Horsetalk.co.nz Horses treated to ovulate early give birth to healthy foals in US
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Jessica Looman, a West Texas A&M University graduate student who oversaw research on inducing early ovulation in horses, stands with a foal born in the research. Photo: Darcy Lively, West Texas A&M University
For decades, researchers at Louisiana State University’s AgCenter have sought to alter female horses’ reproductive cycles to help them become pregnant earlier and give birth at the beginning of the year to meet the needs of the American competitive racing and show horse industry.
While Erin Oberhaus, an equine physiologist with the AgCenter, had successfully caused mares to ovulate and become pregnant months ahead of Mother Nature’s schedule, the first foals born using these methods did not arrive until recently.