Can her milk be going already?

[Bennions Field]

My mare foed about 12 weeks ago and have thought foalie was starting to drop a bit of weight but Wasnt too worried as still well covered and had still been growning well. However the mAres bag is getting smaller by the week now, theres plenty of good grass and the mare is slightly rounder than poss she should be, so she gets a large scoop of alfa a sugar free with vit n mins added just to ensure she's getting what she needs. Foalie also tucks in to this also. I'm worried about giving foal creep feeds, As I don't want her growing too quickly n having probs. shud she really need much more yet? She's looking well otherwise n has been regularly wormed from 6 weeks suggestions please.

 

[trishmcd86]

Yes, it is very possible. My foals mare is starting to dry up and my foal is only 6 weeks. As far as the creep feeds. I would ask your vet what feed he/she recommends.

 

[Maesfen]

Yes entirely possible and Alfa A won't do much to address the deficit for the foal TBH as it will not help milk production very much if at all.
What type are they, native, TB, warmblood as it all makes a difference to what you should/could be feeding.
Natives would normally do very well on something like LoCal but better still on D & H Suregrow which is especially formulated for growing stock of all types, you just adapt the amounts given for them and the D & H helpline will be happy to advise.
TB and the usual feed for a broodmare would be either stud mix or stud cubes depending on how they use it; the cubes are better if she needs to keep/gain weight; they are brilliant for keeping weight on or for something that is lean, broodmare or not.
WB, TBH, don't know much about them but I'm led to believe that they can have growth problems if fed too well (same as anything, you only feed to what they require)
A broodmare needs a good balanced diet as she is working very hard, not only to feed her foal but to keep her body together too and I'm afraid the Alfa A is not doing that plus the fact that if the foal shares her meal which all foals are prone to do, chaff of any kind should not be fed to it at all because it doesn't have the ability to chew or digest it fully and it could lead to impaction so please be very careful of feeding any chaff, also full sugar, sugar beet as foals can't digest sucrose until at least 7 months old.

If it were me, I would be trying either stud cubes or Suregrow for the mare, she won't need any extra vitamins added to it at all; it's all in the bag and the foal can use it as a creep feed too, even stay on it until after it's weaned.

 

[Rosehip]

If your mare is going off her milk then she defiantely needs suplementary feeding. She is going to look round as her stomach has taken on a new shape after having a foal. Seren looks massive until you actually stand next to her, and feel her ribs etc.
At the moment, as we have zero grass, Seren is having half a cup (125gms) of top spec Anti Lam and 3/4 of a cup of pasture mix, plus some hifi lite as a bit of chew. Maisie, who is 11 weeks, is having two supplement scoops (the 60ml ones) of top spec, and 1 scoop of pasture mix, with pleanty of water.
I have tried suregrow etc but Seren does 'too' well on it! Pasture mix seems to be doing the trick and has bought her milk back.
Give the feed companies a call and see what they advise x

 

[hayinamanger]

The Dodson & Horrell helpline is really good for any nutritional issues, I have used them many times. I am a fan of their Suregrow for both mare and foal. Drinking chocolate is useful for promoting milk production, start with a spoonful and build up to a handful in each feed.

 

[Bennions Field]

thanks both for your replies, maesfen, the mare is a little on the fat side, hence not really giving her much feed just the vits and mins supplement to ensure she has all the essentials she needs without loads of calories. she's an andalusian so a realy good doer and they dont do very well on the high sugar feeds hence the sugar free alfalfa.

they are in my 3 acre field full of grass to themselves at the moment as the oldies are up the road filling thier faces on another field so its not lack of feed thats causing her reduction in milk production. this is her first foal so i also dont have anything to compare it to, so presume this is just going to be how she is.

I have poped into the local feed merchants this morning and brought some spillers stud and youngstock mix, hopefully this will help the foal to creep onto i will just have to make sure the mare doesnt get to pig out on it also there is a guide on the back that says it ok to feed from 1 month old but i think i will also give them a ring on monday to check amounts etc.

the vets also due shortly to start her vacs off, so can get him to check the mare over just to make sure. i've been watching them all morning whilst poo picking the field and the foal is getting a drink every 15-20 mins from what i can see, she does seem to be drinking for quite a while when she's there so perhaps the bag is small but the milk comes down once she's sucking?