Many mares foal at night, when there is less chance for humans to offer assistance should things go wrong. Birth can be induced through oxytocin administration, however, improving the chances that someone will be present to help if needed.
Oxytocin is naturally released by the mare's body during foaling when her cervix and vagina dilate. Dr. Martinia Felicia and researchers from the University of Pisa and the University of Florence used 14 mares to test whether administered oxytocin affected heart-rate variability.
Half of the mares were induced and the other half had spontaneous births.
Each mare's heart rate was recorded using an elastic band with embedded electrodes. The recording began before the delivery and ended when the placenta was expelled.
The scientists found no differences in the heart rate of the two groups except during pre-delivery; induction did not alter the physiology of birth in any way. The researchers concluded that inducing births using low doses of oxytocin is safe for both the mare and the foal.
Read more at HorseTalk.
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