Nutrition of the Broodmare

The gestation period in the mare is approximately 342 days. The duration of the lactation period varies between 4 to 6 months depending on the date of weaning of the foal. Regarding the nutrition of a broodmare, there are 3 stages of the breeding cycle to consider:

Early gestation: from conception until about 7-8 months of gestation
End of gestation: last third, about 7.5 months until foaling
Lactation: until about 6 months post-foaling

The fetus does not develop at a constant rate during the 11 months of gestation. In fact, at 7 months of gestation, the fetus has reached only about 20% of its final weight at birth and weighs less than 2% of the weight of the broodmare. The nutritional requirements of the fetus are therefore minimal compared to the maintenance requirements of the broodmare. It is therefore recommended to feed the broodmare in the same way as a non-pregnant mare,meaning with quality hay (at least 1-1.5% of body weight per day) and a feed / vitamin supplement depending on her level of activity. An optimal body condition score (BCS) of 6/9 is recommended at the time of conception (1 = emaciated, 9 = obese).

After 7 months of gestation, the fetus begins to grow rapidly and the nutritional requirements of the broodmare are significantly higher. Energy requirements increase by only about 15% but it is the need for protein and minerals that increases tremendously due to the rapid growth of the fetus. During this period, it is therefore essential to supplement the mare with minerals. At birth, the foal should weigh about 9.7% of the mare's body weight.

The energy requirements of a lactating mare are among the highest in horses. During the first 3 months post-foaling, the mare's nutritional requirements increase significantly because the mare produces the equivalent of 1 to 4% of her body weight per day in milk. In fact, the nutritional requirements of the broodmare at the beginning of lactation are twice as high as those of maintenance. Mare's milk is rich in energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus and vitamins. Some mares can produce so much milk that they eventually lose body condition because they use their own muscle reserves of protein to produce their milk. Ideally, the broodmare should have a 6-7 BCS at the time of foaling so that she can remain in good condition during lactation.

The amount of feed given must be increased gradually during the last weeks before foaling. At the time of foaling, the mare will consume about the amount required for her milk production. A drastic increase in the amount of feed at the time of foaling is not recommended as this can lead to colic and / or laminitis. After about 3 months of lactation, milk production decreases and the amount of feed can be reduced. It is recommended to reduce the amount of feed just before weaning the foal to help dry the mare. Since the mare's milk contains only a few minerals, it is not so important to supplement it with minerals during lactation compared to the last third of pregnancy. In addition, high quality hay must be available at all times.

Following the weaning of the foal and once the mare is dried, special attention should be given to the body condition of the mare. Indeed, some mares can maintain a good BCS during lactation while others will lose a lot of weight. Mares that have significant loss of body condition following lactation will require a high calorie diet that includes high quality hay (clover, alfalfa) and a suitable feed rich in starch, fat and fiber.

At all times, it must be remembered that the nutritional needs of a horse also vary according to other important factors: age, size, breed, activity level, climatic conditions, chronic diseases, metabolism, parasitism, dentition, temperament (warm blood), etc.

Finally, clean water should be available at all times as well as a block of salt.