Incidence, severity and factors associated with intrauterine fluid accumulation in mares after insemination with cooled or frozen semen

Abstract

Under commercial breeding farm conditions the incidence of post-breeding intrauterine fluid accumulation in Thoroughbred mares bred with natural service was approximately 15% and the incidence and severity of intrauterine fluid accumulation increased significantly with mare age.1 In intensively managed mares inseminated with frozen-thawed semen the incidence of post-breeding intrauterine fluid accumulation varied from 16%2 to 25%,3 and mare age was again found to be a significant factor, since the incidence of intrauterine fluid accumulation in mares aged 3 to 9 years, 10 to 16 years and greater than 16 years was 17%, 28% and 68%, respectively.3 To our knowledge, the incidence of intrauterine fluid accumulation following insemination with cooled semen has not been reported. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, severity and factors associated with intrauterine fluid accumulation in commercial broodmares inseminated with cooled or frozen semen.