broodmare nutrition

8/3/2019 Broodmare Nutrition

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Overview

Through the years there have been many studies and documentation on equine

reproduction. With the knowledge that has become available, breeders have become more

efficient as the use of industry best practices continues to spread. The goal of this paper is a

discussion of some of the commonly used best practices.

Broodmare nutrition

Broodmare nutritional requirements are vital to breeding efficiency before conception.

In open mares it is important to keep their body condition in a fleshy state. Breeding to low

body condition score mares will have a negative effect on conception per cycle as well as

delaying the first ovulation until later in the season. Depending on the area of the country and

the ability to find quality forage a decision to supplement grain may have to be made. Mares

that have access to quality forage will generally have the ability to maintain proper body

condition. If the mare is unable to maintain a fleshy frame even with proper forage grain can

then be supplemented. All of the vitamin and nutrient levels of the open and pregnant mare

through the first two trimesters will stay largely the same as any other horse of equal size and

workload.

Beginning in the last 90 days or the final trimester the mare will need a change in her

nutritional program. The fetus will develop rapidly at a rate of almost a pound a day. The last

trimester accounts for 80% of the fetus growth and will require more vitamins and nutrients for


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prenatal development and the foals immune responses.Adding more forage or grain will not

be helpful for the late term mare as she needs greater amounts of protein calcium and

phosphorus then can be obtained through normal feeding. Specially fortified feed meeting the

mares increasing demands should be fed during late gestation. Trace amounts of vital minerals

that will be for the foals immune response system are also included in these feeds (Oke).

During the early part of lactation the mare should be kept on the same feed schedule as

late gestation. The milk production needs of the lactating mare are equal to those of the mare

in the last few weeks before parturition. As the foal grows their needs start to be met with the

introduction of forage and/or grain and the mares nutritional needs decrease until weaning

occurs at around six months. This illustrates a mare feeding program which increases gradually

starting at the beginning of the last trimester, plateaus as parturition draws closer and begins to

decline gradually as the foals grow towards weaning( Oke).

Vaccines

Most mares are not treated with their first vaccinations until well into their pregnancies.

At 5 months the first vaccine for rhinonuminitus and influenza are given. They are repeated at

months 7 and 9. Thirty days before the scheduled due date tetanus, equine herpes virus-1, and

Eastern Western and Venezuelan Encephalomyelitis should all be vaccinated for with a booster.

These vaccines are vital in preventing abortion, protecting the mare, and protecting the foal

from passage of pathogens either through the placenta or colostrum. To protect the foal from

any parasitic worms being acquired from the mare a dose of ivermectin can be given close to


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the expected day of foaling. Most other dewormers are also safe to use throughout the

pregnancy but the labels should be checked to be safe (Madill, 2007).

Health Care

Normal equine care such as should be observed as well a few specific procedures. The

mare should arrive at the place of foaling as soon as possible to help build a resistance to any

environmental changes that may occur. Pregnancy checks through the beginning of the term

are also important to be sure the development is proper and the mare has not aborted. These

checks are easily preformed with ultrasound and should be done up to 90 days following

conception. If the mare has a Caslicks procedure to help protect the mare from infection it is

extremely important that it is removed at least a few days to a week before foaling date to

prevent injury to the mare and foal(Parker, 2003).

Signs of Impending Birth

During the last 30 days a great deal can be learned through observation of the mares

udders. The udders of the mare will slowly start to enlarge but they will stay firm to the touch

at around 30 days. As time progresses the udders become softer as they fill with colostrums

which can be detected up to a week before foaling. Once the mare begins to show a waxing up

of her teats it can be expected that foaling is about to occur. Pelvic ligament softening can also

be observed around three weeks out and gives the mare the ability to expel the foal through

the birthing canal (Madill, 2007).

Parturition


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Stage 1

Stage one of parturition begins with the mare showing signs of restlessness. Each mare

is different and good record keeping on each mares tendencies will be helpful. A mare can

show several signs of discomfort such as pawing, bite or kick at her sides or walk her stall. Some

mares will begin to sweat noticeably with the onset of stage one. All of these symptoms are a

result of the foal being positioned properly. Stage one ends when the chorioallantoic

membrane ruptures to lubricate the birth canal. Mares need to be watched closely through this

process as it will vary in length. The mare should be kept in a clean, open stall with fresh

bedding. Also regular handlers should be near and the lights and noise should be kept to a

minimum (Sellnow, 2008).

Stage 2

Stage two of parturition is characterized by the delivery of the foal. This stage usually

lasts between 15 and 30 minutes but can take up until 1 hour. The longer it takes for stage two

the more opportunity for issues involving the foal. The oxygen intake from the foal occurs

through the umbilical cord and the longer the foal takes to leave the mare the more

opportunity it has to rupture. This could cause the foal to suffocate. Problems can also arise

during stage two if the foal is not positioned properly. As the foal passes through the vagina the

foals two feet should both become visible in an offset position and they should be facing down.

If the foal is coming out any other way the vet should be called as there may be a serious issue.

The mare and foal should not be disturbed immediately following the birth as the foal is still

gaining valuable oxygen through the umbilical cord (Sellnow, 2008). As soon as the mare stands


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up the cord will be broken, allowing the mare to rest is vital. When the foal is on the ground the

placenta should be broken over the foals nose. After the umbilical cord is broken the stump

of the foal should be disinfected with Nolvasan solution. Foal imprint training should begin at

this point before the foal stands (Arns, 2011).

Stage 3

Stage three of parturition is the expulsion of the placenta by the mare. The placenta

should be tied up loosely from dragging on the ground to prevent the mare from stepping on it

and pulling it out of her uterus prematurely. The placenta should be expelled within three hours

of foaling. If the placenta remains retained for longer it can cause health concerns for the mare

including uterine infection or laminitis. A watchful eye should be kept on the mare until she

passes the placenta. It should then be checked by the attendant for its contents and any rips it

may have (Cable, 2001).

Neonatal Care

Vital Signs

Young foals vital signs should be taken often to be able to identify an onset of any heath

problem as early as possible. A normal foal temperature can range from 100-102 degrees

Fahrenheit. Any significant deviation from that range of temperatures is indicative of a

problem. Normal heart rate for a foal is between 80-120 beats per minute, any deviation fromthis range can be a sign of a larger issue. When monitoring 20-50 respirations per minute are

common, the higher end should only occur when the foal is under stressors. During relaxed

conditions 20-40 breaths per minute is a good gauge (Rosenthal, 2010).

Management Recommendations


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Observation of the foal throughout his development can be helpful in identifying

conditions at their onset. Examining the foal mare interaction could provide some clues to

serious health concerns. The foal should be alert and follow the mare. The foal should also

nurse often without issue at least a few times an hour. Any issue the foal has with diarrhea or

difficulty in passing feces should not be taken lightly. If the foal is having difficulty passing the

meconium after birth it may be helpful to use an enema as this condition is not uncommon

(Rosenthal, 2010).

Conclusions

With an abundance of research that has taken place, the protocol on most breeding

farms in the areas discussed varies only slightly. With that being said to become an elite equine

reproduction facility, all of the steps in the process must be done properly with strict attention

to detail. Detailed record keeping as well as keen observation can separate the good facilities

from the best facilities.


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broodmare nutrition

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