Skip to content
Search Library
thumbnail

Sound nutrition is vital to successful management of broodmares. By understanding the mare’s nutrient needs during the three stages of the reproductive cycle, an appropriate and cost-effective feeding program can be designed. Stage one is early pregnancy, from conception through the first seven months of gestation. Both dry mares and pregnant mares without foals at foot are in this nutritional category. Stage two is the last trimester of pregnancy, which is from seven months of pregnancy to foaling. Stage three is lactation, which generally lasts for five to six months after foaling.

The most common mistakes are overfeeding during early pregnancy and underfeeding during lactation. The breeder should aim to maintain the mare in optimum condition throughout the year by monitoring body condition and weight. This is called “straight line nutrition” and is the best way of ensuring correct development and growth of the foal and the nutritional health of the mare.

Mares should be kept in moderate body condition, so the amount of supplementary feed will depend on the available pasture as well as the individual’s caloric needs. A suitable pasture for broodmares contains a mixture of grasses and legumes; however, certain varieties of clover, such as Yarloop, should not be included because they contain oestrogen, which can reduce fertility.

When supplementary feeding is performed, each mare should have her own feed bin, well separated to prevent dominant mares from injuring or intimidating the others out of their feed. The dominant or timid mare may have to be removed from the paddock.

Feed the mares according to their individual requirements. Be aware of differences in caloric requirements (or differences in efficiency) between breeds, understand and compensate for seasonal effects on pasture quality and quantity, and make condition scoring of the mares a routine management task, acting on the slightest noticeable changes with the aim of always keeping the mare in a desirable body condition.

Maiden mares that have recently been in training (particularly if being retired from racing) may not be in optimal condition for breeding and may need special treatment. They should always be let down gradually from their previous training program. Individuals accustomed to intense training and management should not be immediately turned out to pasture on a reduced ration or they may rapidly lose weight. Instead, begin by transitioning from the performance ration as body condition dictates while the mares are still in a yard or in a small group of mild-mannered mares.

X

Subscribe to Equinews and get the latest equine nutrition and health news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for free now!