TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE EQUINE SCIENCES PROGRAM
ANNUAL CALENDAR FOR HORSE BREEDING FARM
Dr. Doug Householder, Dr. Mike Martin, Dr. Kelly Riccitelli, Drs. Martha and Stephen Vogelsang.
The following is an annual calendar listing nutrition, reproduction, management health and other activities performed by months on broodmares, stallions and growing horses at the Texas A&M University Horse Center in College Station, Texas. Managers should customize this calendar, as is appropriate, to fit their specific farm. JANUARY
BROODMARES STALLIONS SUCKLINGS/WEANLINGS/ YEARLINGS Late gestation- feed to achieve CS Mature - feed to achieve CS 6 with Nutrition 7-8 with 10% CP in total ration 10% CP in total ration Reproduction Evaluate Semen Organize facilities and supplies for foaling
Trim feet Trim feet Management Float teeth Float teeth Pregnant - Deworm (complete) Deworm (complete) Yearlings - Deworm (complete) Give Pneumabort K, Give Flu-Rhino shots Strep and tetanus toxoid shots Open - Deworm (complete) Give Flu-Rhino Health shots Make stallion mating decisions Conduct semen evaluations
Mark foaling dates on calendar
Other Organize breeding reports
Complete deworming - includes boticide FEBRUARY
BROODMARES STALLIONS SUCKLINGS/WEANLINGS/ YEARLINGS Late gestation - feed to achieve CS Mature - feed to achieve CS 6 with Nutrition 7-8 with 10% CP in total ration 10% CP in total ration Open - Start estrus checking and reproductive tract exams
Pregnant - open sutured mares (15 Reproduction day prefoaling) Management Get Coggins Test and health Newborn - Perform APGAR and certificates on mares going out to IGg tests Health other stud farms Other MARCH
BROODMARES STALLIONS SUCKLINGS/WEANLINGS/ YEARLINGS Check pastures and arrange for Mature breeding - feed to maintain Sucklings - prepare facilities and reseeding CS 6 with 10% CP in total ration prepare for creep feeding
Early lactating - feed to maintain CS Nutrition 7-8 with 13% CP total ration Use prostaglandins to short cycle mares (optional)
Use progestins on non-cycling Reproduction mares Management Trim feet Trim feet Pregnant - Deworm Deworm Yearlings - Deworm Give Flu-Rhino, Rabies Give Flu-Rhino and (before breeding) shots Strep shots Health Open - Deworm Other APRIL
BROODMARES STALLIONS SUCKLINGS/WEANLINGS/ YEARLINGS Early lactating - feed to maintain Breeding stallions feed - to Sucklings - creep feed CS 7-8 with 13% CP in total diet maintain CS 6 with 10% CP in 16-18% CP feed (1-2 mon.) Nutrition total ration Start pregnancy check at 18, 25, Reproduction 35, 45 days Management Sucklings - give 1st Strep Health (60 days of age) Other MAY
BROODMARES STALLIONS SUCKLINGS/WEANLINGS YEARLINGS
Lactating mares - feed to maintain CS 7-8 with 13% Mature - food to maintain CS 6 with 10% CP in total Sucklings - continue creep feeding 16-18% CP CP in total ration ration feed Nutrition
Breed mares on foal heat if meet criteria
Use HCG, PGF + progestins (where needed)
Pregnancy check at 18, 25, 35, 45, 60 and 90 days
Lactational anestrous - use restricted suckling
Reproduction
Management Trim feet Trim feet
Pregnant - Deworm Deworm Sucklings - 1st Deworm Give VEWT shots (60 days of age) Give VEWT and Rabies shots Give 2nd Strep, 1st Flu-Rhino and 1st VEWT Open - Deworm shots Give VEWT and Rabies/ shots Yearlings - Deworm Give VEWT booster
Health Organize vaccination and deworming schedule
Make arrangements to purchase hay Other JUNE
BROODMARES STALLIONS SUCKLINGS/WEANLINGS/ YEARLINGS Lactating - feed to maintain CS 7-8 Mature breeding - feed to maintain Sucklings - continue creep with 13% CP in total ration CS 6 with 10% CP in total ration feeding 16-18% CP feed (Feed less concentrate as pasture Nutrition production increases) Finish breeding all mares
Continue pregnancy checking at 18, Reproduction 25, 35, 45, 60 and 90 days Management Sucklings - Give 3rd Strep, Health 2nd Flu-Rhino shots Purchase hay and forage test to ascertain nutrient value. Adjust Other concentrate feeding program.
JULY BROODMARES STALLIONS SUCKLINGS/WEANLINGS/ YEARLINGS Late lactating - feed to maintain CS Mature-feed to maintain CS with Sucklings - Continue creep Nutrition 6-7 with 11% CP total ration 10% CP in total ration feeding 16-18% CP feed Continue pregnancy checking at 18, Reproduction 30, 45, 60 and 90 days Management Trim feet Trim feet Pregnant - Deworm (complete) Deworm (complete) Sucklings - Deworm (complete) Give Flu-Rhino shots Give Flu-Rhino shots Give 2nd VEWT shot
Open - Deworm (complete) Yearlings - Deworm (complete) Health Give Flu-Rhino shots Give Flu-Rhino, Strep shots Summarize all breeding records Send stallion breeding summaries Other to breed association offices AUGUST
BROODMARES STALLIONS SUCKLINGS/WEANLINGS/ YEARLINGS Late lactating - feed to maintain CS Mature - feed stallions to maintain Sucklings - Continue creep Nutrition 6-7 with 11% CP total ration CS 6 with 10% CP in total ration feeding 16-18% CP feed Reproduction Organize facilities and plan for Management weaning Health Make arrangement to seed winter Other pastures SEPTEMBER
BROODMARES STALLIONS SUCKLINGS/WEANLINGS/ YEARLINGS Mid gestating - feed to CS 6-7 with Mature - feed to maintain CS 6 Sucklings - Continue 8% CP in total ration with 10% CP in total ration Feeding 16-18% CP feed
Seed winter annual pastures Weanlings - Feed 14% CP in total ration (2 weeks post Nutrition weaning) Reproduction Trim feet Trim feet Sucklings - wean using gradual weaning technique
Management Trim feet Pregnant - Deworm Deworm Weanlings - Deworm Give Pneumabort K Give Rabies, Flu-Rhino, Strep shots Open - Deworm Yearlings - Deworm Health Give Rabies shots Other OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
BROODMARES STALLIONS SUCKLINGS/WEANLINGS/ YEARLINGS Put mares on winter pasture Mature - feed stallions to maintain Weanlings - Feed 14% CP in CS 6 with 10% CP in total ration total ration Late gestating - feed to CS 6-7 with Nutrition 8% CP in total ration Reproduction Open - put under extended lights Trim feet (November) Trim feet (November) Weanlings - put under extended Management lights Pregnant - Deworm (complete) in Weanlings - Deworm (complete) November Give Flu-Rhino Give Pneumabort K in November Yearlings - Deworm (complete) Open - Deworm (complete) - Give Flu-Rhino November (Note: Deworm (October also) if on Health seasonal program) Other DECEMBER
BROODMARES STALLIONS SUCKLINGS/WEANLINGS/ YEARLINGS Late gestating - feed to CS 6-7 with Feed to maintain CS 6-7 with 10% Weanlings - feed 14% CP in 8% CP in total ration CP in total ration total ration
Prepare to start feed in a yearlings 12% CP in total ration Nutrition in January Reproduction Management Health Other