I am concerned over what to feed my mare. Besides being in foal she is 23 years old. Currently she is eating Nutrena Senior, 7 lbs a day, it is 14% protein, 5% fat, 16% fiber it is a complete feed. She gets free choice Timothy and Coastal hay 50/50. Is a senior feed ok for a in foal mare? is this protein to high? What about during lactation when I increase her feed is this protein level ok?
Jos
Posted on Tuesday, October 24, 2000 - 08:22 am:
It is difficult, if not impossible to give a specific "yes" or "no" on a question such as this about an individual horse. I will therefore have to give you some generalities to investigate.
The rough rule of thumb when feeding any horse, is "does the horse look like you want it to?", and then feed according to the answer.
The commercially prepared feeds will always land one in less trouble than using the "Betty Crocker bit of this, bit of that" personal approach to feeding, as the commercially prepared feeds are an already balanced diet. So from that point of view, it would appear that you are on the right track.
Free choice hay is always an excellent way to go - horses are naturally grazing animals, and the hay should be the main staple of any diet, and then supplement with grain, and not the other way around (which is what many people do!).
As a rough rule of thumb with the protein - if your barn smells of ammonia, then the protein level of the feed is too high (there is a breakdown process in the body which results in excess protein being excreted and becoming ammonia). It is probable though that at 14% with this mare you are perfectly OK here too.
You will also want to make sure she has free access to a mineral lick.
The last trimester (3 months) of pregnancy is when the fetus is undergoing maximum growth, and therefore it is from that stage onwards that the mares food intake should be increased. Once she has foaled and is lactating, you will probably want to either increase the current feed, or use a 16% lactating mare and foal ration.
Thank you for the quick response! Yes this mare looks like I want her to, if I may say so she looks GREAT. She is 23 and this will be her 10th foal - and she still has a decent topline (ok so she does have a belly). I switched her to Sr when I purchased her in April this year and she looks much better. She was left open last year but caught this season on the first AI. She is due around May 15th.
Thanks again
Peggy
Posted on Thursday, November 23, 2000 - 07:39 am:
How do I know when I have adequately increased my Mare's grain ration? I have a 27 yr old mare that is due to foal at the end of January. (After many years of reabsorption @ 30 days.) Currently she is getting 5lbs of TDI 12% per day, 2 oz. of mare plus,and free choice Timothy hay. I am currently increasing her grain ration, and I was planning to increase her to 10 lbs. per day. Her grain ration as an open mare is 2-3 lbs per day. This mare is in excellent health and shape for her age; most folks are shocked when told her age.Should I change her free choice hay to an alfalfa mix? What is a good rule of thumb to use when increasing a broodmare's grain ration?
Jos
Posted on Thursday, November 23, 2000 - 08:52 pm:
The rule of thumb when feeding any horse a commercially prepared feed is: "does your horse look like you want it to?"
I say this applies to a commercially prepared mix only, as those feeds are designed to ensure the correct mixtures of vitamins, proteins and minerals etc., whereas one's own "home brew" may not achieve adequate levels in one area or another, even though the animal looks fine.
So.... If your mare looks as though she is carrying enough weight to you, she probably is!
Be hesitant in using alfalfa hay with a pregnant mare, as this has different feed values than other hay and can upset the calcium/phosphorus ratios dramatically.
You should increase your mares ration during the last 3 months of her pregnancy, which is when the foal is growing the most. Ideally, at foaling, your mare should be carrying just a little extra weight - not overweight, as this can be a problem with her foaling - as this aids her during the next 3 or 4 months when she is lactating.
Tina Summers
Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 11:19 pm:
I have a mare that is 7 months into her pregnancy and she seems to be abit over weight, what should I do? She is currently getting about 3/4 L of a 13% sweet feed and 3/4 L of crushed oats twice a day and 3 flakes of hay 3 times a day plus a suppliment.She is a small mare about 14`3 h.h. and age 14 years.This is her 2nd foal in 3 years.Should I not take her grain away as I am alittle concerned that she want get her proper nutrition?
Jos
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2000 - 04:44 pm:
Remember that the next 3 to 4 months are the months of pregnancy that the foal grows the most, so normally you would increase the amount of feed your mare is receiving at this point. I suspect therefore that if you maintain her on the diet she is now on, she will slim down a little and be at about the right point when she is due.
It is only if a mare is very obese that problems tend to be seen at foaling related to it - a little overweight is usually not of concern.
Peggy we just had a long discussion in the clinic the other day about the use of this term and whether absorbed, re-sorbed or re-absorbed was correct. It turns out that none of these are correct. It apparently was a term coined by some veterinarian a long time ago and in truth it's a physical impossibility. One cannot re-absorb something that has already been absorbed. However mares do not absorb anything, they simply abort. whether it's day 3 or 35 of the pregnancy. It's just that it's so small it goes unnoticed. Why many veterinarians use this term is beyond me. Sorry but this is one that, for some strange reason really gets my goat. Especially when it's professional people who perpetuate this type of thing.
I have 2 TB mares, 21 yo bred April 15, will be foal #14, and 5yo bred April 30, foal #1. Both mares get good coastal hay free choice, and a 14% sweet feed. Brown salt block and yellow salt block always available, and Animax (formerly Calf Manna) for last 3mos gestation, they were also getting Purina horse minerals in feed, but I had the opportunity to buy 2 bags of Moormans horse minerals, of which they now get 3oz/day in their feed.Both are in great shape, and BTW, their feet have never been better. Is there any rule about mineral supplements in broodmares? They have still been hitting the blocks even with the loose minerals in their feed. I was planning to feed the loose minerals free-choice, after putting them in the feed for 10-14 days, so they wouldn't be mineral-starved.Any suggestions/ input??
Jos
Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 11:06 pm:
In order to do this properly, you need to analyse your hay and feed for nutritional content and then compare that to the requirements as set out in a publication such as the NRC's nutritional tables. The areas that are lacking can then be supplemented accordingly to ensure the correct levels of nutrition are being obtained.
Anonymous
Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2001 - 01:41 am:
I have a 16 yo tb mare that is due to foal the first or 2nd week in july of 2001. The place where i board her at has all QT horses that do not need that much feed,and i'm having a hard time explaining to them why my mare needs more.She has limited acsses to pasture [i hand graze often.]and at 9 months she only gets 4p of mixed feed 2x a day with 4 fl.of 2nd cutting pasture mix twice a day.I use a quart scroop with this mixture[ 1/4 sw -1/2 eq. senior 1/2 horse chow 100]which totals 12%p.She is turned out everyday [indoor arena in bad weather -outdoor the rest of the time.She does have a companion who goes out with her [believe it or not but a gelding whom i also own who loves her dearly!] and i also free lunge both of them 2 to 3 times a week. I do have her on ACCEL,[JUST INCREASED TO 1/2O] A JOINT SUPP.[FOR OLD INJURY AT THE RACETRACK SHE INCURED AFTER 8YS. OF RACING.]1/2 O AND TMS 1/4 O TOPDRESSED IN FEED. Now this is the first time i have bred a mare but i have assisted many friends with theirs. I have been with this mare for 4yrs. and designed her feed progam with the help of my vet. My problem is this;ALL THE QT HORSE PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME THAT I'M FEEDING HER TO MUCH ! SHE'S 16.1 HANDS AND VERY FIT. [took me a long time to because she was a rescue case and half dead when i found her!] I had her blood tested to find out what she lacked and to make sure my feed progam wouldn't overload her. Now that she is 2months away i have been trying to slowly increase the 100 and add 1f of hay for lunch but i'm having a hard time conviceing owner of barn that this will not harm her .[they are old school about broodmares.] All my friends that breed TB'sare amazed that she looks so good on such a small amount of food. From all the reasearch i done about breeding as long as the mare does not become overweight [she's not!] that you should slowly increase feed during last 2 to 3 months of preg.w/ turnout or exercise.I'm now going to change workouts to long walks around the farm with my gelding to keep her muscles in shape and to help boredom,but some of these people tell me it's wrong . I check her over everyday when i groom her to make sure she is not uncomfortable [her belly is getting big and she is staring to get milk veins but no edema as yet.]Is what i'm doing ok? My mare seems to enjoy all the attention and this is the same routine she's had for the last 2yrs.She seems heathy and happy with this but i'm getting a lot of presure to feed her and treat her more like a QT horse which i do not want to do but it is getting harder all the time to stand my ground with some of these people and i'm starting to doubt myself. I have waited for many years to do this and do not think i went into this blind.If there is anyone out there with some input or reasureance to my state of mind please respond. THEY ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY WITH THIS !
I have a 6 yr. old standardbred mare that my vet just pronounced in foal last week. I read your statement concerning feeding alfalfa hay, in that it has differing feed values and may upset her calcium/phosphorus levels. She has been on straight alfalfa for 3 years. Should I change her to another type? Also I have always fed Stradegy by purina and I am extremely satisfied with the results of it. Will the stradegy be adequate for the duration of her pregnancy? Thank-you for your help. DIXIE in Ocala, Florida
Jos
Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2001 - 10:14 pm:
Anonymous:
As long as your mare is looking in good shape, it is likely that she is in good shape. Exercise is also important.
An overweight mare is more likely to have foaling problems than a slightly underweight one.
Good luck.
Jos
Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2001 - 10:15 pm:
Flora:
You should have your hay analysed and then feed grain and minerals at the correct rate to adjust to the requirements as suggested in the NRC tables I mention above.
Anonymous
Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2001 - 10:37 am:
I have a question about feeding. Do I need to keep just bred mares off pasture possibly containing fescue for the FIRST 30 days of pregnancy? And do I need to keep them off the last 60 or 90 days of pregnancy? Please help.
Jos
Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2001 - 10:54 pm:
Note that it is only endophyte-infected fescue grass (or hay) that is the problem, not necessarily all fescue, although to be safe it is better to consider it all infected.
Removing them from the pasture (or hay) at both of the times you mention is advisable - as well as for a period prior to breeding too.
There are several good articles on fescue toxicity that can be accesed from the links section of this site.
dianeb (134.87.141.102)
Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2001 - 08:49 pm:
I have two TB mares that have just been bred. I currently have them on 5 acres of green pasture and mineral blocks.
They were getting pellets, vitamins and hay till I moved them last month.
Please advise as to what feed I should give them now. I have been given so many opinions that I'm confused. (1st time I've ever had a mare bred)
Jos (142.177.103.120)
Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2001 - 11:30 pm:
Essentially at this stage you should feed your mares a balanced ration such as you would normally feed them when not pregnant. Fetal growth is greatest in the last 3 months of pregnancy, so it is at that stage when significant extra nutrition will be required.
There are a couple of extra considerations at this stage (first 90 days):
You may be recommended to avoid endophyte-infected fescue hay or grass. This is more commonly associated with problems linked to foaling, but has also been shown to be possibly involved in early pregnancy loss situations too.
If you are located in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania or West Virginia, it is recommended that you read of the problems currently being experienced there which may be associated with pasture. More information about this situation is available on this site by "clicking" here.
Deworming is also not recommended for the first 60 days or so - and never during pregnancy with an organophosphate based dewormer.
Hope this helps.
andrea (24.185.199.59)
Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2001 - 09:13 pm:
One quick question I work on a horse farm and our mare just lost her foal.The foal had a abnormality I think called parrotmouth. I would like to know what the possibilites are that the next foal she has will have a similar problem. This will be her third pregnancy. She lost her first foal in the eight month. The foal was put down because she couldn't nurse or breath properly.I didn't see the foal it was very early in the morning. I just want to get reassured that all this foal deaths are a fluke and that if she is pregnant now that three times a charm. She is an 11year old thoroughbred who has never been riden .I take care of her and felt her lose. Iwant to know this parrotmouth was a one time thing . her first foal I don't think they know what happened. She was ai last week. I hope that she is pregnant. She deserves a baby.
Kelly (63.172.47.183)
Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2001 - 12:47 pm:
It is very disappointing to loose a foal. It is also hard to watch the mare be so upset.
There are some questions that your vet needs to answer. I would ask what exactly was the condition of the foal. Was it a full term foal?It sounds as if it were premature. Your vet is the best source for information on this particular foal.
If both foals were parrot mouthed, I would be concerned about that. Was she bred to the same stallion each time. If she were, I would not rebreed to that stallion. Pick another. If there were different stallions and she still produced a parrot mouth, I would not breed her at all. If the foal can not nurse, the chances of it living are slim. Is it a possibility that they had cleft palates? If so, I would suggest the same reasoning as for the parrot mouth. You simply do not want to breed this deformity again, or make that mare go through another loss. This is nature's way of weeding out deformaties. If you do not change whatever the problem has been, you may indeed repeat this sad senario. She does not deserve that.
You need to have a clear understanding of her past foaling problems to best decide what to do for her. It may be a that she needs some additional help to get through a pregnancy. Be prepared to pay for what ever medical help she may need, or do not put her through this again. Do not leave it to chance. This really is your responsibility.
I have a 12 year old TB mare who has a history of early abortion - won't call it reabsorption! - around 30 days despite a CIDR being inserted. Is there anything diet-wise (selenium, for example. We are selenium deficient in New Zealand) or any new research, or do we just keep trying. She is line bred to a stallion that has produced many top eventers and is a very good mover and jumper herself, so I am keen to breed from her if at all possible. What percentage chance do you estimate that a mare like her has of carrying to term? She has aborted around 30 days three times.
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