The effect of selected factors on the length of gestation period in Silesian mares
Journal Title: Animal Science Papers and Reports - Year 2014, Vol 32, Issue 1
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the average length of gestation and its variation in a population of Silesian mares bred during a period of 55 years (1945-2000) in national studs and private farms in southern Poland. Considered was the sex of foals, season, month and year of birth, environmental conditions (national or private breeding centres), breeding history of a mare (number of foals born) and influence of the preceding reproductive period. Gestation period in Silesian mares lasted on average 338.66 days ±13.57 and ranged from 299 (the shortest) to 386 (the longest) days. Gestations lasting from 311 to 356 days were considered normal for the breed. Gestations resulting in a birth of a colt lasted one day longer (339.23±13.44 days compared to 338.19±13.60 days for fillies). Gestations from the autumn reproductive period (October–December), when photoperiods become shorter, were the shortest, whereas gestations from the late spring season (April-June), when photoperiods become longer, were the longest (329.82±10.25 and 341.14±13.87 days, respectively). Significant differences were also found in the length of gestations that ended in particular months: the shortest gestations ended in October (327.45 days ±12.24 days), while the longest in May (342.19±14.19 days). The analysis of the years of foaling, grouped in ten-year periods, showed that the shortest gestations occurred before 1960 (335.41±13.87 days), whereas the longest between 1961 and 1970 (339.64±15.15 days). A slow decrease was observed in the length of gestation in subsequent ten-year periods. Mean gestation period in mares from national studs lasted 5 days longer than that in mares from private breeding centres (334.79±11.21 and 339.60±13.92 days, respectively). The number of foalings did not affect the length of gestation significantly; a small difference was found in the case of multiparous mares (more than eight foals born), whose gestation lasted one day longer compared to remaining mares (338.71±13.52 and 337.46±12.32 days, respectively). Gestations in mares whose preceding reproductive period ended with a miscarriage were the shortest, while gestations in mares that were barren in the previous season were the longest (336.36±13.11 and 340.05±13.71 days, respectively).
Authors and Affiliations
Ewa Walkowicz, Olgierd Unold, Henryk Maciejewski, Paweł Skrobanek
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP70425
- DOI -
- Views 126
- Downloads 0
Effect of sex and fattening intensity on health-promoting value of lamb meat
A fatty acid (FA) profile was determined in two repeations of superficial and intermuscular fat derived from legs of 64 lambs. More favourable profile of both types of fats was obtained in the intensive fattening, mainly...
Polymorphism of the beta 3-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB3) and its distribution in domestic and wild pigs in China
The beta 3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) is a G-protein coupled receptor encoded by ADRB3 gene and involved in regulation of lipolysis and homeostasis. The objective of this study was to detect the genetic variation existe...
Effect of addition of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and herb preparation to feed on selected physiological indicators, growth rate and pelt quality of growing arctic foxes
Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and oil-and-water preparations (extracts) of plants are used in feeding farm animals, improving their health and productivity. It was attempted to use a plantorigin preparation (extract)...
Selection of reference genes for gene expression studies in porcine hepatic tissue using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction
Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) has become an indispensable technique for accurate determination of gene expression in variety of samples. Accurate and reliable quantification, however, depends...
Effects of feed supplementation with increasing levels of organic acids on growth performance, carcass traits, gut microbiota and pH, plasma metabolites, and immune response of broilers
The effects of organic acids included in broiler feed on growth performance, carcass traits, caecal microbiota, duodenal pH, plasma metabolites, and immune response were studied. A total of 210 one-day-old female chicken...