Reproductive careers of Thoroughbred broodmares before and after surgical correction of ≥360 degree large colon volvulus.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist describing broodmare longevity and reproductive efficiency after surgical correction of ≥360 degree large colon volvulus (° LCV).

OBJECTIVES: Compare career duration and foals delivered for broodmares before and after ≥360° LCV surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series.

METHODS: Broodmares registered with The Jockey Club that had surgical correction of ≥360° LCV and survived to hospital discharge at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2015 were included. Information was collected from the hospital's medical data base and The Jockey Club produce records about the mares' reproductive careers. Data were evaluated using parametric and nonparametric tests, P≤0.05.

RESULTS: Mares that were bred but never foaled prior to surgery (n = 19) had shorter careers (mean ± standard deviation [s.d.]), 4.4 ± 4.5 years, and fewer foals, 3.1 ± 3.3, compared with mares that delivered ≥1 foal before surgery (n = 565), 10.4 ± 4.5 years and 7.4 ± 3.4 foals, respectively, P<0.001. Broodmares that delivered foals before surgery produced more foals in the years before surgery, 4.8 ± 3.0, than after surgery, 2.6 ± 2.4, P<0.001, and had longer breeding careers, 5.9 ± 3.8 vs. 4.5 ± 3.3 years before compared with after surgery, P<0.001. No significant differences in career length or number of foals delivered were detected for mares with a single compared with multiple LCV surgeries. Mares that were 3-11 years old at the time of surgery had significantly more foals after surgery compared with mares ≥12 years old, P<0.001, as expected.

MAIN LIMITATIONS: Retrospective collection of data.

CONCLUSIONS: Broodmares had productive careers following surgery for ≥360° LCV that were largely influenced by the mares' age at the time of surgery.