Madeleine Hull
Weaning is a stressful time for foals and mares. While nutritional changes are often made for foals to ensure their requirements are met, it is also important to consider the nutritional needs of the mare. The diet of a mare should be adjusted before and after weaning to account for the energy and nutrients lost during lactation. This is especially important for mares that have lost a lot of weight during nursing.
Should a mare's diet be changed before or after weaning?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet changes before weaning | To slow milk production, some horsemen stop feeding mares grain 5-7 days before weaning and keep them off until their udders have dried up. |
| Diet changes after weaning | After weaning, the mare's diet should include good-quality forage and a concentrate formulated specifically for broodmares. |
| Weight management | If a mare has lost weight during lactation, a high-calorie diet is recommended to help her regain weight. |
| Nutritional requirements | The nutritional needs of broodmares change as they go through the stages of reproduction. Proper nutrition is paramount during the weaning process. |
| Health concerns | Some mares may suffer from mastitis, or inflammation of the mammary glands, following weaning. Anxiety associated with separation from the foal may also cause mild colic. |
| Feeding the foal | The foal's diet after weaning should focus on steady, even growth. Sufficient dietary energy must be supplied, and grain is typically fed to meet energy, protein, and mineral requirements. |
| Management considerations | The period following weaning is an opportune time for routine maintenance and veterinary work. Exercise is also important to help the mare dry up properly and rapidly. |
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What You'll Learn
The impact of weaning on mares and foals
Weaning is a stressful time for both foals and mares. While mares are often ready to move on, foals can become very anxious as their primary source of comfort is suddenly taken away. This anxiety can manifest as whinnying, fence- or stall-walking, and general fretting. Foals may also vocalise, run around, and experience a reduced appetite, which can lead to slower daily weight gain during and after weaning. In addition, their heart rate and cortisol secretion will likely increase, reducing the body's inflammatory and immune responses.
Foals are typically weaned at four to six months of age, and this can be a challenging time for them as they may also be facing changes in their environment, diet, and management. Prior to weaning, foals should be accustomed to eating solid feed, and many are introduced to creep feeding by two months of age, when milk begins to decrease and may no longer fulfil their nutritional needs. The main focus when feeding foals is to ensure they do not grow too quickly, as this can increase the risk of developmental orthopaedic diseases (DOD). It is important to regularly monitor the growing horse's weight and body condition.
Mares, particularly those that have had previous foals, tend to adjust to weaning more calmly than their foals. However, nutritional changes in mares should not be overlooked. It is important to shift their nutritional requirements as they move through the stages of reproduction. For example, concentrate feed is often provided while lactating to give mares the energy and vitamin and mineral fortification they need to produce sufficient high-quality milk and to maintain adequate body condition. As weaning day approaches, owners should consider tapering off concentrates, and if the mare has lost weight during lactation, a high-calorie diet is recommended to help her regain an acceptable weight. Good-quality forage, such as legume or legume-grass mix, can help facilitate weight gain.
The period following weaning is also an opportune time to carry out routine maintenance work that may be difficult to do when mares are in late gestation or lactation, such as dental work, veterinary and farrier work, and grooming chores.
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Nutritional requirements of mares during weaning
Weaning is a stressful time for both foals and mares. While the foal is separated from its primary source of comfort, the mare is freed from the burden of milk production. The foal often enters a growth slump immediately following weaning, while the mare may blossom and begin to flesh out. Thus, nutritional requirements and management are crucial for both.
The nutritional needs of mares change as they go through the stages of reproduction. During lactation, mares require energy-rich diets to produce sufficient high-quality milk and maintain adequate body condition. They are typically fed a concentrate feed, which provides a concentrated source of calories. The simplest concentrate is plain cereal grain, such as oats or corn, but these are deficient in calcium and other nutrients. Commercially manufactured concentrates formulated specifically for broodmares are often recommended. Good-quality hay, such as alfalfa or alfalfa-grass hays, is also suitable and can reduce the amount of concentrate needed in the diet. Pasture is another excellent source of nutrients, and most mares will also require supplemental concentrate.
As weaning approaches, the concentrate feed should be tapered off to slow milk production and keep the mare comfortable. High-quality forage should be reduced to the amount typically consumed by non-lactating mares. Exercise is also important to help the mare dry up properly and rapidly. Once the mare is no longer producing milk, the focus shifts to weight management. If the mare has lost a lot of body condition during nursing, a high-calorie diet is recommended to help her regain weight. This can be achieved through high-quality forage, full-time access to good-quality pasture, or generous helpings of legume hay. Weight gain should be gradual, and all changes to the diet should be made slowly.
It is important to note that some mares may suffer from mastitis, or inflammation of the mammary glands, following weaning. This condition can cause tenderness and stiffness and requires immediate veterinary attention. Additionally, the change in feeding coupled with the anxiety of separation may lead to mild colic in sensitive mares, which should also be treated as a medical emergency.
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The role of concentrates in a mare's diet
Weaning is a stressful time for mares and foals. While mares are often ready to move on, foals can be fretful. Nutritional changes in mares should not be forgotten, and proper nutrition is paramount.
Mares require a balanced diet that includes energy, vitamins, and minerals to produce sufficient high-quality milk and maintain adequate body condition. This diet often includes concentrates, which are considered a good-quality hay supplement in the horse's diet. Concentrates are more frequently a part of a growing foal's diet, contributing up to 50% of the ration in the first 2-3 years of growth.
During pregnancy and lactation, a mare's protein requirements increase significantly, and they may require concentrates or balancer pellets to meet these demands. Legume hays, such as alfalfa and clover, are generally higher in protein than grass hay. Good-quality legume hay can provide up to 18-22% crude protein, while grass hay typically provides 10-16%.
After weaning, when milk production stops, the focus should turn to the weight management of the mare. If the mare has lost a lot of body condition during nursing, a high-calorie diet is recommended to help her regain weight. Concentrates can be gradually reintroduced into the diet, providing multiple energy sources such as starch, fat, and fiber.
In summary, concentrates play a vital role in a mare's diet, especially during pregnancy and lactation, by providing additional energy, protein, and minerals. The amount of concentrates can be adjusted based on the mare's weight, access to pasture, and individual protein requirements. After weaning, concentrates can help mares regain weight and improve body condition.
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Managing weight loss in mares post-weaning
Weaning is a stressful time for both foals and mares, and nutritional changes in mares should not be forgotten. While some mares may blossom and begin to flesh out once they are freed from the burden of milk production, others may suffer from weight loss.
If a mare has lost weight during lactation, a high-calorie diet is recommended to help her regain an acceptable weight. The best way to add calories to a diet is through the provision of high-quality forage, such as full-time access to good-quality pasture or generous helpings of legume hay such as alfalfa or a mixed hay. Concentrates can be introduced back into the diet gradually. Without the physiological drain of milk production, the mare should use the dietary energy to increase body condition. Feeds that are formulated with multiple energy sources such as starch, fat, and fiber might be useful.
If a mare is in adequate body condition following weaning, she can be turned out on good-quality pasture and managed similarly to barren or early pregnant mares. Good-quality pasture is an excellent source of nutrients for lactating mares, and most mares will also need supplemental concentrate. The use of good-quality hay reduces the amount of concentrate needed in the diet. Good-quality alfalfa or alfalfa-grass hays are suitable for lactating mares. Hay may be offered when pasture availability declines.
It is important to note that weight gain should not be rushed. Gradually increase feed intake over a period of about two weeks, and make all changes to the diets slowly. Once the mare has achieved the desired body condition, the ration can be re-evaluated and tweaked to maintain the preferred weight.
The period following weaning is also an opportune time to carry out some maintenance work that may be difficult when the mare is in late gestation or lactation. Routine dental maintenance, veterinary work, and farrier work are often best done when there is no foal present.
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Health concerns for mares post-weaning
While weaning is often a stressful time for foals and mares, it rarely negatively impacts the mare. In fact, some mares may even begin to gain weight once they are no longer burdened by milk production. However, careful attention should still be paid to the mare's health and nutrition post-weaning.
Weight Management
Lactation can deplete a mare's energy stores, leading to weight loss. While some mares maintain their weight without issue, others may require a high-calorie diet to regain an acceptable weight. High-quality forage, such as legume or legume-grass mixes, can help facilitate weight gain. It is important to gradually increase feed intake over a period of about two weeks to ensure a healthy weight gain rate.
Mastitis
Although uncommon, some mares may develop mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary glands, following weaning. This condition can cause tenderness in the udder, making the mare sensitive to palpation and possibly affecting her gait. It is important to consult a veterinarian immediately if mastitis is suspected, as untreated infections can lead to permanent damage to the udder.
Anxiety and Colic
Weaning can cause anxiety in mares, particularly young mares experiencing separation from their foals for the first time. This anxiety may manifest as whinnying, fence-walking, or general fretting. Additionally, changes in feeding coupled with the stress of separation may trigger mild colic in sensitive mares. Suspected cases of colic should be treated as medical emergencies, requiring immediate veterinary attention.
Routine Maintenance
The period following weaning is also an opportune time to address routine maintenance tasks that may be difficult to perform when the mare is in late gestation or lactation. These tasks include routine dental maintenance, veterinary and farrier work, and grooming chores such as pulling manes or clipping.
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Frequently asked questions
After weaning, a mare's diet should be focused on weight management. If the mare has lost weight during lactation, a high-calorie diet is recommended to help her regain weight. This can be achieved by providing the mare with high-quality forage, such as full-time access to good-quality pasture or generous helpings of legume hay, such as alfalfa. Concentrates can be gradually reintroduced to the mare's diet.
Yes, some changes should be made to a mare's diet before weaning. In the days leading up to weaning, it is recommended to stop feeding mares grain or significantly reduce their grain intake to slow down milk production. This will help the mare become more comfortable during the weaning process.
Weaning can be a stressful event for both foals and mares, and it can cause mild colic in the mare due to the change in feeding and separation from the foal. In rare cases, mares may also develop mastitis, or inflammation of the mammary glands, after weaning. This can cause the udder to become very tender, and in severe cases, it can lead to permanent damage if left untreated.
