EMBRYONIC LOSS AND HORMONAL ABORTION PROPHYLAXIS IN THE MARE BY PROGESTERONE, HCG AND VITAMIN E TREATMENT

The reproductive ability in mares is lower than that of other species. The strong correlation between the progesterone concentration in blood (P4) and the evolution of the pregnancy could be one of the main factors influencing their reproductive ability. The primary corpus luteum and “secondary CL” are the only source of progesterone production. The combined treatment of hormones and vitamins was applied in mares, in order to prevent abortion. One farm with 7 mares was selected, where only 3 parturitions were obtained during the period 2006-2007. The hormonal treatment consisted of: Medrossiprogesterone acetate, 150 mg (Depoprovera 150®, Upjohn Company, USA), hCG 1500 U.I (Corulon®, Intervet, Italia S.r.l.) and 150 mg Vitamin E (Vitalene E® - Fatro S.p.a., Italia), intra muscular injections. This treatment began 15 days after the ovulation and was repeated every 2 weeks until the 300th day into the pregnancy phase. Excellent results were obtained; 6 mares had normal pregnancy and parturition. Only one mare aborted 6 months after the insemination. So the progress of the reproductive ability during two years is higher because of the hormonal treatment (3/7 6/7 or 43% 86%), (P 0.05). These results indicate that the periodical use of the hormonal treatment improves the reproductive ability in mares