When a mare foals, her daily nutrient requirements increase significantly, nearly double that of early gestation. It is a demanding time for her body. These nutrient needs must be met for the mare to recover from foaling stress, produce milk, and rebreed without losing body condition. If she doesn’t get enough fuel, both mom and baby suffer.
Underfeeding mares during early lactation will result in lower milk production and weight loss. This is critical because early lactation weight loss, especially in mares that foal in thin condition, will likely affect the mare’s ability to raise her new foal and become pregnant again.
Consider the sheer volume of work she is doing:
- High Volume: Mares produce an average of 24 pounds (3 gallons) of milk daily during a 5-month lactation period.
- Total Output: This represents 450 gallons or 1 3/4 tons of milk over 150 days.
- Peak Production: High producing mares yield as much as 32 pounds (4 gallons) of milk daily.
Providing lactating mares with a feed such as Purina Omolene 200 or Strategy that includes added fats or oils and high quality protein can help slow the downward curve of production. This ensures the foal gets the best start possible.
Once the foal is 4 months old, it is more nutritionally accurate for the foal and more economical for the horseman to feed the foal a quality diet. Shifting focus to the foal’s diet helps the mare recover. Once the foal is weaned, the dry, pregnant mare can be managed as an early gestating mare once again.
Don’t forget to visit your local Steinhauser’s for all your equine needs!
Source: http://www.aaep.org