GOOD GOOD NEWS!

[Iron Horse Farm]

We did an embryo transfer for the 1st time in 2007. My Voltaire / Nimmerdor mare cooperated and gave us an A1 embryo by Contester. It was implanted successfully in Esther, an 18 hand beast of a 3 year old Belgium mare (that continues to amaze me that she can be so large and yet so light on her feet).

THe problem? Esther doesn't look pregnant. At all. So today I trailered her to the repro vet for the ultrasound/palpation. AND....................

SHE'S STILL IN FOAL!!!!!!!!! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rhyadawn]

Thats awsome!!! Goodluck! Prayers that all goes well with the rest of the pregnancy!

[Crosiadore Farm]

Congratulations on your success. Now you need to go buy a year's supply of Rejuvenade for the expected foal. I had a ET filly from a Big Belgian last year. The Belgian mare was as sweet as she was big! She did a super job foaling out and not stepping on any baby parts, but the filly grew to quickly and was upright in the hind pasterns by about 12 days! The Belgians are wonderful and I am giving mine another chance to be a recipient, but I will start Rejuvenade at one week as a preventative to the different type of milk supply. Good luck.

[alliekat]

Congrats. That is an awesome accomplishment!!!
I feel your pain, my mare is due in March an isn't really showing. She's a Maiden so I hope she will show sooner next year so I won't spend so much time worrying.
Good Luck!!!

[Iron Horse Farm]

alliecat - good luck with your mare too! I checked out your site and just love Southinkucandance! Luv Luv Luv those good TB broodies!

[Hillside H Ranch]

Big congrats! Sometimes those huge mares can hide the pregnancies and just don't ever look pregnant!
I've used belgians several times for my ETs and haven't had growth problems, so don't worry too much about that yet. One thing at a time!

[DownYonder]

Congrats, Holly! Let us know when the blessed event occurs! We will want photos!

[Ladybug Hill]

Yes, the Progressive guy that talked at the stallion show stressed that when using recipient mares that are either larger or smaller than the biological mother the milk can be deficient either too rich or too poor.

For example the large mares produce much more volume since nature is expecting a foal that needs more intake. That milk may be larger in volume but maybe lesser in nutrient DENSITY. So the smaller foal will not be able to ingest adequate volume to get all the nutrients necessary. He did recommend supplementing foals in this situation. He actually said that you could have the milk testing at only $28 per test to see the quality.

Very very interesting.

[alliekat]

Thank you Iron Horse. Thats her. I can't wait for baby time!!!
When is your mare due?

[peskee]

All my mares get milk tests at 7 days, again at 30, 60, and 90 days. You then know what the foal is or is not getting and adjust Rejuvenaide to compensate for anything lacking. Sure helps you to sleep better knowing you are doing all you can for the little ones.

[miraclewelsh]

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing the good news!

[MagicRoseFarm]

oongrats and hopes for mom;s continued good health!

[BBowen]

Iron Horse Farm:

Congratulation!!!! Those ultrasounds/palpations can be agonizing. I will be looking forward to seeing that baby when you get it on the ground.

[nsm]

IHF----YEAH!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS, and sending lots of good wishes things continue just right-

nsm

[Iron Horse Farm]

Thanks everybody. This has just been agonizing for us. She was purchased in Germany and bred to Contendro before importation. The Contendro filly I kept for my breeding program. The following year she was bred to Coromino and took on one attempt, but came up empty at the 60 day recheck. We got the one embryo last year and then tried Contendro frozen, once, unsuccessfully. Soooo, my filly will be two by the time she has another sibling!

Thnks everybody for the milk testing advice. my vet has also advised me to milk some of th colostrum off of the mare ( says that she will have enough for 4! ) and freeze it for future emergencies / other foalings etc. Sounds smart to me............now to figure out what I can freeze it IN??

Nancy, your boy is on our short list this year too! I'm sooo happy that he's GOV.

[Hillside H Ranch]

Thanks everybody. This has just been agonizing for us. She was purchased in Germany and bred to Contendro before importation. The Contendro filly I kept for my breeding program. The following year she was bred to Coromino and took on one attempt, but came up empty at the 60 day recheck. We got the one embryo last year and then tried Contendro frozen, once, unsuccessfully. Soooo, my filly will be two by the time she has another sibling!

Thnks everybody for the milk testing advice. my vet has also advised me to milk some of th colostrum off of the mare ( says that she will have enough for 4! ) and freeze it for future emergencies / other foalings etc. Sounds smart to me............now to figure out what I can freeze it IN??

Nancy, your boy is on our short list this year too! I'm sooo happy that he's GOV.


If you are going to be milking even one mare I highly reccomend the Udderly EZ milker. It also comes with great plastic bottles for storage and you milk right into them, so no pouring from container to container. I was really skeptical at first when my husband brought one home from one of his vet conventions, but it truly is really easy (easier than using hands or the syringe method). I use it on every mare that we foal out (we milk them out and feed the colostrum to the foals to get a jump-start and then save any extra for our colostrum bank) and it is truly a life saver. I think it would be worth it for even one mare. And no, I don't sell these or have any stake in them, just a good product!
http://www.udderlyezllc.com/

[Iron Horse Farm]

Oooh thanks Hillside I'm going to order one of those!