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Equine-Reproduction.com Bulletin Board
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| Age of Colt / Stallion to use ratio. Please help Jos |
| Author |
Message |
    
Melinda Phillips
Neonate
Username: Melinda
Post Number: 7
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2010 - 10:31 pm: | 
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Hi Jos
We have a Cob pony colt who is two in May (bred in the UK) but will be working in Australia. The breeding season here starts the 1st of September and then usually finishes up in March.
IF he were to cover a mare in October when he is 2 and a half years of age (assuming all was well, he was interested enough, settled enough and the breeding was done in a fashion to set him up for loving on the mares and behaving himself in the future with correct behaviors set) How many breedings could he safely manage without jepordising him if he proves he can settle a mare, if his semen is to immature of course we won't bother.
Usually they don't get girls here until they are 3.5 to 4, however or main stallion we started at the same age and covered six mares over a period of four or so months. We bred mare day three of cycle, again on day five if she was still on. No other mares during this time then a week, maybe a couple or more in between to getting the next mare covered.
All the mares settled straight off with the exception of one who was bred again following cycle by the vet with fresh AI at his place. One mare was left in with him and to be blunt she is a sex pot so I don't know how many times they did the deed, all others were hand cover so usually two covers per mare.
This is the basic rule of thumb I would like to repeat if I get your tick of approval.
Another of the same breed I had didnt manage to settle anything bar one of his three girls as a three and a half year old so I do understand that all sorts of factors come into play BUT if we use him, I don't want to over do and he will probably be getting three to four mares at a rate of one a month.
However I would like to know a max number or there abouts that you can put a horse this age over in case I get tempted to use him over more IF I can depending on your answer.
Thanks,
melinda |
Jos
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 2806
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Friday, April 16, 2010 - 10:16 am: |
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Unfortunately there is no standardized answer to this question. To make matters worse, the gauge is "if the colt looks unenthusiastic about breeding after having bred several mares, you have bred one too many". Of course, by then, it's one too late to stop.
All I can say is use extreme caution. 2 or 3 probably won't be an issue, but getting up to 6 or 7 might be - or not. They are all different. Do not force the issue. You are setting breeding behaviours for the rest of his life, and if you sour him now, he may become very difficult to get to breed later. |
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