Monitoring follicle development and early pregnancy with ultrasound in purebred arabian mares

Monitoring follicle development and early pregnancy with ultrasound in purebred Arabian mares In this study, it was aimed to determine the preovulatory follicle diameters and embryonic mortality rates and to analyse the factors affecting these rates in the breeding mares in Sultansuyu Agriculture Operation of the General Directorate of Agriculture during the 2014 breeding season. A total of 131 purebred Arabian mares between 4 and 22 years old were used as material. Of these mares, 18 were Maiden (Group I), 21 were Barren (Group II) and 92 were Foaling (Group III). Group I, Group II, and Group III mares that were not planned breeding on foal heat were started on February 15, the beginning of breeding season, for ultrasonographic examination of ovary and uterus. In Group III mares who were planned breeding in foal heat, ultrasonographic examination of ovaries and uterus was started on the 5th day after foaling. Preovulatory follicle diameters were determined by sequential transrectal ultrasonographic examination of the ovaries followed by follicle development. Presence and grade of endometrial edema, endometrial fluid accumulation, and presence of uterine cysts were investigated by transrectal ultrasound examination of uterus. Transrectal ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 15, 20, 35, 40 and 55 days after breeding/artificial insemination, and embryonic deaths were determined. The relationship between the embryonic deaths and the age of the mare, reproductive status (maiden, barren, foaling), number of embryos in the pregnancy (single, twin), presence of endometrial cysts, breeding on foal heat or later heat and breeding stallions were investigated. Preovulatory follicle diameters were measured as 41-55 mm (48.60 ± 3.84 mm), 37-55 mm (46.61 ± 4.70 mm) and 36-63 mm (47.88 ± 5.10 mm) in Group I, Group II and Group III, respectively, and no statistical significance was determined between the groups (p> 0.05). Embryonic mortality rates on the 15th to 45th days were found as 5.55% in Group I, 4.76% in Group II and 10.86% in Group III, and statistical significance was not found between the groups (p> 0.05). There was no relationship between embryonic losses and the number of embryos in pregnancy, and the presence of endometrial cysts, and breeding on foal heat or later heat, and breeding stallions (p> 0.05). However, it was determined that embryonic mortality was higher in 13 years old and older mares than the other age groups (p <0.05). While uterine cyst and endometrial fluid presence were not detected in any of the mares in the Group I, they were determined as 4.76% and 19.04% in Group II, and 11.95% and 21.73% in Group III, respectively. There was no difference between the groups regarding endometrial fluid accumulation and uterine cyst (p> 0.05); However, the incidence of uterine cysts (p <0.05) and endometrial fluid accumulation (p <0.001) were higher in 13 years and older age than the other age groups. As a result, there was no difference in reproductive status (maiden, barren, foaling) and preovulatory follicle diameters, presence of endometrial edema and grade before breeding/artificially insemination, uterine fluid accumulation, uterine cysts and embryonic mortality rates; but it was concluded that aging is an important factor that increases the rate of endometrial fluid presence, uterine cyst and embryonic mortality.