Breeding mare - mating and pregnancy

It is important for a breeding mare to be in a well-proportioned state of fatness to promote pregnancy. At the same time, it is necessary to be sure of the adequacy of nutrients, as the first meals of the future foal are packed and given at the time of mating.

The mare's body must also be at its best for the future challenges of milk production.
Protein can be dosed slightly higher than the mare's activity level from early pregnancy, but the greatest attention should be paid to micronutrients at this stage. The correct calcium-phosphorus ratio is essential for the development of the fetus's skeleton, and calcium supplements are needed in many cases. The most important of the other trace elements are copper, zinc and selenium, but the intake of magnesium and manganese must also be ensured.

Vitamin E has a reputation as a fertility vitamin - and for good reason. A mare that also eats complementary feed can benefit from a vitamin E supplement, which, despite its fat solubility, does not easily cause the risk of overdose. The amount can be increased slightly as pregnancy progresses. The intake of vitamins A and D should be ensured by autumn turning into winter at the latest, either with a vitamin supplement or ready-made feed mixtures.
Even when planning mating, you can try to improve the mare's general condition and the intensity of estrus by adding essential fatty acids to the feed, the most common sources of which are flaxseed and fish oil.

Things to consider when feeding a broodmare:

•  Calcium supplement or feed lime (calcium-phosphorus ratio)
•  Vitamin E, especially in its natural form
•  At least vitamins A and D and other trace elements, most easily obtained in complementary feed or concentrate
•  Fatty acid supplement, such as flaxseed or fish oil

Breedmare - late pregnancy and lactation

During the last four months of pregnancy, the energy and nutrient needs of a broodmare increase slightly. The aim of increasing feeding is also to accustom the mare to the abundant feeding that comes after foaling, as sudden and dramatic changes in feed rations must be avoided, especially during this already stressful time for the body. For example, vegetable oil supplements can be started well in advance of foaling, even if the reason for using the supplement is to promote milk production.

Where the quality of the mare's feed affects the fetus before foaling, the effect occurs through the milk after foaling. Therefore, the feed must continue to be first-class. In addition to quality, quantity is needed, as the energy needs of a nursing broodmare are the highest in the horse world. The peak nutritional needs are reached when the foal is three to four months old, when the foal may suckle a couple of dozen liters of milk per day. Towards the end of lactation, feeding is reduced accordingly.
Milk production requires a lot of energy, protein, minerals, vitamins and water. Pasture life is the best solution for a breeding mare and foal in every way, but the adequacy of pasture as the sole source of energy and protein is questionable. Therefore, high-quality protein-rich and lysine-rich complementary feeds are often necessary even in summer.

The most important minerals for a lactating mare are calcium and phosphorus in the right proportion, as well as magnesium and potassium. It is also important to ensure the intake of sodium, or salt, to ensure, among other things, water absorption and thus a healthy fluid balance. The most critical trace elements are copper, zinc, selenium and iron. Vitamin D is needed for the absorption of minerals and trace elements from feed and for their transfer from the mare's bloodstream to milk. Mares grazing without blankets can produce enough vitamin D in the summer from sunlight, but mares foaling early in the spring do need a vitamin supplement.

Some things to consider as farrowing approaches and lactation begins:

• Increasing energy and protein levels in the feed well in advance of farrowing
• Calcium supplement or feed lime (calcium-phosphorus ratio) and salt supplement, but also meeting the high need for other minerals and trace elements
• Meeting the vitamin D requirement early in foaling
• Overall, a rich and high-quality feed, the best basis of which is analyzed pasture - supplementary feed is an easy choice as a second base feed