Reproductive Services
The veterinarians and staff at McKee-Pownall Equine Services in Millbrook are devoted to providing extensive reproductive services. We take great pride in continuously updating our skills to provide our clients with the most current and innovative techniques and equipment. Reproductive work can be scheduled on-farm, or in-clinic at our Millbrook location.
- Breeding soundness examination
- Ultrasound examination
- Estrous synchronization
- Artificial insemination with fresh or frozen semen
- Instruction on requirements for importation of semen
- Collection of embryos for embryo transfer
- Infertility diagnostics (uterine culture/sensitivity, cytology, and endometrial biopsy)
- Treatment of the infertile mare
- Vaginal speculum examination and endoscopy
- Hormone analysis and manipulation
- Evaluation of pregnancy and strategies for maintenance of pregnancy
- Pre-foaling preventative health care
- Foaling assistance/Dystocia management
- Post-foaling preventative health care
- 24-hour emergency service
TIMELINE FOR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION:
The first step, once you have decided to breed your mare, is to select a stallion and contact the stallion owners. You should find out which days the stallion is collected, how the semen is shipped and time frame for shipping. In addition, for international shipping, you must find out what import regulations exist. This information can be obtained from our vet offices, CFIA office, or online on the CFIA website.
Next, your veterinarian needs to perform an initial assessment, including ultrasound examination, and other diagnostics depending on the mare's reproductive history. The initial ultrasound exam can provide information on when the mare is predicted to be in heat, and her potential timing of ovulation. Once the mare is in heat, she needs to be followed closely to predict the time of ovulation. For fresh chilled semen, the semen needs to be inseminated prior to the mare ovulating, and will generally remain viable within the uterus for up to 48 hours. For frozen semen, the mare needs to be inseminated within 4-6 hours after ovulation, and requires much more diligent monitoring of the mare through ultrasound. Once the mare is bred, medications are often administered to promote ovulation. Ovulation is confirmed after insemination, and the mare is checked 14-16 days after ovulation for pregnancy.
FROZEN INSEMINATION:
Our Millbrook office is fully equipped to allow for insemination of your mare with frozen semen. Frozen insemination requires much more diligent and frequent monitoring of your mare to optimize the chances for success. In addition, special equipment and expertise is needed. As such, all mares to be bred with frozen semen must be shipped into our Millbrook location.
EMBRYO TRANSFER:
Embryo transfer involves collecting an embryo from one more (the donor) and transferring the embryo into another mare (the recipient). This can be desirable in order to allow the donor mare to continue to show or race, and to prevent the loss of condition associated with the pregnant and lactating mare. In addition, embryo transfer can be a good choice for a mare unable to carry a pregnancy to term. Both the donor and recipient mares should be healthy and fertile.
Embryo transfer is available at our Millbrook location. Generally, the donor mare is bred routinely and the embryo collection is attempted approximately one week later. If successful, the embryo is shipped to a recipient mare herd in Northern Ontario. A recipient mare is implanted with the embryo. The owner is responsible for all reproductive costs of the recipient and donor mare. In addition, once the transfer has been confirmed successful, the recipient mare will be shipped to the owner, where she must be cared for until she has foaled.