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Feeding the Broodmare

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Feeding the Broodmare Reviewed August 2009 Agdex 460/50-6 Feeding the Broodmare Mares are expected to grow a healthy foal inside see the Alberta Agriculture factsheet Body Condition Scoring them for 11 months and produce enough milk for that Your Horse (Agdex 460/20-1). foal for up to 6 months. Furthermore, many mares are expected to raise healthy foals year after year, requiring successful rebreeding while the previous year’s foal is still by her side. Feeds for broodmares No matter what stage of reproduction the mare is in, the Because nutrition influences each stage of the broodmare’s major nutrients of concern are energy, protein, calcium production cycle, nutritional management may, in many and phosphorus. The trace minerals, iodine, copper, zinc ways, determine the success of the breeding program. and manganese, are also important for the pregnant and lactating mare, as are the vitamins A, D and E. Quality forages should be the basis of feeding Ideal body condition for programs for all horses. Feeding high quality hays will broodmares provide most of the nutrients needed by broodmares. Good quality pasture may be able Several studies have found that the to replace some or all of the hay fed. mare’s body condition will influence For maximum However, during winter or where her reproductive performance. Mares pasture availability is limited, mares that are moderately fleshy or fat can be reproductive efficiency, will need to be supplemented with hay. expected to: the mare should be Grain supplementation can be • cycle earlier in the year moderately fleshy or incorporated into the feeding program • have fewer cycles per conception when energy needs increase (during • have a higher pregnancy rate heavier before late gestation and lactation) or if hay • maintain pregnancy more easily quality is questionable. than thin mares breeding and should be fed to maintain Additional calcium, phosphorus, trace Mares in fleshy condition will have a mineral and vitamin needs can be slight crease down the back and will this condition met by providing a suitable mineral/ have fat covering the outlines of the vitamin supplement (such as a livestock ribs. Noticeable amounts of fat can also mineral with a 1:1 ratio of calcium be seen along the sides of the neck and withers, and the fat and phosphorus containing 18 per cent calcium and 18 deposited around the tail head feels soft. per cent phosphorus). In addition, trace mineralized salt should be provided “free choice” at all times. Mares with poor body condition have little to no fat cover along the sides of the neck or withers, behind the shoulder Most commercial grain mixes are fortified with minerals or around the tail head. Also, the backbone and a faint and vitamins (if in doubt, check the label or ask the feed outline of the ribs can be seen. store representative). If you are feeding a mineral-fortified commercial grain mix at levels recommended on the Correct nutritional management will ensure that mares package (usually at least 4 to 5 pounds (2 kg) per horse enter the breeding season in optimal body condition. For per day), you may only need a trace-mineralized salt. more information on body condition scoring your mares, If you are feeding less than the recommended level, or plain oats, you will need additional mineral supplementation. Table 1 shows the average nutrient composition of common horse feeds grown in Alberta. Ideally, you should Feeding mares in early to mid- have your feeds analyzed by a laboratory to obtain more accurate nutrient values for balancing your rations. gestation Early to mid-gestation includes the early part of gestation (after breeding in an open mare or after weaning in a From breeding to weaning, a mare goes through lactating mare) up to the end of the eighth month of three periods of differing nutritional needs: pregnancy. 1. Early to mid-gestation (months 1 to 8) During this stage, the nutrient demands of the developing 2. Late gestation (months 9 to 11) fetus are minimal. Growth of the foal ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 pounds (90 to 220 g) per day (Figure 1). Therefore, 3. Lactation the mare’s nutrient requirements in early to mid-gestation are similar to a mature, idle horse at maintenance (Table 2). Table 1. Average nutrient composition of feeds grown in Alberta* Digestible Energy Mcal/lb (Mcal/kg) Protein % Fibre (ADF) % Calcium % Phosphorus % Alfalfa hay 1.11 (2.45) 18.1 31.9 1.76 0.22 Mix alfalfa/grass hay 1.09 (2.39) 14.8 30.7 1.58 0.18 Brome grass hay 0.92 (2.03) 9.6 36.0 0.52 0.16 Timothy hay 0.88 (1.93) 8.3 38.0 0.48 0.14 Native grass hay 0.87 (1.92) 8.2 38.3 0.46 0.13 Green feed 0.93 (2.06) 9.4 34.8 0.37 0.21 Oats 1.60 (3.53) 11.5 14.0 0.09 0.35 Barley 1.69 (3.73) 12.3 7.0 0.07 0.38 Wheat 1.77 (3.90) 15.8 3.9 0.06 0.39 * Values are presented on a 100% dry matter basis. Table 2. Minimum nutrient concentrations needed in diets of mares* Digestible Energy Mcal/lb Crude Vitamin A (Mcal/kg) Protein % Calcium % Phosphorus % IU/lb Idle horse at maintenance 0.90 (2.00) 8.0 0.30 0.20 850 Early to mid-gestation 0.90 (2.00) 8.0 0.30 0.20 850 Late gestation 1.10 (2.40) 11.0 0.45 0.35 1,700 Early lactation (month 1, 2 & 3) 1.20 (2.60) 13.5 0.55 0.35 1,700 Late lactation (month 4, 5 & 6) 1.15 (2.45) 11.0 0.40 0.25 1,400 * Values are presented on a 100% dry matter basis; table values are concentrations needed in the total diet. 2 To help meet vitamin and mineral needs, a 1:1 livestock mineral (or other suitable mineral supplement) and a trace-mineralized salt should be available “free choice.” Feeding mares in late gestation Late gestation includes the ninth, tenth and eleventh months of pregnancy. At this time, the developing foal is growing at an accelerated rate (0.75 to 1.0 pounds (350 to 450 g) per day – Figure 1). In fact, during the last 90 days of gestation, the foal will gain 60 per cent of its weight at birth. Figure 1. Growth rate of the equine fetus To support this growth, the mare’s energy and protein requirements increase (Table 2). In addition, fetal uptake Feeding a high quality grass hay or alfalfa/grass mix of minerals is greatest during the last three months of hay may be sufficient to meet the energy and protein gestation, so the mare’s calcium and phosphorus needs requirements of a mare in early gestation (Table 3). On increase substantially (Table 2). average, mares will require from 1.5 to 2 per cent of their body weight in high quality hay (1.5 to 2.0 pounds per The elevated energy and protein requirements of a mare 100 pounds of body weight or 1.5 to 2 kg/100 kg body in late gestation can be met by increasing the amount of weight). alfalfa/grass mix hay fed (Table 4). While the energy and protein requirements may be met with a high quality forage diet, it is important that adequate intakes of Table 3. Examples of feeding programs for 1,100 lb minerals are also provided with an appropriate mineral (500 kg) broodmares in early to mid-gestation supplement and “free choice” access to a trace mineralized salt (Table 4). Feed Ration 1 Ration 2 Ration 3 Alfalfa/grass hay 20 lbs 16 lbs – (9 kg) (7.25 kg) Table 4. Examples of feeding programs for 1,100 lb Grass hay – – 22 lbs (500 kg) broodmares in late gestation (10 kg) Feed Ration 1 Ration 2 Ration 3 Oats – 3 lbs – Alfalfa/grass hay 24 lbs 18 lbs – (1.4 kg) (11 kg) (8.2 kg) a 18:18 mineral 1 oz 1 oz 1 oz Grass hay – – 18 lbs 28 g) (28 g) (28 g) (8.2 kg) b TM salt free choice free choice free choice Oats – 4 lbs – a 1:1 livestock mineral (18% calcium, 18% phosphorus). (1.8 kg) b Trace-mineralized salt (with iodine). 16% grain mix a – – 4 lbs (1.8 kg) Free-choice grazing of high quality pasture can also be 18:18 mineral a 2 oz 2 oz – excellent for maintaining mares in early pregnancy. Mares (56 g) (56 g) will typically consume 2 to 3 per cent of their body weight b in pasture forage (2 to 3 pounds per 100 pounds of body TM salt free choice free choice free choice weight or 2 to 3 kg/100 kg body weight). a Commercial grain mix with 16% protein, assumed to be fortified with appropriate minerals and vitamins. Although a high quality forage will usually maintain a b 1:1 livestock mineral (18% calcium, 18% phosphorus). mare already in acceptable body condition, it will not put c Trace-mineralized salt (with iodine). weight on a mare in marginal or thin condition. Grain may be necessary (0.5 to 0.75 per cent of body weight) if the mare needs to improve body condition or if the quality of hay is poor. 3 While the mare’s requirements during late gestation can be Meeting the high energy needs of lactation requires grain met by feeding hay alone, there are several advantages to feeding (Table 5).
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