Conductivity of mammary gland secretions is a sensitive and specific predictor of parturition in mares.
Authors: Magalhaes Humberto B, Colombo Ilaria, Spencer Kianna M, Podico Giorgia, Canisso Igor F
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Predicting when a mare will foal remains crucial for veterinary management and preventing dystocia, yet current methods of assessing mammary secretions rely on labour-intensive electrolyte and pH analysis. Magalhaes and colleagues (2024) investigated whether electrical conductivity of mammary gland secretions could serve as a more practical alternative predictor of impending parturition by measuring conductivity alongside traditional electrolyte concentrations and pH in a cohort of pregnant mares. The authors found conductivity to be both sensitive and specific for predicting parturition onset, suggesting it correlates reliably with the electrolyte changes that characterise pre-foaling mammary secretions. For equine practitioners, this represents a meaningful advance: conductivity can be measured rapidly and non-invasively using portable equipment, potentially offering farriers, stud managers, and field veterinarians a more accessible monitoring tool than laboratory-based electrolyte analysis during the critical pre-parturient period. Implementation of conductivity measurement could enhance surveillance protocols on breeding farms and reduce the risk of unattended deliveries, particularly in remote locations or when traditional laboratory capacity is limited.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Conductivity testing of mammary secretions provides a quick, non-invasive method for predicting parturition timing in mares, enabling better preparation for monitored delivery
- •This measurement could reduce the need for more complex electrolyte and pH testing while maintaining diagnostic accuracy for identifying mares approaching labor
- •Implementing conductivity monitoring into pre-parturition assessment protocols may help prevent delivery complications by enabling timely veterinary intervention
Key Findings
- •Conductivity of mammary gland secretions is a sensitive and specific predictor of impending parturition in mares
- •Conductivity measurement offers a practical alternative to pH and electrolyte assessment for predicting parturition timing
- •Mammary gland secretion conductivity correlates with electrolyte concentrations and pH changes associated with approaching delivery