Stallion Review
Feeding The Older Broodmare Continued from page 41
needs will have a decidedly beneficial effect. Also, it is at this time that dental care be-
comes an even more significant part of the rou- tine, as an older horse often experiences problems chewing properly - a direct link to weight loss. Due to the normal mismatched shapes of the upper and lower dental arcades and the constant grinding motion used to break- down forages and feeds, the teeth usually wear unevenly. Sharp edges form as a result, which can cause lacerations of the gums and cheeks, further inhibiting proper chewing. Eventually, there is no longer sufficient grinding surface to support the process. A horse’s saliva contains bicarbonate and
special coating agents that neutralize stomach acids. Saliva production is often reduced in the older horse, setting the stage for a number of ail- ments, including impaction colic and choke. Consequently, as the broodmare ages, it will be- come necessary to have her teeth checked reg- ularly - at least once if not twice a year and floated as needed. Likewise, the gastrointestinal tract often be-
comes less efficient over time - decreased motil- ity, digestion and absorption of nutrients are often to blame for poor body condition and in- creased incidences of colic. While increasing nutrient availability by supplying additional amounts of high-quality forage is recom- mended, an extra nutritional boost may be ben- eficial. Feeding a highly digestible, low starch, low sugar, high fiber, high fat, pelleted feed de- signed for broodmares will likely prove benefi- cial.
Early Gestation During the first eight months of pregnancy,
the foal’s weight gain is low (less than 25 pounds), not enough to affect the mare’s nutri- tional requirements. In fact, a common mistake is to feed too much protein and energy at this time. However, feed intake and body condition must be monitored carefully with older brood- mares. If necessary, the forage (pasture or hay) should be increased. As always, vitamins and minerals, to counter deficiencies in the forage, must be fed. If necessary, replace the vita- min/mineral supplement with a commercial concentrate feed that provides energy and pro- tein as needed, along with the vitamins and min- erals. Be sure to feed according to the manufacturer’s recommended feeding rate, or make sure the vitamin/mineral needs are met with additional supplementation when feeding less than the recommended amount of com- mercial feed. Straight grains like oats, corn and barley are hard to digest and are very poor sources of vitamins and minerals. They are not recommended for older broodmares. Late Gestation
Upon reaching her last trimester, months
nine to 11, the broodmare’s nutritional needs in- crease to accommodate the rapid growth rate of the unborn foal, which is typically gaining a
pound per day. Whereas the mare will require more pro- tein and energy, her vitamin and mineral requirements (calcium,
phosphorous,
magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, iron and vitamin A in particular) become crit- ical for the developing fetus. A nutritional deficiency dur- ing fetal development could induce a host of immune dis- orders and Developmental Orthopedic Diseases (DOD). Because the fetus needs
to receive trace minerals from the mare’s blood circulation through the placenta and store them in its liver, extra sup- plementation during the third trimester is es- sential, since the mare’s milk does not supply adequate amounts. Providing natural-source vitamin E (2,000 to 4,000 IU per day in the ra- tion) is thought to be beneficial for mares that do not have access to green grass every day. In addition, supplementation of vitamin E at least a month prior to and after foaling has been shown to increase the transfer of antibodies to the foal, thereby fortifying its immune system. Prior to foaling, the mare should be gain-
ing approximately 0.3 to 0.8 pounds per day. This is when she stores body fat for use later during lactation and rebreeding. During this period it is necessary to augment the ration with easily digestible fat from stabilized rice bran and ground flax seeds and fiber from soy- bean hulls and/or beet pulp. Note: a cold-weather winter pasture is
much less nutritious than it is in summer, and with low temperatures, the mare needs addi- tional energy for body heat. If additional en- ergy is not provided in the diet, body fat reserves will be used to generate body heat, which could decrease the mare’s body condi- tion score.
Lactation The lactation period becomes the most rig-
orous for nutrient intake, especially for the older broodmare. She has just given birth, a stressful event in and of itself on top of now having to support her own body condition and that of her foal. This is when the major em- phasis of nutrients should be on energy, as the mare will literally need to nearly double her maintenance energy ingestion. Note: increased protein and energy intake encourage increased milk production. The amount of concentrates fed should
mirror the mare’s milk production. For in- stance, during early lactation, a 1,200-pound mare will produce approximately three percent of her body weight or 36 gallons of milk daily. Calcium and phosphorus are also vital nutri- ents during lactation. The ideal broodmare feed is a low glycemic (low in non-structural car- bohydrates - starch and sugar) feed with high concentrations of premium fats and digestible
fibers. Milk produc-
tion usually peaks between 30 and 60 days after foaling, when the foal re- quires
large
amounts of energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals. This is when the most nut r ient -dense feeding takes place, and when changing or increasing the feed to meet the mare’s escalating needs most proba- bly will take place, with an underscore on the importance of making sure the transition process is done slowly, over a period of seven to 10 days to allow her digestive sys- tem to adjust. As she moves
into the next stage of lactation (fourth, fifth, and sixth months), the mare’s milk supply decreases, diminishing the need for additional nutrients. And, as lactation ceases, the mare’s need for supplementary feed, particularly en- ergy and protein will decrease. Even if she’s been re-bred, which should put her at about four or five months of gestation, her require- ment for additional feed should be determined by her current body condition as a senior horse. Conclusion
By considering the needs of the adult
broodmare and the older horse, appropriate ra- tions can be created to fulfill the demanding re- quirements of the older broodmare. The main points to consider are usefulness of her teeth to process forage, feeding her in at least four stages throughout pregnancy and lactation, and maintaining her in a body condition score of
six throughout the year, except allowing her to increase to a seven for the last few months of gestation. Older broodmares require rations based on good-quality forage with supplemen- tal vitamins and minerals, and additional en- ergy and protein as needed. Modern low starch and sugar, added fat and digestible fiber rations reduce the blood sugar highs and lows associ- ated with traditional high-grain rations. They may reduce the risks of developmental ortho- pedic diseases (DOD) in foals and are recom- mended for all broodmares, especially older
ones. w To obtain additional information on equine
nutrition programs log on (
www.grostrong.com), call (800-680-8254) or email (
AN.EquineHelp@adm.com) ADM Alliance Nutrition.
March 2011 SouthWest Horse Trader 45
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