FEEDING FOR BREEDING
T
he ultimategoalof breeding is to producea fitand healthyfoalthat cangoontoreach its
full potential. Excellent nutrition, combined with good management, is fundamental in achieving this goal. The starting point forany horse’sfeed
regime,including breeding stock, should be
forage.Appropriatehay or haylage, and grazing onceitbecomesavailable, should be offered ad-lib in mostcases. Hardfeeds, which should be used
to provide nutrientsthatare not supplied by forage,are best tailored to the individual but thereare many general pointstoconsider.
BROODMARES The diet of abroodmareisvery important, not only forher own health and abilitytoconceivebut to the futurehealth of her offspring.
16 FEBRUARY/MARCH2021 PRE-CONCEPTION
Whilstmaking preparations forabroodmare to be coveredorinseminated, it is important to keep aclose eyeonher condition and adjust her feed
accordingly.Atthistime of year,when mares still have athick winter coat, assessing condition will need to be “hands on”,feeling the coveroverher ribs, back and neck. Thin mares aremuch less likely to cycle normally,theycan have reduced conception ratesand suffer from early pregnancyloss. Excessiveweight is also undesirable,and care should be takenwhen managing an overweight mare, as weight lossinthe six weeksprior to covering mayreducefertility. Planning ahead is crucial, as mares
should be on arising plane of nutrition (gaining weight) when theygotostud. Whilstfeeding forideal condition, an optimum levelofvitamins, minerals and traceelements(including vitamin Eand selenium, vitamin A, folic acid and chelated minerals)should be supplied, as theycan
affectfertility. An ideal wayofsupplying these important micronutrientsistofeedan appropriatetop specificationfeedbalancer.
EARLYPREGNANCY
Nutrition during pregnancyhas asignificant influenceonthe growth and development of the foetus in utero. Whilstprotein and calorie requirementsdonot increase significantly during the firsteight months of pregnancy, optimum micronutrient supply is essential from conception forcorrectorgan development. Basing hardfeeds on atop specification
stud feed balancer will ensurethat micronutrient requirementsare met. Feeds canbeadjustedtomaintain ideal condition, with suitable blends or straightsadded to a feed balancer if morecondition is needed. Formares in good condition, or slightly
overweight, a“lite” topspecification stud feed balancer allows optimum levels of micronutrients and specialised supplementstobesupplied without promoting weight gain. Forthese mares,
Forthe
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