 days decreas
es parturition-ovulation interval. There is no influence either on pregnanc
y rate during foal heat, or on embryo death rate, or on number of cycles pe
r pregnancy.