🐴 Broodmare Management: Preventing Infection & Enhancing Fertility in 2025 🧬👶

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Raising healthy foals starts with sound broodmare management. In 2025, managing uterine health, timing ovulation, and reducing breeding-related contamination are critical to ensuring conception and maintaining pregnancy. One of the most common—and preventable—causes of infertility is endometritis, or inflammation of the uterus. 🧠🐎

🦠 Understanding Endometritis

Endometritis is typically caused by:

• 🧫 Bacterial contamination during rectal exams or breeding
• 📉 Poor uterine clearance of post-breeding fluid
• 🔬 Immune overreaction to semen or pathogens

While some mares clear post-breeding contamination naturally, others—especially older or maiden mares—may retain fluid and develop infections that reduce fertility. 💧

🔬 Rectal Palpation: A Risk Factor?

Dr. David Hartman emphasizes that improper rectal exams can inadvertently contaminate the genital area. If bacteria are introduced and the mare is subsequently bred, infection may follow. 🧪

To reduce the risk:

• 🧤 Use proper hygiene during exams
• 🧼 Clean the perineal area before palpation
• 📋 Minimize unnecessary handling of the cervix and uterus

🧪 Diagnosing Uterine Infections

✅ Uterine Culture

• 🧫 Identifies specific bacteria
• 🕒 Most accurate during advanced heat (estrus)

✅ Uterine Cytology

• 🔬 Examines cells for inflammation
• 🧠 Helps confirm whether culture result is valid or contaminated

When combined, cytology and culture are powerful diagnostic tools. 🔍

📅 Ovulation Timing to Limit Contamination

Reducing the number of breedings per cycle limits how often the uterus is exposed. This is especially important in:

• 🧬 Older or sensitive mares
• 💉 Mares with a history of endometritis

Your vet can:

• 📈 Monitor follicle size by ultrasound
• 🧬 Use ovulation-inducing drugs like deslorelin or hCG
• 📍 Breed once just before ovulation to reduce manipulation

💉 Breeding Techniques That Reduce Infection

• 💊 Use fresh or cooled semen with known quality
• 🧴 Clean vulva before AI or live cover
• 📍 For poor semen, deep horn insemination near ovary can improve success

This targeted insemination uses a flexible pipette and can help mares with marginal fertility. 📈

📲 Ask A Vet for Breeding Farm Support

Trying to improve conception rates or prevent infection? Visit AskAVet.com or use the Ask A Vet App for custom uterine health protocols, breeding timelines, and ovulation management plans. 📱🐴

Dr Duncan Houston and the team can help design clean handling practices, timing strategies, and test plans to boost fertility. 💬🧠

🏁 Final Thoughts

In 2025, the difference between conception and infertility often comes down to the basics: clean technique, proper timing, and effective uterine monitoring. Don’t leave your breeding season to chance—optimize your broodmare care and raise healthy foals from the start. 🐣🐎

Need a breeding protocol review? Visit AskAVet.com for expert support 🐴💡