Feed Like the Pros: The Best Nutrition for Pregnant and Lactating Mares
What do elite equestrians feed their broodmares for a winning breeding program? The answer is on the labels. In this blog series, “Feed Like the Pros,” we reveal expert advice on equine nutrition, including how to feed broodmares through different stages of pregnancy and what ultra-premium ingredients to include in their diet.
Keep reading to learn the best nutrition for pregnant and lactating mares, so you can feed like the ProElite® pros.
Diet Requirements for Broodmares
Regardless of what stage a broodmare is in the reproductive cycle, they have a demanding job that requires targeted nutrition. From preparing broodmares for breeding, to early and late gestation, to lactation and post-parturition, it’s important to monitor a mare’s body condition and adjust nutrients and caloric intake accordingly. For this article, we will be referring to:
- Pregnant Mares: Mares currently in foal, including early gestation (first month) and late gestation (last 2-3 months)
- Lactating Mares: Mares actively producing milk after giving birth
- Broodmares: Mares used for breeding
Best Nutrition for Pregnant and Lactating Mares
“To get the best output, you need the best nutritional input.” When it comes to feeding broodmares, diet is critical for the health of both the mare and the foal. Even with high-quality forage being the foundation of pregnant and lactating mares’ diets, ProElite Pros still lean on feed and supplements to guarantee levels of vitamins and minerals. Along with good hay, it’s important to keep these key feeding fundamentals in mind.
Nutrition for Pregnant Mares
Quality forage may be sufficient during early gestation, but as the pregnancy progresses, broodmares need more calories, protein, and micronutrients to meet the foal’s increasing requirements. As a rule of thumb, broodmares require 12-14% protein in their total diet compared to 10-12% protein for the average adult horse. In addition to higher protein, broodmares can also have a moderately fleshy Body Condition Score of 6, compared to the BCS of 5 being ideal for the average adult horse. Storing a little extra fat can help prevent a dramatic drop in BCS after foaling and provide sufficient energy reserves for lactation and/or rebreeding – both are critical for a successful breeding program.
As a mare approaches seven months entering late gestation, it’s best to start transitioning to a Mare & Foal feed with concentrated nutrients targeted for healthy development. This prevents the need for dramatic feed changes right after birth and provides essential minerals like Calcium, Phosphorus, Copper, and Zinc that are critical for development. Combining a “breeding feed” like ProElite® Growth with a diet balancer like ProElite® Alfalfa Advantage or ProElite® Grass Advantage is a good way to control calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals during this final stretch of pregnancy.
Nutrition for Lactating Mares
Even after the foal is born, broodmares have a demanding job to provide nutrients through their milk, which is critical to the foal’s healthy development. With almost two times the energy requirements needed to produce milk, feeding rate should increase and rely heavily on concentrates. During postpartum, a lactating mare’s diet can consist of 50:50 or 60:40 forage: concentrate ratio. As a broodmare nears late lactation around 8-12 weeks after birth, this ratio starts to gradually return back to a normal maintenance horse.
Choose the Winning Combo
Because of the high nutrient demands for broodmares, the most elite breeders trust the ProElite suite of premium products to fuel their pregnant and lactating mares. While there are many combinations of feed and supplements that can meet your needs, here are some of the most popular for broodmares:
Diet Balancers and Top Dress:
- ProElite® Alfalfa Advantage (15% Protein | 15% Fiber | 5% Fat)
- ProElite® Grass Advantage (30% Protein | 6% Fiber | 5% Fat)
Feed:
- ProElite® Growth (16% Protein | 15% Fiber | 9% Fat)
Don’t wait. Choose the winning combo of ProElite feed and supplements for your broodmares.