Good nutrition is essential For pregnant and lactating mares

Through the first two-thirds of gestation, a pregnant mare's nutritional requirements aren't much more than those of any other horse at a maintenance level, says Karen Davison, Ph, D., Equine Specialist for Purina Mills, LLC. "Free choice grazing of a quality pasture with a supplemental mineral is sufficient."

"In the last three months of gestation, a mare's intake of trace minerals is passed on to the unborn foal. A foal is born with stores of these minerals that are slowly released in the first few months of life," explains Davison. "Mare's milk is very low in trace minerals, so the foal relies on these mineral stores to meet his trace mineral needs."

Even the best pasture or hay lacks the quality protein, vitamins and minerals needed towards the end of gestation. If a quality protein and mineral supplement is not provided to a late gestating mare, the foal will be born at a disadvantage, says Davison. Most feed companies have feed rations that are designed to meet the needs of a late gestating horse.

If a broodmare is fat, Davison recommends a feed that is very concentrated in vitamins, protein and minerals, but not so high in calories. Horse Charge is a supplement that, when fed at one to two pounds per day, meets the nutritional needs of a mare in late gestation without a lot of additional calories. "At a minimum, a 12-12 free choice horse mineral is important."

Once the mare foals and begins lactating, her energy requirements nearly double, says Davison. Calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin A requirements also increase.

At this stage, her body also goes through major changes. She must recover from the stress of foaling, produce milk, and get ready to rebreed, all in a matter of days. This is a critical nutritional period for the mare.

Instead of suddenly feeding the mare with a large volume of concentrates to meet these needs, Davison recommends gradually building up to a lactation-level diet as the foaling date approaches. "Don't wait until the foal draws her down to begin supplementing." Under feeding mares during early lactation can result in lower milk production and weight loss. Early lactation weight loss in a thin mare can often affect her ability to raise her new foal and become pregnant again, says Davison.

On average, mares produce about 24 pounds, or three gallons of milk per day, based on a five month lactation period. During the first 30 days of lactation, a mare's production peaks, and drops off dramatically, according to Davison. After the first month, the nutrient content of the mare's milk also decreases drastically.

"Providing lactating mares with a concentrate the includes added fats or oils and high quality protein can help slow the downward curve of production," Davison says, "It will also improve the nutrient content of the milk."

Later in lactation, the daily requirements of the mare decline. Typically, most horse owners will be creep feeding their foals by the second or third month, and will be weaning by the fourth or fifth month of age, according to Davison. At this age, there is no advantage for the foal to remain on the mare.

Once the foal is weaned, the dry, pregnant mare can once again be managed as an early gestating mare. "It is much cheaper to wean the foal and feed him to meet his nutritional needs, than to try to feed the mare enough to produce milk," she says.