AVS 353 Equine Reproduction and Breeding Management

AVS 353 Equine Reproduction and Breeding Management
Robert C. Causey DVM, PhD, Dip ACT


581-2782 or E-Mail Robert Causey on First Class

Course Objectives:

- To teach students the basic reproductive biology of the mare and stallion.

- To teach students how to apply this knowledge in the field of horse breeding.

-To acquaint students with techniques of assisted equine reproduction (artificial insemination, semen freezing, and embryo transfer).

Grading:

Students will be provided 5 take home quizzes. Students will also be required to write a paper. The format will be an article for suitable for submission to "Equus" magazine on a subject for lay audiences within the field of equine reproduction. Topics might include "How to manage your mare for breeding" "The Equine Estrous Cycle" or "Pregnancy in the mare" etc.

Grading will be calculated as follows:

On a 100 point scale, A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69.

Quiz 1 = 20%
Quiz 2 + 3 = 20%
Quiz 4 + 5 = 20%
Article (Due April 21, 2005) = 20%
Attendance and class participation =20%

Reference Material:

Class notes will be provided by the instructor on the web.

No text is required for this class.

Students with Disabilities:

If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an accommodation, please contact either myself or Ann Smith, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (Onward Building, 581-2319), as early as possible in the semester.

Syllabus

Review Quizzes

A set of simple questions to test your knowledge of basic horse reproduction.

Quiz 1. Detailed quiz of anatomy, seasonality, and estrous cycle.

Quiz 2. Detailed quiz of endocrinology of pregnancy.

Quiz 3. Detailed quiz of management of pregnancy and foaling.

Quiz 4. Detailed quiz of stallion anatomy and physiology.

Quiz 5. Detailed quiz of drug use in equine reproduction.

Review of Mammalian Reproduction

A description in simple terms of the basic events of reproduction in mammals

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Reproductive Anatomy of the Mare

A description of the arrangement of the reproductive organs of the mare, including ovaries, uterus, external genitalia, and nervous tissue.

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Reproductive Seasonality of the Mare

A description of reproductive seasonality, behavior, and basic endocrinology of the non cycling mare.

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Estrous Cycle of the Mare

A description of follicular dynamics and hormonal events of the estrous cycle in the mare.

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Endocrinology of the Pregnant Mare

Physiology early middle and late gestation.

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Pregnancy and Foaling

The events surrounding foaling and the foal's adjustment to the world.

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The Stallion

Reproductive anatomy, physiology and breeding soundness evaluation of the stallion

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Drug Use in Equine Reproduction

The rationale behind various pharmacologic agents used in equine reproduction

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Assisted equine reproduction and breeding management

A description of techniques of assisted equine reproduction (artificial insemination, semen freezing, and embryo transfer) and some basic breeding management guidelines

click here for notes