Feeding Program

A successful breeding program requires a sound feeding program. Feeding is still considered an art, and although a great deal of scientific knowledge has been gained in recent years, the stallion’s body condition should be evaluated on a regular basis and feeding adjustments made as needed. In general, the nutritional needs of a stallion during the breeding season do not appear to be different from his needs during maintenance.³ A slight increase in energy intake may be necessary or beneficial during the height of the breeding season; however, it is easy to overestimate the nutrients needed by a stallion at this time.³ Overfed and obese stallions are more common and of greater concern than underfed ones. A maintenance ration consists of enough balanced nutrients to support normal, basic bodily functions.⁴ Adequate pasture or good-quality hay can usually meet these requirements, and free access to trace mineralized salt and fresh water is also necessary. Grain as an energy supplement in cold weather or under certain stressful conditions may also be warranted. The stallion’s size, condition, activity, and temperament all play a role in his nutritional needs. Therefore, diets should be adjusted for individual stallions.

The healthy stallion consumes 2%–3% of his body weight daily. At least 50% of this should be in the form of roughage. Vitamin A plays an important part in reproduction.³ A severe deficiency of vitamin A can result in a decrease or cessation of sperm production.³ Leafy green forages generally supply adequate amounts of vitamin A. Contrary to popular belief, supplementation with vitamin A and E over National Research Council requirements does not improve reproductive performance of stallions. Stallions generally require 10% protein in their feed; younger stallions require 12%–14%. Obesity may adversely affect libido and mating ability. Therefore, the only dietary requirement for efficient sperm production and good breeding performance is a balanced diet that maintains the stallion at his optimum weight. There is no conclusive evidence of any nutrient that is able to increase sperm numbers or quality.

Exercise

Horses naturally are roaming and grazing animals. Therefore, exercise for stallions is an integral part of their management that affects their mental and reproductive well-being. This basic need for exercise is often ignored or underestimated, and nutrition and exercise go hand-in-hand. A stallion needs exercise to remain in good physical condition and to maintain a sharp mental attitude. Exercise can be provided in one of the following ways or in various combinations: (1) turn-out in paddock, (2) riding, (3) lunging, (4) treadmill, (5) swimming, or (6) mechanical walker.

In determining the type of exercise program, the stallion manager must consider the physical condition of the stallion as well as his temperament. Turn-out in a small, 1- to 2-acre paddock should be the least that is done to provide exercise for the stallion. If the horse is not very active outside or seems to be gaining weight, a more forced type of exercise may have to be provided, such as riding or lunging, to keep the horse fit and happy. In addition, lack of exercise may lead to vices such as weaving, stall walking, and cribbing.

The amount of exercise time must be tailored to the stallion’s personality. Free exercise in a paddock can last as long as 24 hours a day for some horses depending on the weather conditions. Others may do well with just 1–4 hours a day. Riding or driving in a jog cart should be at a slow canter or a jog for 1–2 miles a day. This exercise should be done 6 days a week depending on how easily the horse maintains his condition. The goal is to keep a stallion fit for the breeding shed, not the racetrack, so that he has a good attitude toward his daily duty of covering mares.

The personnel responsible for exercising stallions must be good horsemen or horsewomen so that overwork and injuries can be avoided. If soreness, lameness, or an attitude problem develops, the person responsible should be capable of detecting the problem. The exercise program must be discontinued and the stallion must be completely evaluated before continuing with any exercise.

Regardless of the type of exercise, the horse must have a positive attitude toward the routine. The form of exercise must be safe and minimize the chances of injury to the breeding stallion. Horses that have to go to the breeding shed several times a day must be kept as sound as possible because this may influence their attitude toward covering mares. For the exercise program to be effective, it must complement other aspects of the overall management of the horse (e.g., amount of turn-out, physical condition, and mental attitude).

Housing

An area of recent study is the effect on testosterone levels and seminal parameters by the grouping or housing of stallions. Intermale effects may be involved in behavior-related subfertility seen in some domestic breeding stallions or in the generally lower behavioral vigor and apparent fertility of stabled stallions compared with pasture-bred stallions.⁴ Pasture-bred horses generally exhibit high levels of fertility and greater sexual behavior endurance than stabled, hand-bred stallions.⁴ In general, stallions that have access to outside and get exercise have increased testosterone levels.

Parasite Control

A good parasite control program should incorporate the use of deworming agents and pasture management. Although there are few studies to evaluate the effect of antiparasitic drugs on stallion fertility, most drugs are considered safe unless stated to the contrary by the manufacturer. Regular pasture rotation and harrowing are also part of a parasite control program. Periodic fecal examination for parasite eggs is a good way to monitor the effectiveness of the control measures used. Stallions are generally dewormed every 60 days, with rotation between ivermectin, pyrantel pamoate, and fenbendazole.

Immunization Program