what to feed a mare after foaling

One pound of oats and two pounds of bran morning and evening is recommended to decrease the likelihood of constipation before and after foaling. This ration will also discourage heavy milk flow, thereby decreasing the chance of scours in the foal and mastitis in the mare.

Full Answer

How much should I Feed my horse after foaling?

Feeding a mare after foaling. In practice, this means feeding up to three per cent of bodyweight in a mixture of forage and concentrates – although this will vary depending on the individual mare. Digestible energy levels of approximately 2.3Mcal/kg and crude protein levels around 12% are appropriate for most lactating mares.

What should I Feed my mare during lactation?

During the first few months, most of the foal’s nutrition comes from milk, so the focus should be on feeding your mare to support optimum lactation. Lactation itself is the most physiologically demanding period in a mare’s life.

What should I Feed my horse to make her gain weight?

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. Studies show that obesity in mares can have a negative effect on growth rates in the youngster. However, inadequate nutrition is detrimental to both mare and foal.

What do you feed a foal before weaning?

The foal, conversely, often enters a growth slump immediately following weaning. Therefore, proper nutrition is paramount. Foals are typically weaned at four to six months of age. Prior to weaning, the foal should be accustomed to eating solid feed.

What do you feed a horse after birth?

Generally, foals consume 4 to 6 ounces of colostrum per feeding. Heavily milking mares produce higher levels of colostrum than the foal is capable of consuming during these early meals. On the average, approximately 5 to 8.5 ounces of colostrum could be hand milked from the mare immediately following each nursing.

What can you give a mare to produce milk?

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.

What is the best mare and foal feed?

Purina® Omolene® #200, Strategy® GX or Ultium® Growth horse feed would be good choices, or Purina® Enrich Plus® Ration Balancing horse feed may be an option for mares that are easy keepers. During the tenth month of gestation the greatest amount of mineral retention occurs in the unborn foal.

How much feed does a nursing mare need?

Generally, mares produce an average of 24 lb (3 gallons) of milk daily during a 5 month lactation period. These mares require between 2 to 3 percent of her body weight in total feed daily, which may be as much as 25 to 30 lb of hay and 10 to 15 lb of concentrate feed daily (Refer to table 3 below).

How can you tell if a mare is getting enough milk?

If the foal isn't getting enough milk, he or she will often bang the udder with their muzzle and sometimes appear frustrated. Additionally, the healthy, well-nourished foals will have periods of being very active and playful and should seem to visibly be growing in front of your eyes.

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.

Can pregnant mares have alfalfa?

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 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.

Is beet pulp good for pregnant mares?

Nonetheless, mares late in pregnancy are frequently offered additional energy in the form of concentrated feeds, such as those containing oats, soybean, barley, corn, beet pulp, stabilized rice bran, and other feedstuffs.

How much protein does a lactating mare need?

A lactating mare needs twice as much protein as a barren or early pregnant mare. She needs this much protein because mare's milk is high in protein, typically containing about 20 to 25% protein on a dry basis. A mare during peak lactation will secrete over 1 lb (0.5 kg)/day of protein in her milk.

Which is more nutritious for horses corn or oats?

Corn is the more energy-dense cereal grain on an equal-weight basis due to oats having more low-quality fiber, namely the oat hull that is poorly digested by the horse.

How long do you feed mare and foal feed?

The lactating mare then provides 100 percent of her suckling foal's nutritional needs up to approximately 2 months of age. Adequate amounts of protein, energy (calories), vitamins and trace minerals are needed in the mare's diet for both mare and baby to thrive.

What is the best food for a foal?

Weanlings need good-quality protein containing the essential amino acids lysine, threonine and methionine for growth. Consider feeds with peas, linseed and soya, which have an excellent amino acid profile.

What is the most demanding period in a mare's life?

Lactation itself is the most physiologically demanding period in a mare’s life. A lactating mare gives 3% of her body weight daily in milk production and nutrient requirements are greater than any other class of horse, except racehorses in full training! During peak lactation (0-3 months), your mare’s energy requirements are double that ...

How to wean a mare?

Start the weaning process by cutting the mare’s calories to reduce her milk production. About a week prior to weaning, cut calorie intake about 20 percent by halving the mare’s grain ration. Three days before weaning, cut calories about 20 percent again by removing all grain.

How long does it take for a mare to get good nutrition?

During Pregnancy. Good nutrition for foals starts with good nutrition for their dams. During the average 340 days between conception and foaling, the mare provides 100 percent of the nutrition needed by the growing fetus.

How long should a suckling foal nurse?

It is normal for suckling foals to nurse for one to two minutes three to seven times an hour. Excessive bouts of nursing, a foal that is constantly butting the mare’s udder, a mare that is antagonistic because the foal is continually trying to nurse or below-normal weight gains all point to poor milk production.

How much milk does a mare produce?

Milk is 98 percent water, and at peak lactation a mare produces about 4 gallons of milk daily.

How much do foals gain in a month?

For the first four months of their lives, foals gain between 3 and 5 pounds daily, and in the first two months, a foal depends on its dam for 100 percent of his nutrition. The mare’s energy needs are double what they were in her second trimester and three times what they were in the first.

How old is a foal before it can eat creep feed?

Before he is 2 or 3 months old, the foal’s immature digestive tract cannot break down and utilize grain-based creep feeds. His teeth are not equipped for chewing grains well, and his gut does not yet have a full complement of microbes and enzymes to process grain.

What is the growth phase of a horse?

Good nutrition is critical during this growth phase of a horse’s life for the animal to reach his full genetic potential. This critical growth phase begins while the foal is developing in his dam’s uterus. Without it, growth may be stunted or orthopedic problems may result. During Pregnancy.

How old do foals need to be to wean?

Foals are typically weaned at four to six months of age. Prior to weaning, the foal should be accustomed to eating solid feed. This is usually not a problem as many foals are dipping into their dam’s feed tub by a week or so of age, although few are drinking significant amounts of water by this time as milk is satisfying their fluid needs. Many foals are introduced to creep feeding by two months of age, a time when milk begins to decrease and often no longer fulfills the nutritional needs of the foal. Creep feeding serves two purposes: to guarantee the weanlings’ nutritional needs are being met and to familiarize weanlings with eating grain so feeding time will be less stressful once separated from their dams.

Do mares wean more calmly?

While it is true that mares, particularly those that have had previous foals, tend to weather weaning more calmly than their foals, nutritional changes in mares should not be forgotten.

How long should a mare be alert?

Within an hour or so, the mare should be bright and alert, allowing the foal to nurse and looking for something to eat. Allow the mare to eat and drink as soon as she is ready.

How long does it take to check a foal?

As a general rule of thumb, I like to conduct a mare-foal examination within eight to 12 hours of a foal’s birth. I check the mare to ensure that she has not experienced severe trauma to her birth canal and is producing plenty of milk.

Can you foal a mare indoors?

Next, you’ll need to decide whether your mare will foal indoors or outdoors. There are benefits and drawbacks to both, but if the weather will allow it, some breeders prefer foaling mares on good, clean grass pastures.

What do you need for a mare to foal?

Your mare will need a clean, safe, quiet place to foal. If the weather is good, a clean pasture is great. If not, she will need a stall large enough to freely lay down with room on both ends. Avoid a situation where at delivery the mare or her foal are forced into a corner or up against a wall.

How to keep a mare pregnant?

Pregnant Mares: What owners need to know as foaling time approaches. During a mare’s pregnancy, moderate exercise such as vigorous walking or riding will help control her weight and maintain muscle tone and strength needed for the last two months of pregnancy. To maintain her body condition, feed her a high-quality forage diet using ...

What is the role of colostrum in foal health?

Colostrum is extremely rich in antibodies that help prevent disease in the foal until its own immune system kicks in, especially if the mare was vaccinated appropriately. Without adequate colostrum, the foal is at an increased risk of infections.

How long does it take for a foal to be delivered?

Call your veterinarian once the foal is delivered. If the placenta is not eliminated within three to six hours of foaling. If the foal does not rise within one hour of birth, nurse within two to three hours of birth, or pass the meconium (first stool) within one hour after rising and receiving an enema.

How long does a mare's pregnancy last?

On average, a mare’s pregnancy lasts 338 to 343 days. Labor and delivery are generally very uneventful. Mares seem to have some control over their delivery and prefer to foal in privacy at night. While foaling is usually problem-free, have your veterinarian's telephone number handy. Your mare will need a clean, safe, quiet place to foal.

How do vets monitor mares?

Senior clinicians, with fourth-year veterinary students, monitor mares and their unborn foals during the late term of pregnancy using ultrasound and udder secretions. As the mare’s delivery nears, she is placed under 24-hour observation, including closed-circuit TV, until after her baby is safely delivered.

What to do if a mare's vulva is red?

If the bag protruding from your mare’s vulva, covering the foal’s feet, is velvety red instead of milky white, break ( tear or safely cut) the bag immediately and assist in delivering the foal or it will suffocate within minutes. Call your veterinarian once the foal is delivered.

What is the body condition score of a mare?

Aim to maintain pregnant and lactating mares at a body condition score of 6 to 7, and never less than 5, on the 1-9 Henneke scale. Should a mare’s body condition drop substantially, her reproductive performance (for example, cycles per conception) might decrease.

What happens if a broodmare is undernourished?

In severe cases an undernourished broodmare can suffer weight, muscle tone, and bone loss. Thus, it’s crucial to provide lactating mares with enough feed to sustain both themselves and their growing foals. Here are five tips for meeting mares’ nutritional needs during lactation.

What is the most demanding stage of a broodmare's life?

Lactation is one of the most physiologically demanding stages for broodmares. Their nutritional requirements increase drastically in order to maintain weight while providing nursing foals with enough critical nutrients. Lactating mares have the highest nutrient requirements during the first three months of lactation.

Why do mares lay down?

Mares may lie down and roll on the day of and after foaling due to the strong contractions and discomfort. Most mares experience inflammation in their uterus during the first week postpartum, and can be cultured during the foal heat to determine if infection is present.

When do mares ovulate?

The mare most commonly ovulates on or about the ninth day post foaling. The mare’s postpartum uterus undergoes significant changes. Placental fluid and lochia (debris) is expelled, and the tissue lining of the uterus regenerates while the size of the uterus decreases.

How long does it take for a mare to ovulate?

The onset of this “foal heat” can vary with each mare from 5 to 16 days. The mare most commonly ovulates on or about the ninth day post foaling.

Can you breed a mare during the heat period?

In general, veterinarians suggest that mare owners breed mares during the foal heat period. Of course, this follows an examination by your veterinarian to assess possible postpartum complications from a dystocia, retained placenta or prolonged discharge, and other symptoms that would jeopardize the new pregnancy.

The First Few Months

Weaning

post-weaning and Beyond

• Regardless of the foal’s future use, the main aim is to support his or her genetic growth potential. Weanlings need good-quality protein containing the essential amino acids lysine, threonine and methionine for growth. Consider feeds with peas, linseed and soya, which have an excellent amino acid profile. Foals reach 50% of their adult height by 6 ...

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Monitoring Growth