Why does my mare still have milk??!!!

[HarwoodFarm]

OBO of my friend:-
Need advice!
My foal was weaned on the 23rd march she was 8 months old. The mare seems to be still producing milk? Does anyone know why this could be? Im worried if I return the filly back in with her mother then she will start to suckle again and the mare is back in work.
Many Thanks

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Can be many reasons. can she see the foal or other foals???

Personally I would run this by your vet.

 

[HarwoodFarm]

No She cannot see any other foals, and her foal is staying with me so is no where near mum. :-(

 

[Alexart]

It does take 6-8 weeks for them to dry up, some do take longer and as it is now spring even the poorest grazing will have a high water content as well as being fairly rich so it may take longer. As long as her udder is not hot and hard and is going down then I wouldn't panic, we've had mares produce milk even when having a year off! Also make sure she isn't on any hard feed at all and maybe restrict her grazing a bit or put her on the worst you have for a couple of weeks, definitely don't put the foal back in with her yet - we usually wait at least 3 months before doing that or you could end up going back to square one!!

 

[Thistle]

Clover in grazing can affect mares hormones too and encourage milk production. Is she being grazed on poor pasture? This will help dry her up.