In general, FORAGE FIRST programs are based around good-quality forage as the major component, since horses are grazing animals with digestive tracts that are designed to process forages, but are not as efficient at processing cereal grains. FORAGE FIRST programs are also designed to give horse owners many choices in order to customize rations for each individual horse. Here are some suggestions for feeding your gestating broodmares the FORAGE FIRST way.

Feeding Mares in Months 8-10 of Gestation
Mares should not be grazing a Tall Fescue pasture for the last 3 months of gestation, because 90% of Tall Fescue is infected with an endophyte fungus which causes thickened membranes around foals and lengthened gestation and lack of milk production in mares. All of these can result in death of foals. If you observe any of these symptoms, immediately contact your veterinarian for treatment.

During the last 3 months of gestation, mares should be fed to maintain body condition at 6-7 with good-quality hay (or pasture), GROSTRONG® Minerals (2-3 oz.), and NATURAL GLO®* (1-3 lb), NATURAL GLO Nuggets (1/2-3 lb), or MOORGLO® (1-4 lb), or 5 lb of GROSTRONG, Patriot®, Tindle Trails, SENIORGLO®, or other FORAGE FIRST Specialized Energy Blends or Fortified Feeds (see examples below).

Feeding Mares in the Last Month Prior to Foaling
There should be no sudden changes in the concentrate portion of the mare’s ration just before the expected foaling time. Any dietary changes could cause problems that would affect the foaling process. However, mares should have limited access to courser forages for the last few days prior to foaling, since the cecum should not be too full during the foaling process.

Examples:

• 1,225 lb Mare, 8 Months Gestation
  25-30 lb Grass or mixed alfalfa/grass hay
  2-3 oz GROSTRONG Minerals
  1-3 lb NATURAL GLO meal or Nuggets or MOORGLO
   

• 1,100 lb Mare, 8 Months Gestation
  20-25 lb Grass or mixed alfalfa/grass hay
  2-3 oz GROSTRONG Minerals
  4-6 lb SENIORGLO or POWERGLO®
   

• 1,100 lb Mare, 11 Months Gestation
  20-25 lb Grass or mixed alfalfa/grass hay
  3 oz GROSTRONG Minerals
  1-4 lb NATURAL GLO meal or Nuggets or MOORGLO
  2-5 lb GROSTRONG 13%, Patriot, or Tindle Trails 14% Pellets or Texturized

 

For More Information e-mail at AN_EquineHelp@admworld.com

or call toll free
EQUINE NUTRITION HELPLINE
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ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc. 1000 North 30th Street P.O. Box C1 Quincy, IL USA 62305-3155