Nutritional care of the late pregnant and lactating mare

Article from RD1's 'Straight from the Horse's Mouth', August 2011.

Having a new foal is an exciting and rewarding time for a stud manager or owner. It is important that the best management and nutrition is provided to the mare to ensure that a live, well developed and nurtured foal is born and the health and wellbeing of the mare is maintained.

During the last three months of pregnancy the foetus has the greatest period of growth. The unborn foal can grow as much as 0.4-0.5kg in a day. During this time the nutritional demands in protein and minerals increase and nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc and vitamins such as vitamin K1 and K2 need to be fed to build strong bone and cartilage in the unborn foal. Good quality protein needs to be fed to keep the mare in good condition and allow the foetus to develop and grow to optimal levels.

The mare's milk is low in trace minerals such as copper and it is imperative that during late pregnancy the unborn foal has access to adequate levels of minerals, so they can be used for growth and stored in the liver for later use when the foal only has access to the mare's milk. Pasture alone for the pregnant mare, is not enough at this time.

The protein, energy and vitamin and mineral requirements of a lactating mare are high and ideally the mare should be in a moderate to good condition before foaling. A 500kg lactating mare will produce approximately 10-15L of milk each day and the mare's energy requirements can increase by up to two times maintenance levels. Good quality protein and optimal levels of nutrients need to be provided. During lactation the mare's appetite can be insatiable and she can consume approximately 2.5-3% of her bodyweight in feed per day.

Underfeeding of the mare during lactation will lower milk production and cause loss of condition of the mare and subsequently affect the growth of the foal. The weight, condition and wellbeing of the mare will also have an effect on the mare cycling, getting in foal and maintaining pregnancy for the next foal.

The amount of milk the mare is producing and the nutrient level of the milk decreases throughout lactation. By the fifth month of lactation, less than 30% of the foal's energy needs are provided by the mare. Bone building and supporting minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and copper levels fall as lactation continues. Ideally, weaning can occur around four to six months.

At Mitavite, feeds are formulated without compromise. Providing a well formulated concentrate such as Breeda or Promita takes the guess work out of feeding by providing the correct nutrition to the pregnant and lactating mare to ensure her wellbeing and provide the unborn or young foal with the best start, setting firm foundations for the horse's future.

Visit the team at RD1 to stock up with Mitavite feeds. And don't forget the RD1 Horse Feed Bonus Card deal: purchase 10 bags of selected horse feed and get $20 off the next bag!

Disclaimer: Any views and comments expressed in this article are not necessarily the opinions of RD1 Limited nor associated agencies. This content is copyright of RD1 Limited.