The simplest concentrate is a plain cereal grain such as oats or corn. Plain cereal grains are good sources of calories, but they are deficient in calcium and other nutrients. In most cases, it is better to purchase a commercially manufactured fortified concentrate formulated specifically for broodmares.
How much should I Feed my broodmare?
On pasture broodmares can voluntarily consume up to 3.0 % of their body weight as dry matter daily. However, overfeeding the early pregnant mare have to be avoided as it may lead to obesity and foal difficulties. If broodmares are “good doers” the access to high-quality pasture should be restricted.
How do you take care of a broodmare?
Riding is also a good form of exercise. Most broodmares can be safely ridden up to 6 months, but this may vary individually. Broodmares should be offered a supplement if they are kept on poor quality pastures or high-oxalate pastures that have low availability of calcium such as kikuyu.
Why is the feeding program of the breeding mare important?
T he feeding program of the breeding mare is an important management aspect. Feeding can affect the fertility, milk production, and the skeletal development and growth of the foal. Understanding the nutritional needs of the maiden/barren, pregnant and lactating mare is essential for the development of a proper feeding program for all stages.
How long can you ride a broodmare?
Most broodmares can be safely ridden up to 6 months, but this may vary individually. Broodmares should be offered a supplement if they are kept on poor quality pastures or high-oxalate pastures that have low availability of calcium such as kikuyu. Concentrates or supplements can be fed to correct the nutrient deficiencies.
What should you feed a broodmare during pregnancy?
GUIDELINES FOR FEEDING DURING GESTATION During the early part of pregnancy, mares should be fed at a maintenance level of 1 Mcal/per lb of feed. This generally equates to 15 lb of good quality pasture and forage for the average sized mare (1,100 to 1,200 lb mare), with free-choice access to a trace mineral block.
Do broodmares Need grain?
It is usual for a 1,200-pound mare to need 12 to 15 pounds of an average energy density grain mix in addition to 10 to 12 pounds of a good quality hay to meet her energy needs.
How do you take care of a broodmare?
Care of the broodmareKeep mares in small groups with others at a similar stage of pregnancy.Separate long-term resident mares of the farm from outside mares.Isolate pregnant mares from horses likely to shed illness (e.g. show horses, weanlings, etc.).Isolate pregnant mares from recently bred mares.More items...
What should pregnant mares not eat?
Salt, water, and fescue. One type of hay or pasture to avoid is fescue, which is often infected with an endophyte that causes problems in pregnant mares, including prolonged gestation, difficult delivery, and lack of milk.
Are oats good for pregnant mares?
Oats contain around 13% protein, but the protein in oats is low in the essential amino acid lysine which is an essential nutrient for all horses, especially pregnant and lactating mares and growing youngsters, and horses in work.
Is alfalfa good for pregnant mares?
The short answer is yes, it is perfectly acceptable to feed your mares alfalfa hay. If the hay is moderate quality or better, your mares will likely have no trouble maintaining their weight.
How much do broodmares sell for?
Overall, the North American broodmare market was down slightly, with the average broodmare price dipping 0.8% to $83,161 compared with a 2017 average of $83,799.
How long can you ride a bred mare?
Some owners work their mares vigorously while pregnant for up to six months without experiencing any ill effects. After six months, it's advisable to back off strenuous exercise, but light riding is still okay—no more showjumping or extreme exertion past their sixth or seventh month.
What to feed a mare after foaling?
At peak lactation rate (six to eight weeks after foaling), an average-sized mare (500-550kg) will produce up to 20 litres of milk daily. The dietary areas to consider are energy, protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals. The mare needs to be fed at a sufficient level to keep her in good, but not fat, condition.
Is Bermuda hay good for pregnant mares?
If the forage (pasture or hay) is of high quality, very little grain is generally needed until just before foaling. Hay should be a grass or grass mix, with not more than about 10% alfalfa, and ideally should provide around 10% to 12% protein. Orchard grass, bluegrass, Timothy and Bermuda are excellent hay choices.
How much alfalfa should a pregnant mare have?
Alfalfa should never be fed exclusively (due to potential mineral imbalances). Instead, strive for a 60:40 ratio of grass hay to alfalfa hay. The fetus gains one pound per day during the final three gestational months. Hay alone will not meet all the mare's caloric needs.
How can I increase my mare's milk production?
Mares need energy and high-quality protein for milk production (14% crude protein grain mix). Generally an increase in grain volume will supply more energy. 2. Low lactating mares consuming fescue pasture or hay may benefit from a veterinary-prescribed paste marketed as Equi-tox to increase milk production.
How much do broodmares sell for?
Overall, the North American broodmare market was down slightly, with the average broodmare price dipping 0.8% to $83,161 compared with a 2017 average of $83,799.
How can I get my pregnant mare to gain weight?
In considering the forage component of the mare's diet, the only thing you might do to increase its caloric contribution is to switch to a high-quality alfalfa hay. In some regions, alfalfa is difficult to obtain or expensive, so as long as the hay you're feeding is palatable and plentiful, the forage is acceptable.
How much crude protein does a pregnant horse need?
During the last 90 days of pregnancy, mares should be fed crude protein at 10%, digestible energy 1.2 Mcal/lb, 0.45% calcium, 0.35% phosphorus, and 1,150 IU/lb vitamin A.
How much milk does a mare produce?
Mares produce an average of three gallons of milk daily during a five-month lactation period. Digestible energy requirements are highest for lactating mares immediately after foaling. Depending on the mare, energy requirements may increase up to double the maintenance requirements.
What is the body condition score of a mare?
The recommendation is for broodmares to be maintained at a Body Condition Score of 5.5 to 7.
How much does a mare's growth rate increase during pregnancy?
In fact, the foal's growth rate increases to about 1 pound per day during this period.
When feeding broodmares, do we need to keep in mind?
When feeding broodmares we must keep in mind that not only do we need to meet the nutritional needs of the mare, we must also meet the nutritional needs of the foal. Therefore, the needs of the broodmare change depending on the stage of reproduction.
When should a mare's feeding level be reduced?
In the fourth, fifth and sixth months of lactation, the mare's milk supply decreases, therefore her need for additional nutrients declines, and her feeding level should be reduced proportionately to maintain her body condition score for the next breeding season or to support a new pregnancy.
What should a mare's feeding program be adjusted to accommodate?
The mare’s feeding program should be adjusted to accommodate the differences in requirements throughout gestation and lactation. A stud balancer may be more than sufficient to meet her requirements during gestation provided she is on good quality forage that is meeting her energy requirements.
What is the term for a broodmare that is lactating?
Early lactation is a period of substantial physiological stress for the broodmare. The lactating mare’s nutrient needs are greater than those of any other class of horse with the possible exception of the racehorse in training. During this time the mare must recover from the stress of parturition, produce milk and re-breed.
How much does a mare's energy need to grow?
During the last three months of pregnancy the mare’s energy requirements increases significantly as this is when rapid growth of the foetus and associated membranes occurs. The foetus can increase in weight by up to one lb/day during the last 90 days of gestation, accounting for over 60% of total foetal growth.
What is the last trimester of a horse?
Prior to the publication of the most recent version of Nutrient Requirements of Horses, industry professionals divided a mare’s gestation into two distinct nutritional periods: early gestation (the first eight months) and late gestation (the last three months), also known as the last trimester.
What does weight and metabolic status do to a horse?
It turns out, weight and metabolic status have more to do with equine fertility than was previously thought, impacting everything from oocyte quality to the likelihood of a mare conceiving and the development and health of the foal.
How long does a mare's gestation period last?
A mare’s gestation period is approximately 11 months long, with her nutrient requirements actually resembling a typical maintenance state until the last four to five months prior to foaling. “The last trimester is when the foal starts growing rapidly, with nearly 80 percent of total growth happening at that time.
What is a broodmare?
So much more than simply a vehicle for delivering her foal, the broodmare is the ultimate cultivator of equine life. Her body prepares for then creates, nurtures, grows and ultimately introduces the next generation ...
Why is it important to maintain an ideal body condition during gestation?
While maintaining an ideal body condition is imperative during gestation, it is also critical prior to breeding, to help ensure successful conception from the outset.
How many cycles does it take for a mare to get pregnant?
Body condition challenges can contribute to an elongated process, with mares often taking upwards of three to four cycles to become pregnant. While there are steps he and his team take to address the body condition and overall health of the mares in their care, to Dr. Ferris, the key to the equation is in preparation.
When do mares start to need more nutrients?
Time will tell,” says Dr. Ferris of the ongoing research. “Once the mare reaches her fifth month of gestation, nutrient requirements for energy and protein begin to increase. Then, from gestational month seven until the time of foaling, the requirements for many macro and trace minerals increase.”.
What is the best diet for a mare during pregnancy?
A key component of a proper diet during gestation comes from forage. “As the mare’s pregnancy advances and also when she is lactating, it is important to ensure that she is being fed a good quality and highly-digestible hay, or that she has access to good-quality grass pasture.
Conception
The effect of nutrition and body condition on reproduction in mares has been clearly illustrated. Mares coming into the breeding season in optimal body condition start cycling earlier than mares with in poor body condition. Thinner mares also have difficulty conceiving and maintaining pregnancy as compared to mares in optimal body condition.
Early & Mid Gestation
From the time of conception through foaling, the fetus is actively growing. However, fetal growth is not occurring at a steady rate. Fetal growth is quite slow during the first seven months of pregnancy and then very rapid during the final trimester. During early and mid pregnancy the developing fetus is very small, less than 20% of birth weight.
Late Gestation
During late pregnancy the fetus will gain approximately 80% of its birth weight. To support this rapid fetal growth, the mare’s requirements for energy, protein, minerals and vitamins increase.
Lactation
The lactating mare has the highest nutrient requirements of any horse on the farm. To produce milk and to repair the reproductive tract in preparation for future pregnancy, the mare requires substantial amounts of energy, protein, calcium and phosphorus.
How much protein should broodmares eat?
If the amount of roughage or access to pasture is reduced to prevent obesity, a high protein concentrate can be offered at 0.5-1.0% of the body weight per day to meet requirements.
How much dry matter should a broodmare consume?
On pasture broodmares can voluntarily consume up to 3.0 % of their body weight as dry matter daily. However, overfeeding the early pregnant mare have to be avoided as it may lead to obesity and foal difficulties. If broodmares are “good doers” the access to high-quality pasture should be restricted.
How much weight does a foal have at 7 months?
At seven months of gestation the foetus is only about 20% of the foal’s weight at birth. However, with gestation progressing more fetal and associated mammary and placental tissue will be synthesised and this will slightly alter nutrient requirements after 5 months of gestation.
Why is it important to exercise a broodmare?
Exercise is important and assists with maintaining an optimal body condition and muscle tone. All mares should have the opportunity to be turned out daily. Riding is also a good form of exercise.
What to feed a mare in late pregnancy?
It is recommended to feed concentrates high in lysine or use soybean meal, whey protein or lupins as the protein supplement in the feed mix.
How does feeding affect a mare?
Feeding can affect the fertility, milk production, and the skeletal development and growth of the foal. Understanding the nutritional needs of the maiden/barren, pregnant and lactating mare is essential for the development of a proper feeding program for all stages. In the following section the preparation and nutritional requirements ...
What is the body condition score of a mare?
Neck and shoulders are in a smooth line with the body and the tailhead begins to feel spongy. A higher condition (body condition score of 7-8) have no significant negative or positive effects on the conception rate, anovulatory period and numbers of cycles to conception of the mare.
