Equine Breeding Shed Design & Penn State’s Breeding Shed
Lara Herger
When planning to
build a breeding facility one should take into consideration the same
principles as when planning any equine facility: budget, safety, efficiency,
and flexibility. Depending on the
size of the facility, some breeding operations feature an enclosure used for
both hand-breeding and semen collection known as a breeding shed. Breeding shed design can range from fairly
simple to complex, but usually include at least two distinctive features: a
dummy mount and a non-slip flooring material. In the year 2003 the manager at
the Penn State Horse Barns redesigned a hay storage shed behind the Almquist
Center for use as
breeding shed. Below are a few of the
general design features for a breeding shed.
The Basics
As breeding sheds
are used during a potentially risky activity a well designed shed is
important for safety of both the animals and the laboratory technicians and
handlers. Here are some general
guidelines when constructing a breeding shed. Shown to the right is Penn
State’s equine breeding
shed and the newest stallion addition to the herd, The Casmire Kid.
1.
The structure should provide enough
square footage for the teaser mare, dummy mount, technicians, and the
stud. This, depending on the breed of
horse, could range from the size of a two car garage (12’ x 24’ )in simple
designs to the size of a small indoor arena, which may include a wash area
and separate teaser mare stalls (30’ x 30’ or more).
2.
Some
stallions may reach heights of over 9’ when mounting the mare or dummy so the
shed ceilings should be a minimum
of 12ft. Here at Penn
State the lowest part of
the ceiling is 12’ and the highest middle section of the ceiling is 14’+.
3.
Lighting should be plentiful. Lights should not fall below 12’ either as
this poses a danger to the horses and technicians. The Penn State breeding shed has windows over 12’ on two sides
of the building, which are well out of reach of the horses to prevent injury. It has many lights placed throughout the
building to supplement the windows and a large garage door which may be left
open for more light and space.
4.
Location is another important element to take
into account when designing a breeding facility. If you are dealing with semen collection and artificial
insemination, efficiency post-collection is of great importance to ensure a
high quality of semen. The breeding
shed should be located fairly adjacent to the laboratory in order to prevent
damage to the semen and save time.
Stallion accommodations should also be reasonably nearby as well, to
ensure efficiency. Penn
State’s equine breeding
shed is located midway between its two barns and the semen laboratory is
within the same building, though not directly adjacent to the shed.
5.
Flooring base should be non-slip to prevent the
animals, especially the stallion, from falling. It should also be firm and level. Penn
State has rubber matting
which is adequate but not optimal for traction under all circumstances.
6.
Quick escape doors should be placed strategically around
the perimeter. Here at Penn
State there is a garage door at one end and sliding double
doors at the other end of the shed.
7.
As with
all animal facilities safety is a
major factor. Breeding sheds should
be well lit and free of debris and sharp edges to reduce injury to the
animals and technicians.
Extras
Some
facilities will make the breeding/collecting process more efficient by
including additional features in the breeding shed. These additions are not a necessity but may be a means of
reducing the work.
1.
Wash rack
The stallion’s genitalia should be washed before any breeding or collection
has begun.
2.
Sanitation drains should be installed to facilitate
water and waste drainage associated with washing the mare, stallion, cleaning
the dummy, or cleaning/disinfecting the entire facility.
3.
Heater
As a majority
of breeding takes place in the late winter and early spring, cooler months of
the season, heaters may be installed to ensure comfort of the handlers as
well as quality of the semen post-collection.
4.
Rubber Borders Walls around the perimeter may have a 4’ rubber coating to
prevent kicking damage or injury to the horses that might occur.
5.
Stocks. There
are multiple uses for stocks, which makes them valuable to have in a breeding
shed. Not only are they great for
palpation or breeding mares but also for other reproductive-related exams.
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