Feeding the Lean Lactating Mare at Weaning

Sooner or later, every horse breeder encounters a lactating mare that pours every bit of energy to milk production, regardless of her diet, leaving her ribby at the time of weaning. The period just after weaning offers a great time to recalibrate body condition and prepare her for the upcoming challenge of another pregnancy and lactation.

“Broodmare owners will sometimes change a mare’s diet at the time of weaning to help slow milk production, but no studies support the notion that dietary restriction will hasten the end of milk production,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., an equine nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research (KER). When energy reduction is done gradually, however, such as slowly decreasing concentrates a week or two prior to weaning, no ill effects are usually noted among mares in moderate or above-moderate body condition. The foal should have continued access to concentrates, even if the mare’s supply is reduced, Crandell advised.

Weaning often coincides with periods of declining forage availability, so the calories afforded by concentrates after weaning might compensate for any shortfall from reduced forage intake. Additionally, depending upon the age of the foal when weaned and the breeding date of the mare, she might be inching closer to the end of mid-gestation, a period of escalating nutrient requirements.

The thin mare, though, is another story.

Milk production continues, in part, because of the stimulus provided by a nursing foal. When the foal is removed permanently from the mare, the stimulus is eliminated and milk production slackens. For this reason, mares should not be milked during weaning, as it only prolongs lactation. It is good practice to inspect the mare’s udder once or twice daily for several days after weaning. Palpation of the udder will reveal any unusual heat, which could be indicative of mastitis. Because the udder might be full, and therefore sore, use extreme caution when examining the udder. A veterinarian should be summoned immediately if there is any heat, inflammation, or pain emanating from the udder.

“While reducing feed intake might anecdotally help decelerate milk production, it is not wise to withhold calories from thin mares,” said Crandell. “For these mares, it might be best to continue offering the same quantity of forage and feed, making no change in her diet and continuing to feed a well-fortified concentrate at the upper limits of the manufacturer’s recommendations.”

Resist the urge to add more calories to a thin mare’s ration immediately after weaning. As milk production ceases, the caloric demands of lactation are eliminated, so energy will be diverted to weight gain, according to Crandell. Some breeders comment how quickly mares seem to bounce back after weaning, and this caloric rerouting is probably the cause of that.

Source: http://www.equinews.com