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Practical Tips on Feeding the Mare & Foal

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Laying good Foundations

Correct nutrition from conception onwards helps ensure the production of a strong healthy foal, indeed, not feeding the mare correctly, throughout pregnancy and lactation, can impact on how well your foal grows and develops
 
Ensure the mare is receiving a suitable stud feed for her bodytype.

  • ‘Good-doer’ = Stud Balancer which is low in calories but nutrient-dense
  • ‘Poorer-doer’= higher calorie Stud Cubes or Mix
  • Whatever feed you choose, it’s very important to feed it at the manufacturer’s recommended levels to ensure the mare is receiving all the nutrients she and her growing foal need

Consider the type and quality of the forage your mare has access to.

  • Good quality grass that is high in calories may mean she only requires low calorie Stud Balancer to support her requirements (remember even the best grass will not provide your mares with all the vitamins, minerals and protein she needs)
  • Poorer grass or relying on hay or haylage, then higher calorie Stud Cubes / Mix may be necessary

During the last trimester, the foal is growing rapidly and mares may require a higher calorie diet at this stage to help maintain condition. Move from low calorie balancer to Stud Cubes/Mix at this stage.

  • Divide into small meals due to limited internal space and to maximise digestibility

Lactation
Milk production requires more energy than hard work so the mare’s feed needs to be gradually increased accordingly, in the early stages of lactation. The volume of milk she produces will peak around 5 weeks in to lactation and, if insufficient nutrients and/or calories are provided by her diet, she will “milk off her back”, losing weight and top line.
 
Feeding the Foal
It is often not necessary to feed a very young foal (3 months and under) as it ultimately relies on mum’s milk.
 
When do I need to supplement the foal’s diet?

  • If the mare’s diet has been lacking the foal may be small, weak and not thriving as well as would be expected
  • If the foal is hungry and/or not thriving, it is likely that the mare’s milk s of poor quality or in short supply
  • If the foal is getting top heavy or growing very rapidly

What do I supplement with?
Under 3 months

  • Calories required for a weak foal or inadequate milk supply = milk-based Foal Creep Pellets
  • Too heavy/growing rapidly = vitamin and mineral supplementation with Foal Assist paste to support growth whilst minimising calorie/energy intake

Over 3 months
The foal is old enough to digest compound feeds so it’s important feed its own stud ration to counteract shortfalls in the mare’s milk and to encourage the digestive system to adapt for weaning.

What do I need to consider when prepping for the Futurity?
Give yourself plenty of time – ideally a minimum of 8 weeks to make any changes
 
Foals under 3 months of age will predominantly be receiving mother’s milk and forage and it may be necessary to prevent them from eating the mare’s feed to avoid them getting “top heavy”
 
Foals aged 4 months or older, should already be on their own stud ration, if not then introduce one

Ensure the feed is not only designed to meet calorie/energy demands to support bodyweight and growth but to provide essential nutrients for correct development

  • An unbalanced diet may not only affect your foal’s development but also its condition and muscle tone and, ultimately, its performance on the day

Feed as many small feeds as you can over the day so you are not overloading your foal’s digestive system.
 
Consider the quality of your foal’s forage.

  • Good quality grass is likely to be high in calories so consider lower calorie Stud Balancer to ensure vitamins and minerals are provided and counteract any shortfalls within the pasture
  • For foals holding too much weight or growing too rapidly, you may need to consider reducing grass or milk intake, if the foal is not weaned, and substituting grass with a lower calorie hay/haylage
  • Late-cut fibrous hay is less digestible and likely to sit undigested in the gut, increasing the risk of ‘hay belly’ – opt for soft early-cut forages to reduce this but also provide more valuable nutrients
  • If you cannot source a better quality forage, then alfalfa chaff, like Alfalfa Blend or Alfalfa Plus Oil  can be fed alongside the concentrate feed to help raise the overall protein and fibre content of the diet

You may wish to top dress the diet with additional oil, or Outshine high oil supplement, to help fill out any weaker foals or simply to help provide a shiny coat.
 
Supplementing with a digestive enhancer, like Digest Plus prebiotic, when changing feed, routine or when travelling, may be beneficial to help prevent digestive upset, like loose droppings or loss of condition.
 
Monitoring growth regularly is ideal, either with a weighbridge (if you are lucky to have access to one) or weightape.
 
Plotting weight on a Growth Monitoring Chart also helps you to log weight and growth rate and, when used with careful inspections of your foal, can act as an early warning system before problems arise.
 
Remember, correct feeding helps significantly in achieving a correct and well-developed foal and, alongside a well-managed exercise regime and careful preparation, will help make your foal’s first forays into the ring as successful as possible.
 
 

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