Feeding Management of Broodmares

Introduction an optimal broodmare feeding program will consider the maintenance of the mare, the growth and development of the fetal foal, and the production of milk. The impact of a broodmare feeding program can be substantial on not only the health of the mare, but also the development of the foal and the future equine athlete. The nutritional requirements of the broodmare vary depending on her physiological state, thus when considering their nutritional and feeding needs, mares are usually divided into several categories. Traditionally, industry professionals divided a mare’s gestation into two distinct nutritional periods: (1) from the time a mare was pronounced in foal to about eight months (first and second trimesters), and (2) nine months to approximately eleven months or birth (late gestation). in common practice, dietary requirements for mares in the first and second trimesters were assumed to be similar to any mature horse at maintenance. Moreover, because fetal growth is most rapid during the last trimester, an increase in certain nutrients such as energy and protein was traditionally recommended during the last three months of pregnancy (NrC, 1989). However, recent review of the research has indicated that certain vital nutrients should be increased prior to late gestation (NrC, 2007). There are now five main categories of broodmare, with specific nutrient requirements divided up even further within each class. The main categories of broodmares are maiden mare; barren and early pregnant, nonlactating mare (0-4 months of gestation); mare in mid-pregnancy (5-8 months of gestation); mare in late pregnancy (9-11 months of gestation); and lactating mare (early and late, and likely pregnant as well). for each class of mare, the required nutrients are the same, but intakes of these nutrients differ depending on the mare’s physiological state.