How long can stallions breed

Although most stallions begin to produce sperm as early as 12 to 14 months, most are at least 15 months or older before they can successfully breed. Few stallions are used at stud before two years of age and most stallions acquire full reproductive capacity at around three years of age.

This is not to say that a younger stallion is incapable of breeding earlier than an age of 12 months, and care must be taken to separate young stallions from fillies or mares before they reach sexual maturity to prevent unwanted pregnancies. A maturing stallion's increase in testosterone produces an animal with the potential to breed and also to be dangerous to handle. The stallion has two testicles enclosed by the scrotum and located in the prepubic area.

The testicles produce the sperm and also the male hormone testosterone. The scrotum protects and regulates the temperature of the testes which are usually several degrees cooler than the stallion's body temperature because higher temperatures decrease spermatozoa production.

As such, measurement of scrotal circumference is one of the procedures that veterinarians conduct as part of a breeding soundness exam. Total scrotal width is smaller in 2- to 3-year-old stallions than in their older counterparts. Stallions that are 2 or 3 years old are expected to have smaller daily sperm outputs and spermatozoa reserves. Because of this sexual immaturity, 2-year-old stallions should be limited to breeding a small number of mares, if any at all. Otherwise, conception rates will be undesirable because of low spermatozoa numbers, and the stallion may develop a low sex drive from overuse.

Even though spermatozoa production begins as early as 12 to 14 months of age in most colts, results of numerous research trials recommend waiting until the stallion is 3 years old before using him as a breeding stallion. Daily spermatozoa production is also influenced by season. Thanks everyone! Suebe Well-Known Member. We bred our 17 year old stallion to our 10 year old maiden mare for one heat cycle and she became pregnant right away 3 years ago.

Bit of a loaded question, as it depends If he's healthy and fertile, stallions can breed into their 20s basically, until they can't; kind of like men. If you are worried about wasting your breeding fee, then check into the stallion owners live foal guarantee if they have one usually means foal on the ground and nursing, after that it's your responsibility to keep it healthy.

Rocklone Miniature Horses past member -I gotta get a life He should be fine lol as long as they can do the deed you have a chance. Any stallion can fail to fertilize for any number of reasons. Getting a "live foal guarantee" is the way to be sure no money is wasted, and a good breeder should not have any problems giving you one. Stallions here have bred into their 20's, getting mares settled with the first breeding cycle. So, 18 years old isn't too old to breed.

Has he sired other foals? And remember, no question is a bad question. We're here to help any way we can! This is the result from our 20 yr old stallion -.