Calorie & Nutrient Requirements
While a mare during late gestation may experience a decrease in appetite while her energy and nutrient requirements increase; typically, post foaling the mare’s appetite will increase dramatically. Producing 2-4% of her own body weight a day in milk to support her growing foal, it is no wonder why she may want to eat everything in sight. She has a lot going on internally, both physically and hormonally, as she recovers from foaling while also providing for her new little one. Consequently, it is typically advised to NOT make any sudden changes with her diet. Maintaining consistency for her gut microbiome is important to avoid digestive upset.
That being said, it is, also, important to ensure you are meeting her needs in both caloric and nutrient requirements. If you have been following along in this Gestational Nutrition Series, you are well equipped with the knowledge needed to maintain your broodmare in ideal body condition throughout her pregnancy. Moreover, the dietary adjustments that were needed during late gestation to meet her increasing nutrition requirements are typically similar to her needs post foaling. Approach any dietary adjustments with caution and make them slowly to give the gut microbiome a chance to adjust appropriately.
Forage Intake
It is not uncommon for a mare’s forage intake to increase up to 3% of her body weight per day after delivering her foal and beginning to lactate. Continue to provide her with high quality hay and, like during late gestation, consider adding alfalfa to her diet. Alfalfa offers a higher caloric density, as well as, a boost of calcium. The calcium is beneficial in supporting lactation and also aids in creating a bit of an acid buffer in her gut. Typically, this is a win-win when managing a lactating mare.
Depending on when the mare foals, access to fresh green grass may, also, be available. Taking into account any metabolic concerns, if the mare can safely be turned out on pasture, the grass can help increase her hydration and keep her moving. Grass tends to be about 90% water. So, while helpful for a hydration boost, she will need to consume a great deal of it to fulfill her forage requirements. Though she may be turned out on pasture, it is also advised to continue to supplement her with high quality hay, as discussed above.
Energy Needs
For a mare, producing milk to support her new foal is first priority for her body. And doing so requires a caloric intake similar to a horse in intense training and competition (for example: race-fit racehorse in intense training). It is no easy task to be the sole provider to a baby that can be 80-100lbs at birth, or roughly 10% of the mare’s body weight. In addition to supporting her foal, her own body needs to replenish for her health, recovery and resiliency. The changes to her caloric intake should have been gradually increased during late gestation to meet her needs. Typically, this doesn’t need much adjustment post foaling. Monitor your mare’s body condition regularly and make any changes slowly. For an extra calorie boost above and beyond what she is getting from her forage and feed, consider adding a fat source such as rice bran oil to her diet. This can come in handy when you need to increase her caloric intake for energy, but you cannot get her to physically eat any more than she’s already eating. Just be careful not to over do it; too much fat in the diet can cause her to back out of her feed tub and, also, result in loose manure.
- Increase in forage
- Providing a fortified commercial feed that has feeding instructions specifically for lactating mares; and following the feed instructions on the bag/tag
- Add a fat source for an additional boost of calories/energy
Gestational Nutrition Series Part 3 of 4 – Late Gestation: Utilizing Nutrition Through Late Gestation in Preparation for Foaling and Lactation
Additional Nutrients
Keeping her on a diet balancer to meet her daily requirements of vitamins, minerals and amino acids is essential to providing complete nutrition to support both the mare and her foal. Like the feed, make sure your diet balancer has feeding instructions specific to lactating mares and follow those feeding guidelines.
We could get into the nitty gritty of specific nutrients and micronutrients; however, balancing and managing specific ratios can get complex. In addition, one can create a lot of unnecessary problems for both mare and foal by adding too much or too little extra supplementation via self-prescribing. If you are concerned about your mare’s diet being properly balanced and avoiding any deficiencies, it is best to consult your veterinarian. Especially in unique circumstances, your veterinarian and equine nutrition specialist may work together to solve problems.
Adequate water intake is also of utmost importance. Lactating mares will need an increase in water consumption to support milk production. Please refer to the other articles in this Gestational Nutrition Series for more discussion on water and ways to increase hydration. (Insert Link Gestational Nutrition Series – Part 2 of 4: Early Gestation – Nutritional Ways to Support Early Pregnancy & Proper Foal Development)
Being Rebred with Foal at Her Side
If planning to rebreed your mare on her 10-day foal heat or any time during which she still has a foal at her side, her body condition will play a large part in whether she will take to the breeding. Maintaining an ideal body condition score of a 5-6 on a 1-9 scale; where 1 is extremely emaciated and 9 is excessively obese, is important on many levels. Since the mare’s body will deplete itself to provide for the foal, if she is not replenished with adequate calories and nutrients, her body condition and resilience fades; thus, making it much more difficult to take to breeding. Gestational Nutrition Series – Part 1 of 4: Preparing a Mare with Nutrition for a Successful Breeding & Pregnancy
Feeding to meet your mare’s needs without over or under feeding can truly be a delicate balancing act. Throw in all the other variables of overall health, maintaining a healthy gut, keeping stress of any kind to a minimum and the anticipation of a new foal; it’s enough to keep the even the handiest horseman on their toes. However, when all the boxes have been checked, sleepless nights of monitoring her for signs of labor are over and your mare is standing relaxed and eating happily with a brand new, healthy, foal bouncing around her…it makes the effort all worth it. Foaling season really is one of the most rewarding times for horse owners, breeders and enthusiasts, especially when a healthy mare delivers a healthy foal. When providing proper nutrition and managing her body condition all along the way have been top priority, the chances of this success increase tenfold.
When, after foaling, should I increase my mare’s feed and by how much?
After foaling, your mare has a lot going on internally, both physically and hormonally. The most ideal situation calls for minimal change to maintain consistency for a healthy gut microbiome. Hopefully, during late gestation you gradually increased her caloric and nutrient intake to fulfill her body’s increasing demand. When this has been done properly few adjustments, if any, will be necessary post foaling. If dietary adjustments need to be made, do so slowly so as not to overwhelm her gut. If you feel that faster or more dynamic changes need to be made to her diet, consult your veterinarian for guidance.
If my mare seems really hungry after foaling, should I just keep giving her more to eat?
Not necessarily. As long as you are providing a forage first, balanced diet that fulfills the caloric and nutrient requirements of a lactating mare of her size, then you should be good. Even post foaling, it is important to manage your mare’s body condition to keep her in an ideal range. Overfeeding her may make your heart feel full but allowing her to get overweight can cause a plethora of other health problems. If you feel more adjustments need to be made, consider increasing the amount of times she is fed throughout the day & night. Doing so will provide the same amount of forage and feed material but break them up into smaller and more numerous feedings. When her gut fill remains consistent, she is less likely to ride the roller coaster of ravaging her meals quickly and then anxiously awaiting her the next. The consistency in her gut fill will also help to keep digestive acids low so as not to create ulcers or other digestive issues. If you have any questions regarding what or how much you should be feeding your mare, please contact your veterinarian or equine nutrition specialist.
How much more water should my broodmare be drinking while lactating?
In order for your mare to produce the amount of milk necessary to support the foal, she does require an increase in water intake. Be sure to provide easy access to fresh, clean, drinkable water at all times. Other ways to help increase hydration:
- Keep water tanks and buckets clean.
- Offer more than one water source.
- If the temperature is cold, utilize bucket and/or tank heaters to keep water from freezing and ensure access to drinkable water; offer more than one water source at different temperatures.
- Monitor your water sources and heating devices for proper function.
- Offer soaked feed, hay cubes/pellets or beet pulp. These options generally, absorb water quickly and easily and so is a great way to offer a hydration boost.
Electrolytes are typically safe for use in pregnant mares. However, if you have any questions before adding an electrolyte to their diet, contact your veterinarian or equine nutrition specialist.
