Breeding Products
NexGen breeding compounds are effective in helping to minimize lack of performance, a necessity for estrus detection and assists in scheduled breeding. They have been indicated to help aid in altering hormone levels to encourage introducing ovulation in a cyclic mare when necessary.
Learn more about our breeding products by clicking on the products listed below.
Equine Breeding Compounds
At NexGen Pharmaceuticals, we understand the needs of those who care for, breed and manage horses, and how crucial the availability of up-to-date knowledge and breeding products for equines are to them.
A significant segment of the equine industry is involved with the breeding and of mares and the management of their breeding cycle. Given the sheer numbers of animals involved, this means that the economic considerations make it absolutely necessary for horse owners and managers to understand the equine reproductive cycle and how it can be managed.
An awareness of the particulars of the mare's reproductive cycle is important for these parties regardless of whether they are directly involved with breeding in their own operations, or enlist a commercial facility for the breeding of their mares.
Mares are seasonally polyestrus (meaning that they experience regular estrus cycles during Spring, Summer and early Fall, but not in Winter). These cycles are controlled by the mare's hormones, which in turn respond to an increase or decrease in daylight duration with the onset of seasons.
Understanding Breeds Success—No Pun Intended
Management of the ovulatory season requires the mare owner or manager to understand some of the physiological controls of the mare’s reproductive status, such as the fact that follicular development and ovulation are controlled by several different hormones. An understanding of normal hormonal patterns is important, because many management practices used to increase conception rates involve action upon these patterns.1
For purposes of scheduling breeding and for the behavioral control of intact mares, it is often desirable for horse owners and managers to employ methods of ovulation control. The most effective methods in this regard involve chemical agents (medications and synthetic hormones).
In this regard, NexGen equine breeding products are indispensible for horse owners and managers. In general, breeding managers are concerned with four aspects of equine reproductive management during the ovulatory period; these are the detection of estrus, mating management, pregnancy determination, and estrous cycle manipulation. There are NexGen breeding compounds for horses formulated for each of these aspects, as well as for the specific objectives horse owners and typically have in these areas.
There is a closely linked feedback system between many of the mare's reproductive hormones which will alter the level of some hormones as the levels of other hormones increase or decrease. What this means is that if one artificially alters one hormone, it is highly likely that this will have an effect on one or more of the other hormones.
Obviously, this can lead to undesirable unintended consequences if the owner or manager doesn't have the proper information. Many of the hormonal changes which owners and managers seek to bring about artificially (for purposes of breeding or behavior) are ones which do occur naturally in their own time, but in either case, if hormone levels become unbalanced (whether naturally or artificially), we can see estrous cycle problems develop.
Equine Breeding Goals, Objectives and Obstacles
The horse owner or manager's chief objectives when managing mares' reproductive function are:
- Maximizing fertility
- Minimizing the risk to breeding mares and stallions
- Controlling the incidence of infections
- Ensuring the efficient and effective use of the stallion
- Minimizing neonatal losses1
Obstacles to these can include the fact that mares are seasonal breeders, and in some breeds are required to be in full ovulatory estrus before the natural onset of their seasonal cyclical activity. In cases where brood mares are selected for their athletic performance rather than their reproductive viability, unforeseen challenges relating to individual cyclic variations, reproductive abnormalities, temperament, etc. can complicate breeding. The failure to properly detect estrus (and therefore determination of optimal breeding time) can also sabotage breeding efforts. Finally, poor semen quality in the stallion—who may have been selected for his performance rather than his reproductive viability—can present still further complications.2
Thus, it is easy to see how management plays a vital role to successful outcomes, whether managing a mare's behavior or in preparation for breeding. Horse owners, managers and veterinarians need to be familiar with the individual mare's cyclical characteristics.
At NexGen, we consider horse owners, managers and veterinarians to be an integral part of our team. Through ongoing consulting and partnership with these stakeholders, we are not only able to custom compound superior formulas, but we are continually growing our knowledge base and that of our veterinary pharmacists and technicians.
Hormones Involved in the Estrous Cycle
There are several reproductive hormones involved in the equine estrous cycle. These are estrogen (with several forms occurring in the mare), progesterone, prostaglandin, Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)*, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Inhibin.
The pituitary gland produces follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. As Spring approaches, the pituitary gland is stimulated by increased daylight to enhance follicle-stimulating hormone production; this ultimately results in development of a follicle containing an ovum, which produces estrogens.
Estrogens are responsible for the clinical signs of estrus. As the follicle develops on the ovary, the ovum (egg) inside the follicle undergoes a number of hormonally-induced changes which make it capable of being fertilized.
If the mare does not conceive, the corpus luteum (in which the ovum develops) remains functional for about 12-14 days, after which prostaglandin is released from the endometrium.3
Breeding Products for Horses
A wide (and expanding) range of pharmaceutical products are used in the equine industry to maximize conception rates once mares are cycling. NexGen breeding products are effective in minimizing lack of performance, a necessity for estrus detection and assists in scheduled breeding. They can also alter hormone levels to introduce ovulation in a cyclic mare when necessary. NexGen's formulations are effective in hormone therapy as well as producing naturally-occurring steroids and chemicals.
While equine breeding pharmaceuticals have played a critical role in the management of mares for quite some time, as new scientific techniques and novel medications are developed, these compounds will become even more important in the efficient management of equine breeding.
At NexGen, we're using our success and forward momentum as we continue to expand, innovate and put NexGen Pharmaceuticals at the forefront of the pharmaceutical compounding industry.
Learn more about our breeding products by clicking on the products listed below.
1Meyers P J (1993)Methods of controlling and synchronizing oestrus in the mare. Equine Vet Educ5(5), 262-266.
2Woods J, Bergfelt D R & Ginther O J (1990) Effects of time of insemination relative to ovulation on pregnancy rate and embryonic-loss rate in mares. Equine Vet J22(6), 410-415
3Wright, B. DVM. Anatomy, Physiology and Reproduction in the Mare. OMAFRA Veterinary Science and Policy, Dec. 2010.
*References to Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) denote naturally-occurring FSH, as this hormone is not available legally in the U.S.