A friend had an orphan filly last week so we tried to put it on one of our mares who had just foaled. She let it nurse when we were there but was too protective of her own foal to let it nurse without us present (the three of them were okay in the stall with a board for it to go under though). I brought in my 21yo mare who quit cycling after foal heat last year and she actually had a little milk and let the filly nurse. Right now they have been together for 5 days and doing well (www.coxranch.com/2006foals.htm ) in a 1 acre pen with milk replacer left out for the foal. She nurses some, but not enough to sustain her. Any ideas on how to get the mare to produce more so that we can turn them out with the other mares & foals? I would like to get this mare in foal this year if at all possible so do not want to totally mess her up hormonally.
Thanks for any ideas.
Chris Cox
Cox Ranch Marietta, OK www.coxranch.com Home of Zan Parr Nic - Reining & Cowhorse Money Earning son of Reminic & Sparkles Rosezana
When my friend's mare had a foal and she had no milk, the vet had her feed the mare 6lbs of shredded beet pulp soaked in water 4-5 times a day and that brough the mare to milk after 3 days. Not sure if it will help a mare that hasn't just foaled. I now feed my mares the beet pulp because of the high fiber with 90% of the energy as sweet feed, and no danger to the mare. Helps them produce milk and keeps their weight up while lactating.
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