shortest gestation period

[levantosh]

Hi every1, wat is the shortest gestation period in mares? working on the basis that 340 days is the average and mares can foal upto six weeks early, has any1 experienced mares foaling a live foal earlier than the six week period?
Thanks

 

[KarynK]

I think that's it is around 307 days that you would get a viable foal, anything before that would be premature and very unlikley to survive before 320 it is considered dysmature, but there have been plenty of healthy foals at around 318 days, I am just watchng one at 323 who is showing all the signs of foaling very soon, her calcium levels have hit 250 on the test strip and she is off the scale on her colostrum and the milk changed colour today so here I am in my foaling paddock on my laptop!

The other end of the scale they can go over 400 days!

 

[levantosh]

KarynK, thank you very much for your reply, my mare is not even 300 days yet but she has now got a good bag on her and has let herslf right down ( she has slowed a bit over the last couple of days) so was just wondering wat experiences people have had, I hope everything goes ok with your mare, please keep me informed, best wishes.

PS I see you have appaloosas, I have an appaloosa stallion who is a few spot at stud.

 

[MrsMagoo]

Ooh my mares exactly the same, not officially due until 24th July but is beginning to show all the signs of birth within the next few weeks... Just hoping she can hold out until end of June at least LOL..

 

[levantosh]

MrsMagoo, my mare aint due officially untill 18th july, but she is just massive but she literally ballooned over night and her bag just seemed to start filling, I worked out that she can safely foal any time from the 16th of june so it's not too far away, but even still its 3 weeks away!!!!!! (she must be baking a big one)

 

[MrsMagoo]

Snap looks like were be in a race.. Good luck

 

[KarynK]

This one is a maiden but is obviously waiting out the thunderstorms, it was lovely last night so I slept a bit under the stars and nothing, lovely day when I got woken up by the 4 week old colt thundering around his paddock at 1/4 to 4 in the morning! When I drove over the hill though I saw why she held off, her levels have gone down today so I think as soon as the weather gets better she will be away.

She looked huge from the begining of April when she started to show an udder and has had a hard bag of milk for 2 and a half weeks! But my test strips said no and they were right. An old wise breeder told me that late season conceptions are often nearer to 320 days as they have access to better grazing and warmer weather so they cook faster!

This foal is by an extended snowcap and will be out of a near leopard who's father was a fewspot with a solid mother so we will see what we get! I have her 3 parts sister who was a loud spotted blanket.

 

[Sambertino]

We had a healthy foal at 310 days - Samaii

But early bagging up can be a sign of placentitis so it might be worth gettting her checked by your vet?

 

[Partoow]

Oh god i'm worried now!!
Heve a mare with me to look after for a few months.... since November!!! think as she was bought at auction she is due in July... but am not 100% sure owner has become uncontactable for the last 2 months so i am stuck with a lovely mare in foal to a super stallion but not very experienced at foaling as i usually deal with the stallions.
All advice greatfully recieved.
Belly has dropped a bit has a small bag . She is a big mare so does not look huge but then she has a lot of room in there!!
This is her second foal.
Thinking of moving her to a bigger box... just incase
Do you think , even if her owner does turn up its a bit too late to move her now.
She is quite a stressy mare.
Help!!

 

[Tnavas]

They often bag up well before the day - then it goes down again and then up again.

Better to move her now so that she builds up antibodies against any bugs in the bigger stable. Vet advised me that I should move my mare to the foaling paddock at least two weeks prior to foaling so you should be OK.