Our vets do our fertility work at Tullyraine Stud, which is located next door. These excellent facilities are a safe environment away from the clinic to examine your mare and foal as well as to board them at stud during the length of the mare’s cycle.
From April to the end of July, no appointment is needed for routine mare scanning and treatment during scanning times (Mon-Sat 9-11 am).
Routine gynaecological examinations, pregnancy diagnosis, management of reproductive problems, artificial insemination and foal medicine are performed by our stud vets. We cater for
thoroughbred, standardbred, sport horse and pony mares. Should there be any requirement for surgery, medical treatment or further diagnostic work up of your mare or foal, this is easily accessible at the clinic.
Artificial examination consists of breeding your mare with fresh, chilled or frozen semen. Opportune timing of insemination is crucial to obtain good results and differ between methods of breeding. Fresh and chilled semen is ideally inseminated within 24 hours prior to ovulation and pregnancy rates are equivalent to those of natural covering. Repeat scans and realistic ordering and delivery times for semen are important. Frozen semen is inseminated within 6 hours post ovulation or 4 hours prior to ovulation, requiring repeated 6 hourly scans around ovulation time. Frozen semen conception rates are lower than those with fresh and natural covering and pared with the need for more intensive management, is best reserved for very fertile and valuable mares.
Thoroughbred mares can come to Tullyraine Stud for natural cover with one of the resident stallions or can be ‘set up’ for walk-in cover at their chosen stud. We will make sure the mare is in optimum condition for cover and will examine and treat the mare after covering as required.
Pregnancy scans are recommended at 14/16/28 and 45 days post ovulation in order to make an early pregnancy diagnosis, deal with twinning issues or pregnancy issues if required.