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Tips for Feeding Pregnant Mares

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Body Condition Score

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There are two objectives with feeding a pregnant mare. First, feed adequate forage and a balanced formula. Hay should be long-stem and at the beginning, a minimum of 1.5% of body weight (BW). Second, maintain an ideal body condition score (BCS). At the beginning of pregnancy, a BCS 5.5 and by foaling a BCS 6. From pregnancy months 6 and onward, the calorie/nutrient intake is above dietary requirements to increase body fat and prepare the mare for the energy demands of early lactation.

The greatest fetal growth occurs during the final 60 – 70 days of pregnancy. The majority of growth for placental and supporting tissues occurs during the middle phase of pregnancy (2nd trimester).

 

EXAMPLE:

  • 1,100 lb. Mare
  • Maintenance fed – consuming 16.5 lbs. grass hay + 2 lbs. Integrity Adult/Senior per day
  • Estimated daily calories – 16.4 Mcal DE/d to maintain a Body Condition Score of 5.5
  • Note: the forage calorie density may vary from this example relative to forage type and maturity

Stage of Pregnancy

Feeding Guidelines

Months 1 to 5

 Feed current diet of Integrity Adult/Senior and monitor Body Condition Score (BCS).

Months 6 to 7

Increase Integrity Adult/Senior to 2.75 lbs. and hay to 17.0 lbs. per day.

  • Mare’s energy requirements have increased approximately 5% above her maintenance feeding level. Feeding a balanced formula provides protein, fat and all the other macro and trace nutrients to complement the forage portion of the diet.
  • Forage is critical to gut health; increase forage fed as pregnancy advances.

Month 8

Transition to Integrity Mare & Foal and increase to 3.25 lbs. and hay to 18.0 lbs. per day.

  • Mare’s energy requirements have increased 11% above maintenance. The gradual increase in Integrity Mare & Foal translates to more energy, protein, minerals, vitamins, etc. to complement the forage portion of the diet.
  • Month 8 energy requirements are approximately 5% more than months 6 & 7.

Months 9 to 10

Increase Integrity Mare & Foal GRADUALLY to 4.25 lbs. and hay to 19.0 lbs. per day.

  • For months 9 & 10, the energy demands are 15-21% above maintenance, an average increase for these 2 months of 18%.
  • For this mare, the calorie count for these two months is actually higher than what is needed for a BCS 6. The additional calories are preparing for the significantly higher energy demands of early lactation.

Month 11

Increase Integrity Mare & Foal GRADUALLY to 5.5 lbs. and hay to 20 – 22 lbs. per day.

  • BCS should be 6.0.
  • For month 11, the energy demands are 28% above maintenance.

Birth

Foal has arrived, lactation begins and energetically lactation is the most demanding period.

  • Early lactation energy demand is 90% higher than maintenance feeding, and 48% greater than month 11 of pregnancy.

   REMINDER: Monitor BCS throughout pregnancy and adjust feed levels accordingly. Some horses may require less than example and some more.

Stage of Pregnancy

Months 1 to 5

Feeding Guidelines

Feed current diet of Integrity Adult/Senior and monitor Body Condition Score (BCS).

Stage of Pregnancy

Months 6 to 7

Feeding Guidelines

Increase Integrity Adult/Senior to 2.75 lbs. and hay to 17.0 lbs. per day.

  • Mare’s energy requirements have increased approximately 5% above her maintenance feeding level. Feeding a balanced formula provides protein, fat and all the other macro and trace nutrients to complement the forage portion of the diet.
  • Forage is critical to gut health; increase forage fed as pregnancy advances.

Stage of Pregnancy

Month 8

Feeding Guidelines

Transition to Integrity Mare & Foal and increase to 3.25 lbs. and hay to 18.0 lbs. per day.

  • Mare’s energy requirements have increased 11% above maintenance. The gradual increase in Integrity Mare & Foal translates to more energy, protein, minerals, vitamins, etc. to complement the forage portion of the diet.
  • Month 8 energy requirements are approximately 5% more than months 6 & 7.

Stage of Pregnancy

Months 9 to 10

Feeding Guidelines

Increase Integrity Mare & Foal GRADUALLY to 4.25 lbs. and hay to 19.0 lbs. per day.

  • For months 9 & 10, the energy demands are 15-21% above maintenance, an average increase for these 2 months of 18%.
  • For this mare, the calorie count for these two months is actually higher than what is needed for a BCS 6. The additional calories are preparing for the significantly higher energy demands of early lactation.

Stage of Pregnancy

Months 11

Feeding Guidelines

Increase Integrity Mare & Foal GRADUALLY to 5.5 lbs. and hay to 20 – 22 lbs. per day.

  • BCS should be 6.0.
  • For month 11, the energy demands are 28% above maintenance.

Stage of Pregnancy

Birth

Feeding Guidelines

Foal has arrived, lactation begins and energetically lactation is the most demanding period.

  • Early lactation energy demand is 90% higher than maintenance feeding, and 48% greater than month 11 of pregnancy.

   REMINDER: Monitor BCS throughout pregnancy and adjust feed levels accordingly. Some horses may require less than example and some more.