Hormone-based protocol with oxytocin and dinoprost tromethamine successfully induces maternal behavior in 71% of nurse and foal-rejecting mares.
Background
Traditional methods for foal grafting, which introduce orphan foals to nurse mares or reintroduce foals to rejecting mothers, are often time-consuming, stressful, and require significant mare restraint. This can compromise both animal welfare and handler safety. A critical gap exists for a more efficient, less stressful approach. This study investigates a hormone-based protocol to induce maternal behavior in mares, aiming to provide a safer and more effective alternative to current practices, leveraging known roles of hormones like oxytocin in bonding and uterine function.
Study Design
This retrospective case series analyzed 140 mares (113 nurse mares, 27 foal-rejecting mares) from a nationwide veterinary field practice and an equine referral hospital in Sweden. The study described a hormone-based foal-grafting protocol involving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), dinoprost tromethamine, and oxytocin. The primary endpoint was successful induction of maternal behavior, defined as acceptance of the foal. Data was retrieved via a record search, detailing treatment outcomes and any reported adverse effects to evaluate the protocol's efficacy and safety in a real-world setting.
Results
The hormone-based protocol achieved an overall successful outcome in 71% of the 140 cases. Acceptance was immediate in most successful instances, requiring minimal mare restraint. A significant difference in success rates was observed between mare types: foal-rejecting mares had a 52% successful outcome, which was notably lower than the 76% success rate seen in nurse mares. No adverse effects other than profuse sweating were reported in the treated mares, indicating a favorable safety profile for the protocol. The findings suggest the protocol is a viable alternative to traditional methods. > The hormone-based protocol successfully induced maternal behavior in 71% of mares, with nurse mares showing a 76% success rate compared to 52% in foal-rejecting mares.
Key Findings
- The hormone-based protocol successfully induced maternal behavior in 71% of 140 mares.
- Nurse mares exhibited a 76% success rate with the protocol.
- Foal-rejecting mares had a lower success rate of 52%.
- Most successful cases resulted in immediate foal acceptance with minimal mare restraint.
- Only profuse sweating was reported as an adverse effect, indicating good tolerability.
Why It Matters
This study offers a time-efficient, safe, and effective alternative for inducing maternal behavior in mares, significantly improving animal welfare by reducing the need for restraint during foal grafting. For equine practitioners and breeders, this protocol provides a practical, hormone-driven approach to manage orphan foals or foal rejection. The explicit mention of oxytocin and dinoprost tromethamine as key components suggests a standardized, repeatable protocol. While the study is retrospective, the high success rate and minimal adverse effects indicate this method could be widely adopted, potentially becoming a new standard of care for foal grafting, making the process less stressful for both mares and handlers.
oxytocin
dinoprost-tromethamine
maternal-behavior
foal-grafting
equine
animal-welfare