Softcheck foal prediction test strips

KarynK

KarynK

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Right I promised an evaluation of the Water Hardness/ mare testing strips I purchased from the USA recently.

Prior History The mare is a TB and has had 2 prior foals one conceived around 23 July 02, natural cover born 18th June 03 (330 days). The other AI 5/5/04 born 5/4/05 (335 days). All to foundation Appaloosa stallions of around 15hh. 1st foal = showed obvious signs waxing pacing etc. 2nd showed little warning signs. She foals outside with the choice of a field shelter or a sheltered small paddock.

This foal was conceived on 18th April 07, natural cover following scanning.

Obvious serious udder development had begun 22nd February 2008.

The test strips arrived Saturday 15th March (330 days). First test registered green at 0ppm tested every other day until 18th March when the status rose to 50 ppm then once daily. At this point the sample 1ml, took some time to be drawn from the teats and initially I only got ½ mil and halved the distilled water requirement accordingly.

On Thursday 20th the test result rose to 125ppm, testing 2x daily commenced. The weather turned quite nasty at this time and AM and PM tests remained constant at this level until PM Sunday 23rd when the level rose to 250ppm along with this the sample drawn off became much easier to draw and changed consistency from light straw coloured opaque liquid to obvious colostrum, cloudy and yellowish.

That night was very cold with a hard ground frost and temperatures of around -3. On the AM test the following morning (Monday 24th) the levels returned to 125 ppm but the consistency of the sample remained obvious colostrum.

On the evening of 24th the test result had again risen to 250ppm with the milk being draw very easily. The foal arrived at 03:30 am, she having shown no signs, apart from walking along the paddock fence a bit between feeding her face this lead up to the point at which she began foaling and she chose the field shelter. (342 days). Weather today = perfect.

So huge success would recommend, much better than waiting up for this one for weeks, just in case! Only 1ml of milk required per test, no real fuss and easy to use, just a couple of syringes a test tube or similar and distilled water – the test takes 16 secs from dip to reading!

The result is pictured below!

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KarynK, firstly congratulations on the birth of your lovely foal. Very interesting markings indeed, and the fact it is born nice and healthy etc is brill.
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Your post makes interesting reading, so thanks for sharing with us. Is the 250ppm at the point when a mare is supposed to foal? Just wandering at what level you know the foal is ready to come?
 
Congrats on your new baby!!! Gorgeous. Did you have any luck finding a UK supplier or are you ready to share your US one as all the ones i have found wont ship to the UK!
 
Sorry bit tardy replying been spending time with the little fluffy time wasting device before it grows up too much!!!

Thank you yes I am very pleased with her, that’s the thing with appaloosas you never quite know exactly what you are going to get, I only had a 25% of chestnut on this mating and I expected a white blanket! Interestingly neither parent has any sign of sabino markings, and it is theorised to be a dominant gene, yet this filly has a sabino like white sock, so there you go! She’s getting stronger and is reluctant to have her little rug on! Mum puts her to bed in the shelter every night and they had their first gallop round the big paddock today, so she is worn out.

Re test strips, I tried several companies in the UK but rather rudely not even a response! I do find it very ironic that all the bits I read on this refer to BRITISH research using these in 1984, yet they are only available in the US! Mine came via a helpful acquaintance in the US they were $9.95 for 50 plus $3.50 US postage the number on Ebay is 360017477401. I emailed the supplier and told them loads of people would be interested but they still did not want to play by posting o/s USA!! I tried!

This company has them in stock and will ship worldwide, price of strips are $24 plus shipping though. It’s the only one I have seen so far. http://www.kee-port.com/milkstrips.htm


The instructions I actually used came from http://www.horse-repro.com/Prefoaling/prefoaling.html who are clearly also trying to sell the more complex test that I could not follow last time I tried it, completely misread it and it was so fiddly and awkward.

I used the following instructions: Begin testing 10-14 days before expected foaling date 335-340 days from last date of breeding or when udder enlargement begins and milk can be obtained w/o undue effort.

Test 1x per day until above 100 ppm in late afternoon/evening then add a morning test.

The test is a single pad on a plastic strip, the comparison chart on the bottle has 6 levels starting at 0 then 25, 50, 120, 250 and 425, but mine didn’t get to 425, at one point in the 120 level days I thought she might foal but the test proved right and a very cold me was wrong!

They give a percentage likelihood of foaling within 12 hrs as follows at level 50 there is a 10% chance 120 = 40%, 250 = 80%, and 425 = 90%.

You just mix 1ml of milk per test with 6ml distilled water, shake, dip the test strip for 1 sec, shake, hold level and compare after 15 sec, so very little milk is drawn off, but also what it did do is show me when the consistency changed to obvious colostrum which I would not have seen otherwise. But other instruction I have read say dip straight into the milk!

As my mare foals out/ field shelter it is a bit difficult to say that this would be representative, it was certainly fascinating to see how her levels fluctuated and how she picked exactly the right day to foal, contrary to the weather forecast!!! They say on one site that in tests 85% of mares foaled within 36 hours of reaching the 120 level, but mine wasn’t one of them!

Normally I would be camping and looking at her regularly for a couple of weeks, even when she foaled there was little outward signs as she considers herself as a bit of a pro and does not need watching! So it did save me a lot of sleepless nights. But each mare will be different.

Am going to test it again on a maiden across the road who will foal inside so I’ll give another report on that one in April.

Another very useful tip I found on a US breeding forum is to use an antifreeze test to test colostrum. The one with 3 coloured balls in a dropper like pipette (Halfords £1.95). If all three balls float it gives an indication as to the consistency and hints at the quality of the colostrum, for those that don’t have a colostrometer, and yes it worked!!
 
I've used these as well but got them from a UK company so tons cheaper on postage and faster too.
They have a website called "minihorsesales"
Best £20 i ever spent, especially with spring taking so long to appear this year. I managed to just spend the one night at the farm during which she foaled. Perfect for the state of my health, wallet and marriage! :)
 
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