GETTING the feeding right for mares at foaling is essential.

Mares that are heavy in foal and approaching their due date have high requirements for energy and nutrients so that the foal is “ready for birth” and developed enough to face the rigours of the outside world. The mare too needs high energy resources to deliver the foal and care for her new-born.

REDUCED APPETITE

The near term foal occupies a lot of space so often the mare’s appetite is reduced. Ad-lib forage, good quality hay or grass ensures that there is a constant supply of nutrients available, however, most mares, particularly in the early parts of the year will need extra calories, vitamins and minerals.

The recommended quantities of commercial feeds are often in the region of 5kg per day for a typical 500kg pregnant mare. That translates to about two and half of the “Stubbs” type round scoops per day. Convincing a mare in the foaling barn to eat large quantities of feed can be difficult. To overcome this, it is best to split the feed into several small feeds during the day, and night. If the mare is still not eating the full amount it is possible to replace part of the feed with a stud balancer.

FEED BALANCERS

Balancers are designed to have high protein and high levels of vitamins and minerals in smaller quantities. Adding oil or fat such as linseed oil will increase the energy intake without increasing bulk.

Practices such as a once-off feed of bran mash can often have a negative effect on the mare as it constitutes a sudden change in feed which may cause disturbances to the bacteria in the gut.

After foaling the nutritional demands of the mare increase further as she is required to produce high quality colostrum and milk for her foal. The first three months of lactation are when the mare has the highest needs for nutrients, she needs to maintain her own body condition and provide for her rapidly growing foal. Having the pre-foaling nutrition right has hopefully set the mare up to produce colostrum, but if you have any doubts about the quality or quantity of colostrum that the foal has had veterinary advice should be sought.

FOAL NUTRITION

For the first 30 days of life the foal is entirely dependent on the mare for nutrition. During the first two weeks after foaling the feed intake of the mare should be gradually increased. This can be achieved by increasing the amount of regular feed or by adding a balancer to the existing feed. The mare will also increase her need for water.

At this stage the foal should be gaining in excess of 1kg in bodyweight per day. Foals that are not getting enough to drink will show signs such as increased or aggressive attempts at nursing, reduced weight gain, reduced urination, reduced faecal production or diarrhoea and lethargy.

In the case of mares that for some reason are not producing enough milk to support these demands there are other options available for feeding the foal. These include supplementing the amount of milk the foal is getting with bucket feeds of a suitable milk replacer or in extreme cases fostering the foal onto a “nurse mare”.

If the mare is producing ample quantity of milk but the quality is in question foal supplements are available. These supplements provide vitamins and minerals required to support growth and can promote efficient digestion of the nutrients that are being provided by the milk available. Supplementing the mare can also improve the quality of the milk being produced. Omega 3 fatty acids, (found in rich grass and in linseed oil), Lysine, (an essential amino acid) and Vitamin E in particular can be beneficial in this regard.

BONE DEVELOPMENT

The early days of the foals’ life set the foundations of the bone and muscle required for them to mature into elite athletes. The availability and balance of the vitamins, minerals and amino acids, (protein) in the diet is critical at this stage. Deficiencies in minerals such as copper or imbalances such as in the ratio of calcium and phosphorus have been shown to ultimately lead to problems that may be career ending later in life.

The economic value of a mare is dependent on her producing useful athletes on an annual basis. A well balanced diet plan that provides for the mares’ needs should ensure maximum economic efficiency in the stud situation by improving birth weights and decreasing orthopaedic problems in foals while also improving general health and pregnancy rates in the mares.

When feeding animals body condition score is key in assessing the feeding requirements of any individual. Fat mares and some ponies, donkeys or mares with previous history of metabolic diseases will need a different approach to nutrition in late pregnancy and lactation.

Very thin mares or mares recovering from an illness will also need a more tailored diet plan. Please contact your veterinary surgeon or nutritional advisor for specific advice.

Sabrina Barnwell is a practising veterinary surgeon who works as an equine nutrition advisor with Connolly’s RED MILLS.