Broodmare Nutrition Late Pregnancy

1. Broodmare Nutrition Late Pregnancy Catherine Rudenko BSc Equine Science

2. 3 stages of Pregnancy • Early Pregnancy • Late Pregnancy • Lactation

3. Early Pregnancy Diet600kg mare • MJDE 87 • Protein 845 grams • 9kg of good hay with 8% protein and 8 MJDE provides • 720 grams protein • 72 MJDE

4. Early Pregnancy • 1kg of stud cubes with 14% protein and 11.5 MJDE provides • 140 grams protein • 11.5 MJDE • OR • 475 g of balancer with 30% protein and 11 MJDE provide • 142 grams of protein • 5.3 MJDE

5. Total Diet • MJDE 87 • Protein 845 grams • Hay + Stud cubes = 860 grams protein, 83.5 MJDE • Hay + Balancer = 862 grams protein, 77.3 MJDE

6. Late Pregnancy 6 months + • Mare of 600kg BW at conception will be around 679 kg BW by 11 months • Late pregnancy requirements, • 107 MJDE • 1072 grams protein • 9kg of good hay with 8% protein and 8 MJDE provides • 720 grams protein • 72 MJDE

7. Late Pregnancy • 2.5 kg stud cubes provides • 350 grams protein • 29 MJDE • Or • 1.2 kg balancer provides • 360 grams protein • 13 MJDE

8. Total Diet • Requirements • 107 MJDE • 1072 grams protein • Hay + stud cubes = 1070 grams protein, 101 MJDE • Hay + balancer = 1080 grams protein, 85 MJDE

9. Lactation • First 3 months are most important for the foal • Requirements of the lactating mare • 158 MJDE • 1836 grams protein

10. Lactation • 9kg of good hay with 8% protein and 8 MJDE provides • 720 grams protein • 72 MJDE • 8 kg stud cubes provides 1120 grams protein and 92 MJ • 3.7 kg balancer provides 1110 grams protein and 40 MJ

11. Total diet • Requirements • 158 MJDE • 1836 grams protein • Hay + stud cubes = 1840 grams protein and 174 MJDE • Hay + balancer = 1830 grams protein and 145 MJDE

12. Why such high requirements for lactating mare ? • Lactation is the most demanding time for the mare in terms of nutrition • Mares own body condition will effect milk content • Average milk has 26g protein, 19g fat and 61g lactose per litre • Also contains hormones, enzymes and growth factors

13. Body condition & milk quality • Overweight mares have higher fat levels in their milk • Normal well conditioned mares produce more protein in the milk • Underweight mares have lower protein and fat levels

14. Mares Milk Quality

15. Age Height % Mature Height* Weight % Mature Weight* 6 Months 13.2h 84% 228kg 46% 12 Months 15.0h 94% 322kg 65% 22 Months 15.2h 97% 445kg 90% Foal Growth Rates

16. What type of diet is best for the mare ? • Diets should be fully balanced for • Vitamins • Minerals • Amino Acids ( proteins ) • Cereals and forages are not naturally balanced • Need to add a vitamin and mineral balancer pellet if using straights eg oats • Forage diet also needs additional vitamins and minerals

17. Why vitamins and minerals ? • Vitamins and minerals have an important role in bone development • Nutrition is one factor in DOD ( developmental orthopedic disease) • Prevention is better than cure • Most influential when fed to the mare in pregnancy and continued in lactation

18. Calcium and Phosphorus Calcium and Phosphorus • Correct Calcium to Phosphorus ratio of 1.5:1 • Do not over supplement Vitamin D – it will not significantly increase Ca absorption and will cause mineralisation of tissues

19. Vitamin A Vitamin A • Needed for proper functioning of Osteoclasts ( bone making cells) • Under supplementing causes growth retardation in the first 12 months of life

20. Zinc and Manganese Zinc • Involved in alkaline phosphatase action – an enzyme assisting in the initiation of calcification of cartilage Manganese • Involved in synthesis of Chondroitin 4 – sulphate and Chondroitin 6 – sulphate • Chondroitin is a key component of cartilage

21. Copper Copper • Important for several functions including • Maintaining elasticity of tissues – deficiency seen as Ballerina Syndrome • Fertility in mares • Potential prevention and repair of DOD lesions….

22. Copper • Copper is essential for Lysol-Oxidase function – the enzyme responsible for cross links in the bone that provide strength to the structure • Copper is most effective as a preventative agent when given to the Mare • Recommended level of 30-40mg/kg • Injecting copper is not effective – it must be in the diet

23. Copper • Copper uses the same uptake site as Zinc • Diet should be 3-4:1 Zinc: Copper • Molybdenum is a naturally occurring trace element needed by plants to fix Nitrogen that also blocks Copper uptake • This is more of a problem in cattle than horses • Hard to measure copper levels as hoof, hair and blood analysis are unreliable

24. Iodine Iodine • Involved in thyroid function and production of thyroxine (T4) • T4 regulates metabolic growth rates • Sudden growth bursts contribute to DOD as the bone is suddenly put under a greater amount of stress

25. Importance of grazing • Grass is not only the most natural form of feeding but is also highly nutritious • The digestion of grass in the large intestine by bacteria produces certain Fatty Acids (FA’s) • FA are produced in mares milk and include linoleic and alpha-linolenic

26. Why are Fatty Acids needed ? • Alpha-linolenic acid • Polyunsaturated “ healthy fat” • Omega-3 fatty acid • ALA needed for production of EPA /DHA “ brain foods” • Linoleic acid • “healthy fat” • Omega-6 fatty acid • Good for skin condition and wound healing

27. Grazing period and natural reproductive cycle • Grass growth normally picks up around April and slows around September • 6 month window that co-incides with the period the foal is suckling • Wild foals will wean naturally at 8-10 months age

28. Thank you Any Questions ?