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  Discussion on Beginning Cushing's and affect on mare fertility....
Author Message
Member:
judyhens

Posted on Monday, Jul 14, 2008 - 6:55 pm:

A mare was brought to our ranch about 3 weeks ago for breeding to a very fertile stallion. Her teenage mare failed to settle on this first breeding attempt. My husband had observed that the mare had longer hair than normal when she was here, despite incredible heat (100's). He suggested that she have the mare checked for Cushing's. We received the following info from the mare owner today:
"I just got the results of the blood Cortisol levels...Her Cortisol is 7.78, which is slightly elevated according to the technician that gave me the information. The normal level is 2.9 to 6.6. She is slightly elevated. So now I need to decide how difficult it is for a horse in early Cushings stages to maintain a pregnancy. I have her on the low starch, carbohydrate diet, (high fat), feed: Safe n Sound. Do you have any insight on this? Could you ask your reproductive vet about Cushings and pregnancy? I need to decide if this is worth pursuing. I would love to have another foal, but can't afford to be spending and wasting money on something that is not going to work. This all is very upsetting, but I still have hopes that something might work! I love those babies!"

This mare had a full term foal a year or two ago. She appears to be in excellent health. Good conformation and temperament. We will work with this owner in any way possible to maximize the chance for a foal.

Is this minimal elevation in cortisol sufficient to affect fertility? Conception? Carrying a foal? What might be done to improve outcome if this can impact pregnancy?

Any information you can provide would be appreciated!

Judy
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Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 14, 2008 - 8:21 pm:

No I would not take a single mild elevation of cortisol as indicative of a lowered reproductive efficiency. In fact transportation and boarding in a new location create stress which alone will increase cortisol levels. Studies looking at reproductive efficeincy of transported mares has not found a significant decrease in pregnancy in these groups (J Anim Sci. 1990 Feb;68(2):419-26. Effect of transportation on the estrous cycle and concentrations of hormones in mares. Baucus KL, Squires EL, Ralston SL, McKinnon AO, Nett TM. Anim. Reprod. Lab., Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.)

On the other hand late teen mares are known as a group to have lower reproductive efficiency and a significant portion of absolutely healthy mares do not settle on a single estrus cycle breeding.
DrO
Member:
judyhens

Posted on Monday, Jul 14, 2008 - 10:04 pm:

Thanks for your input! That should make the owner feel a lot better! This is an endurance mare (retired now), with an incredibly good mind. Easy to ultrasound, inseminate, work with in general. Sound with no hx. of lameness or colic. Was reported to be an excellent mom. Excellent manners....Exactly the type of mare we enjoy having here for breeding!

Thanks again for your rapid response!

Judy
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