Seminar: The best laid plans of mares and men: Some potential pitfalls of contraception management

The extirpation of their natural predators has necessitated the management of feral horse populations across the US. The contraception of females (mares) with porcine zona pellucida (PZP) is a popular option; however, effects to behavior can be substantial. For example, on Shackleford Banks, an island off the coast of North Carolina, treated mares have demonstrated decreased social fidelity, moving among historically stable groups (bands) more frequently than untreated mares. I’ll present data from our lab showing how this one change in behavior can affect mare physiology and the behavior of close associates (their band stallions), demonstrating not only important links between animal behavior and physiology, but also that managerial decisions can have significant consequences for the animals under our charge.