Monitoring foaling in Thoroughbred mares and foals during the first weeks of life

Abstract

In the following descriptive work, data obtained during the 2018 foaling
season a thoroughbred farm located in the southern region of Cordoba Province
were analyzed. Sixteen pregnant mares that foaled between August 3 and October
6 were monitored. The results showed that the gestational length in mares was 360
± 10 days as a general average. The second stage of labor culminated in an average
of 12 ± 11 minutes. The third stage of labor lasted 1.28 ± 1 hours on average. 31%
of mares had milk secretion in udders 30 ± 23 hours before delivery on average.
44% (n = 7) of deliveries occurred without assistance while the remaining (n = 9)
received assistance. The infants adopted the sternal position in 2.47 ± 2 minutes,
the standing position at 34 ± 17 minutes and released the meconium in 3.28 ± 1.51
hours as a general average, taking as reference the completion of the second stage
of labor. Abnormalities were found in low percentages in newborns and umbilical
bleeding at birth in 27% (n = 4) of foals. The data presented here show that monitoring
in the last days of pregnancy in Thoroughbred mares, as well as, in neonates
during the first weeks of life would increase the chances of obtaining a viable foal.