Horse Welfare During Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) Production.
Authors: Manteca Vilanova Xavier, De Briyne Nancy, Beaver Bonnie, Turner Patricia V
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary eCG (equine chorionic gonadotropin) production relies on collecting blood from pregnant mares between days 40–120 of gestation, a practice that remains largely unregulated and poorly understood despite its widespread use in cattle, sheep, goat, and pig reproduction management globally. Manteca Vilanova and colleagues conducted a comprehensive review of current eCG extraction protocols and welfare conditions, identifying critical concerns including excessive or frequent bleeding regimens, inadequate veterinary oversight, and poor handling of extensively managed mares unfamiliar with restraint—factors that have resulted in serious injuries and fatalities during collection procedures. Whilst no efficacious synthetic alternative currently exists, the authors highlight substantial welfare risks arising from both the physiological demands of repeated blood donation during pregnancy and the management-related injuries incurred when unaccustomed mares are brought in for collection. Their recommendations centre on establishing minimum welfare standards, including bleeding frequency limits, blood volume restrictions, improved desensitisation protocols, and enhanced veterinary supervision to protect both mare and foetal wellbeing. For practitioners involved in equine reproduction or those sourcing breeding stock from eCG-producing regions, understanding these welfare standards is increasingly important for ethical decision-making and may influence future regulatory frameworks affecting the industry.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Veterinarians involved in mare management for eCG production must establish strict protocols limiting bleeding frequency and volume to prevent welfare compromise
- •Mares intended for eCG collection require early habituation and desensitization to handling procedures to minimize injury risk during blood collection
- •Enhanced regulatory oversight and veterinary supervision of eCG production facilities is critical to prevent serious welfare incidents including mortality
Key Findings
- •eCG is collected from pregnant mares between days 40-120 of gestation and remains without efficacious natural or synthetic replacement
- •Welfare issues arise when mares are bled too frequently or in excessive volumes, compounded by minimal veterinary oversight and poor habituation to handling
- •Mares managed extensively on pasture for eCG production suffer serious injuries and death during blood collection due to inadequate desensitization to handling procedures