ANOTHER milk testing question :)

[Monkers]

Sorry about this!

I am giving milk testing a go this year and have bought some aqua check strips.

I was wondering how high the calcium reading goes before the PH starts dropping.

Also, does the PH start to drop as soon as the calcium rises, or is there usually a day or two before you see the PH begin to fall?

I appreciate every horse is different, but would like all your stories please!

 

[cruiseline]

We tested for the first time last year and each mare was different. But none of them foaled before the calcium went up AND the pH went down.

This is a good article written on it

http://www.miniatureventures.com/using_milk_test_strips.html

 

[Thistle]

I found that as one rose the other fell. Mare never got to the end of the scale though. At 8am she had a slight change, bit more at 8pm so decided to watch her (day 346). She foaled that night 4.30am.

 

[Monkers]

Thank you both and thanks for the article which is very helpful.
She's currently at the lowest possible reading for calcium and the highest for PH, so I'm guessing it wont be just yet!
She's on day 330 and foaled at day 342 last year. I'm hoping she hangs on for a change in the weather!

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

My mare too Monkers, on day 330 and pH high & calcium low!

Am hoping she waits till change in weather too!! *goes off doing a little sunshine dance*

 

[Monkers]

Ah! We will have to compare milk testing notes! I'm just doing it every other day at the moment.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

I am trying to test daily but don't always get any fluid out

 

[AnShanDan]

First mare, I found that the Ca went up slowly day by day for about 10 days, then the pH dropped dramatically just before foaling. Ca did finally get to the highest level and pH was down at lowest level. Other mare was almost identical.
Just about to start testing my friend's mare for her, she is at about 315 atm so might have a look at her next weekend. Exciting