Full udder after weaning? And some feeding advice if poss?

[arwenplusone]

My mare is coping really well with the weaning process (despite foalie shouting her head off

) but she has always had large teats and carries a pretty full bag.

Tonight it felt v hard so I milked some off her gently - just a couple of squirts - she actually moved after that so I assume that the pressure was relieved.

My concern is, how much should I milk off, if any? I don't want to do too much as I want the milk to dry up but I obviously don't want her to get mastitis.

Also she is in foal at present and hasn't got as much condition as I would like (hence weaning now) so I don't want to stop feeding her altogether so how do I get the weight on her whilst also encouraging the milk to dry up?

Advice appreciated! Thanks.

 

[Bananaman]

I was always taught not to milk off the mare as any unec handling of the udder increases the risk of infection. I appretiate that she may be uncomfortable whilst the bag is so full but as milk is produced on a supply and demand basis, it will soon decrease and also the more you milk off, the more will be produced.
Is she turned out as for long as possible?

Again, I was always taught to reduce or even cut out the hard feed altogether to help the milk dry up but that was when the mares could be out 24/7 earlier in the year.
I appreciate that you want to be able to feed her up asap but as she is no longer having to produce the milk for her foal she will be able to utilise all the feed you give her for herself.
Personally I would wait until the bag is significantly reduced before you increase any hard feed but she shouldn't come to any harm with ad lib hay.

 

[Daisychain]

It will go, her body still thinks she is feeding at the moment, dont do anything.

 

[volatis]

I've found the best way to get mares to dry up is plenty of exercise. I wouldnt increase hard feed but you dont need to completely cut it out either.

 

[arwenplusone]

Bananaman - She's out all day as much as poss. I know what you are saying - as highlighted in my post I am aware that milking off is a risk to her producing more milk but if her udder is swollen and sore (to the point that she walks uncomfortably) I see no problem with taking a couple of squirts off to relieve her a bit?

Volatis - she's not currently in work but I could free school/lunge her a little. I am not actually looking to increase hard feed at all - I am just concerned that if I reduce/cut it out then she will start to drop weight so thanks - that helps!

 

[Maesfen]

If you can turn her out 24/7 so much the better; the moving about will help disperse the milk; the longer she has to stand in you are inviting the bag to fill to make her uncomfortable along with the added risk of mastitis.
Poor or not, she needs to dry off properly first before you can start feeding her up again and to this end I would have her out full time (rugged if necessary) and only on hay for the next 3 weeks (but as much as she wants to eat, don't stint her that). After that she should have dried up sufficiently that you can slowly increase her feed.
How far is she from foaling, sorry, I can't remember? Did you manage to move either her or the foal away for the weaning process as it would be a better help and a lot safer if they were completely out of earshot; you'd be amazed what they will try to go through to get back together again.

 

[arwenplusone]

Thanks Pat - that sounds like good advice - I did wonder whether I should turn her out 24/7 - trouble is she will fret awfully at this and doubtless more weight will fall off her? At the moment she's out at 6am and in at 7pm.

Perhaps I should just remove the hard feed and keep her on hay until she dries up? I am assuming (or hoping!) that the only reason she is poor is because of the foal drinking (hence the weaning now) so she may keep weight on now if not lactating.
She is due in May so no real need to feed anything extra for the unborn one.

We haven't moved them away completely as we are unable to at the moment. Foals are still indoors (and will be tomorrow too) and mares turned out in the furthest paddock. (a fair way away). To be honest she is not calling or even fretting (as I would have thought she would, knowing her). The other broodmare mare she is in with is doing the shouting - and the wrong foal (mine) is replying!

 

[meandmyself]

How about giving her one of the oily chaffs? Not hard feed as such but a few more calories for her to use.

 

[Maesfen]

Can the other mare not stop out with her so that she doesn't fret as much or is she a mardy pants that likes to be in? If you can't do 24/7 turnout, perhaps just cut her back to hay? If you feel she needs some vitamins, just a handful of chaff to hide them?
Isn't that just typical that the opposite one causes the upset eh?!

My old mare, Floss would lose weight the last couple of months of nursing and I found for her, the best thing to add once she was back to a normal feed was Barley Rings and she loved them which helped; she also appreciated the extra single attention she got once she was weaned.

Good luck, it'll soon be a distant dream!

 

[arwenplusone]

lol - yes, she's a mardy pants!

She's on Alfa Oil atm so will maybe just give her a few handfuls of that and adlib hay. I know from previous experience in getting show condition that she LOVES barley rings so once her bag has gone she'll love me for introducing those.

Thanks so much for your help.