Water testers to predict foaling

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springfallstud

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I read somewhere last year about these for testing mares milk i think it was to predict foaling, can't rememeber any more details than this so can anyone fill in the gaps...name of product, IF it works and how please
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Have just ordered some from the USA and am talking to a company in the UK too see if they are the same range, will let everyone know when I do. They are Water Hardness testing strips they are on ebay but you need someone in the states to send them on as none of the bu**ers will ship direct to the UK. Here is the item ref there are instructions at the bottom of the item.
Sorry had to change this something funny going on in ebay Go to ebay uk and look up item 360017477401
 
Thanks for that, if i remember rightly ones disscussed last year where for fish and purchased in the UK but the ones on your link look good, how did you get yours ordered if they wont ship to the UK?
 
Had to ask someone in the USA to post it on and will send the extra postage over in dollars, it's such a good exchange rate at the mo and they are lightweight!!!! But the post over there is slow.

I did try a kit a few years ago that cost about £50 but it was so fiddly and I got it wrong! You had to use glass vials and it was quite complex but this seems much better and it's looks idiot proof even for me!

Have sent a UK supplier of similar strips and told them there would be a big market here if it works, so I will see how they respond and let everyone know how it goes! We might avoid some sleepless nights!!

Actually I might approach Webbs tomorrow, link on the Foaling Supplys post and ask if they can import or source them? Worth a try.
 
All you need are swimming pool testers - cheap as chips and I had them for my swimming pool anyway. Some distilled water and a sterilised photo film case. I don't remember the ratios now but could look it up.
 
I just use the strips - but that machine is cheap enough. Do you have to put the strips into the prong at the end? Or is it built in? I like that if it is all build in.
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I have to go out shortly but I have the ratios written down in my documents somewhere - will search for them when I get back.
 
Ah the instructions were easy to find, here you go -



Testing Procedure:
A. The procedure is quite simple. Obtain a small amount of milk from the mare by stripping it from one of her nipples. Usually you can be successful by gently squeezing slightly above the nipple then drawing your fingers down toward the tip of the nipple. You should collect at least 2 ml because that is what is needed for the test. Usually you can get a couple of mls easily.

B. Measure accurately 12cc of distilled water using one of the syringes and put this into the test tube.

C. Accurately measure 2cc of the mare's milk using the other syringe and deposit it into the test tube.

C. Shake the test tube vigorously to mix the milk and distilled water.

D. Take a test strip and completely immerse the colored patches in the test tube for 2 seconds.

E. Remove the strip.

F. Read the color changes after waiting 15 seconds.



Hardness:

Less than 100ppm you can go a couple of days before checking again

Over 100 but below 200ppm check every evening

Over 200ppm 90% of mares will foal within 24-48 hours

Over 500ppm, camp with your mare, it’s baby time



PH Levels:

Ph will be well over 7 until you have colostrum, and then it will drop significantly to 7 or below.
 
Well I had all the stuff and was ready to use them.....however had 2 hiccups. The first mare did not milk until after giving birth, so couldn't use it on her. The second mare was weeks earlier than expected so hadn't even thought about milking her LOL!! Needless to say, I used them for my swimming pool instead.
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I am doing a project this year testing several different methods on the 10+ mares I will have access to. Should be interesting to see the results--I was interested to read the suggestions with the water hardness strips, and will definitely include those now! Hooray for cheap and cheerful! Hopefully I can get my family in the USA to cooperate and receive/ship some of the things that are only available there.
 
Just had news the strips are on their way to the UK and she is starting to bag up so I can let everyone know how it goes soon. Will also trial them on the two maidens as well but they aren't due till April and May.

Had a look in pets at home today at the fish kits I am no scientist but they don't seem to be testing for total hardness they were GH general Hardness and carbornate hardness KH and the range is not the same i.e. 0-500 that these tests are talking about, but they do test for PH, which I think is not as easy to predict in mares from what I have read.

Got my distilled water ready, in the local cheapy shop 3l for £1.50 that should last me a while!!!
 
Will compare them and the range when they arrive from USA with the swimming pool stuff, but with the dollar as it is it was very cheap and I wanted to start evaluating them with the ones marketed for horses to see if they really do help.

I am going to keep records and will post the results when foalie arrives.
 
I used the milk tester kit on my maiden mare 2 years ago and she foaled the night it went to 200, as the test claims. I did purchase it in the uk, but havent seen them here recently. I certainly found it worked, though I appreciate that is one mare.
 
Have located the old kit I used a couple of years ago unsucessfully (idiot operator at fault I think) it was fiddly and was called Foalwatch, purchased from an ad in H&H. But you had to do a lot of mixing with a reagent, distilled water and milk, then break a glass vial and suck up the mixture and measure from there. I didn't get the hang of it!
 
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