THfiRIOGENOLOGY
Voss, J.L., B.W. Pickett, D.G. Back. The effect of rectal palpation on fertility in the mare. Proc. 19th Ann. Conv. Amer. Assoc. Equine Pratt., ~33. 1973. Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado, U.S.A. It is recognized by some equine practitioners that rectal palpation of the genital tract of the mare can be abused. This study was carried out to determine the effect of rectal palpation on fertility of normally cycling mares. Healthy non-lactating mares were used in these studies. Treatments included palpating daily during estrus, palpated every other day during estrus, palpated daily throughout a period of 50 days after service, or not palpated except to determine pregnancy. Insemination was carried out once on the basis of the investigator's recommendation,‘ or inseminated on alternate days during estrus. Mares that were not palpated had highest conception rates. Palpation daily throughout the estrous cycle was no more detrimental to fertility than palpation daily during estrus. It was recommended that, in normally cycling mares, highest fertility can be attained by insemination every other day commencing on the second or third day of estrus; palpation is not necessary. D.R. Lamond
Zettl,K.:
Die immunologische Tr&htigkeitsdiagnose bei der Stute und ihre Sicherheit. (Immunological pregnancy tests in the mare and their failure rate.) Tierarttl. Umschau, 29:123, 1974. Staatliches Veterinaruntersuchungsamt Kassel, I&many.
367 serum samples were tested; an immunolo ical method (MIPtest) was compared with a simplified biological test 9Aschheim-ZondekWst-Test) using the modification by Luttmann and von Lepel (Dtsch. 59.7% of the mares were identified tierarttl. Wschr., 78:270, 1971). as pregnant, while 56.4% actually foaled. Between Days 50 and 80 of gestation, eoual results with both tests were seen in 96.1% of cases. betweep Days'52 and 100, the coincidence in test results was 94%. Differences arew laraer before Dav 50 and after Oav 100. Durins these periods, only thedbiological t&t produced reliable results.- Serum kept at 4'C can be stored nearly indefinitively for repeated tests, which can be of importance when forensic aspects have to be considered. W. JOchle
90
FEBRUARY
1975
VOL. 3 NO.
2