Feeding lactating mare

[Caol Ila]

I am keeping Caso on Hermosa for a wee while longer, and given that it's winter, I need to up her feed. Any recommendations? She's currently on a stud balancer and the cushings-friendly Dengie Alfa-A, just because it was left over from Gypsum. I'm thinking I should replace the balancer with a complete feed but not sure which one.

 

[AmyMay]

How’s she looking?

 

[[153312]]

Is she losing weight?

 

[Caol Ila]

Yeah, she dropped weight. The horses were left on the 24/7 turn-out summer fields a few weeks longer than would have been ideal, due to YO breaking her leg. We were giving Hermosa the hard feeds descibed in the OP, but it wasn't enough due to lack of forage + nursing. Now they are in their winter arrangements, wherein they're in hardstanding corrals with ad-lib hay, and they get day turn-out every other day (it's complicated) in a not f*cked field.

I was thinking about weaning next month, but I've changed my mind about doing that because I don't think it's the right decision for the foal. But it does mean I need to think about the most effective way to increase momma's calorie intake.

 

[[153312]]

Random brainstorming:

Keep the alfa a - it's high in protein and calcium and 12mJ/kg
Use specific broodmare/young stock balancer instead of Cushing's one
Add linseed or equi jewel - 20mJ/kg and 15mJ/kg respectively
Get hay analysed if it's the foundation of their diet

 

[Gloi]

I left my foals on until spring, mainly on hay but she was a native who tended to fat.

 

[Caol Ila]

Oooh, linseed is a good idea.

I guess I want something fatty and rich, but that won't make her nuts.

 

[[153312]]

Either linseed or something like copra (coconut) or equi jewel (rice) would do that. They're all very high energy but it comes from fats. It just depends on your budget/if she's intolerant of anything. Linseed would be the cheapest.

 

[Caol Ila]

Good suggestions. I had Gypsum on all of those things at various points. I think I've forgotten more than half the things I tried. It all became a blur because she would turn her nose up if she'd been on something too long, and eventually, nothing worked.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Suregrow balancer. You could keep her on it until she’s four anyway. Faran has been getting it since 6months.

I feed linseed, readigrass and a mixture of grassnuts/alfalfa nuts/beet pulp together and soak and he gets a full round scoop twice daily in winter. Kia as a poor doer did well on the above along with an added cup of equerry mash per feed. I also fed him suregrow as it provided him more nutrients as an oldie. ?

 

[Cortez]

Don’t forget that you’re not just feeding the mare, it’s also going into the foal via the milk so be careful what you’re feeding. It’s many years since I had to feed youngstock and I’m certain things have moved on since then, but keeping the calcium/phosphate balance right is key if you’re going to avoid growth imbalances like epyphsitus (sp?) and the like. I’d be amazed if there wasn’t a specific stud mix for lactating mares. Also, it is actually better for the mare to be a little light when you go to wean; it helps to dry up the milk.

 

[Caol Ila]

There are many. Too many. Every feed company makes one, so maybe it doesn't matter which one of those I choose. I just like having recommendations.

 

[benz]

Another recommendation for suregrow, if it was me I’d try it mixed with soaked grass nuts and possibly a glug of oil (I just use plain old sunflower oil although appreciate there may be better oils out there). I’d be careful with alfalfa, as Cortez says you will need to ensure calcium phosphorus ratio is balanced (eg add bran) but it’s a faff hence suggesting the grass nuts