Effect of different seasons of the year on the pregnancy rate in mares in Iraq

Abstract EN

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of seasons of the year on the pregnancy rate, early embryonic death (EED), and abortion in mares in Iraq.

One hundred seventy three mares from different breed (Arabian, Thoroughbred and cross breed) type with the history of at least one foaling, age > 5 years were used in the current study.

This study was conducted during one year calendar (2006) in a private equine station south west of Baghdad.

Obtained results showed that the percentage of pregnancy in mare was occurring in spring (30.13%) which significantly higher (p<0.05) than the percentage recorded during the other seasons.

Meanwhile high percentage of pregnancy (13.69%) was recorded in the mares bred in August and October.

In the same season the percentage of non pregnant (60.98%) were significantly higher than the percentage of pregnant mares in winter.

The incidences of early embryonic death differed according to the season of the year, it was higher in winter and autumn as compared to spring and summer, the high percentage of abortion was recorded during Aِutumn.

In conclusion the breeding season is not obvious in mares in Iraq and most mares can be bred during different months and seasons of the year.