EFFECT OF A PGF2α ANALOGUE ON OVULATION AND CONCEPTION RATE IN CYCLIC RACE MARES

The short breeding season and the single ovulation of mares require correct cycle management and control. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the alfaprostol effect through a retrospective study of sport mares, both Standardbred and Thoroughbred. Alfaprostol is a synthetic analogue of prostaglandin with specific luteolityc action. Average time intervals from treatment to return to estrous and subsequent ovulation were registered. It was then evaluated whether certain environmental or anamnestic parameters could influence these intervals of time. Last, the fertility of induced cycles was compared with the fertility of natural ones. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS 19® statistical program. Our study clearly showed that alfaprostol has no unwanted side effects and has a good response rate (with a similar or even lower price compared to other similar drugs on the market); our data show a tendency to higher fertility rates in induced than in natural cycles.