Tell me about the BEST diets for the nursing Broodmare

[erinwillow]

Hi all,

Maggie foaled on Feb. 8th and since then we've been feeding her good , quality Alfalfa Hay and two scoops of Omolene 300 (Mare and foal). She looks great but I was wondering if anyone had "favorite" broodmare diets for maintaining excellent condition???

[Waterwitch]

Basic lactation diet:

1. Free choice mixed pasture and mixed hay

2. Progressive Grass Balancer at maximum recommended amount

I will add Progressive's Envision (fat supplement) as neccessary to maintain condition.

[Peg]

Congratulations on your new foal! I like to feed Born to Win plus Strategy at a rate to keep up weight. Purina also has a 12:12 protein/mineral block that I provide free choice. I also feed a mixture of alfalfa and orchard/timothy hay free choice, but I'm careful that the foal doesn't get the straight alfalfa. Another product that I feed is Succeed, a supplement for digeston and intestinal health. A study has also been published that shows it increases the IgG element in the mare's milk- great news for the foal. Peg

[erinwillow]

Basic lactation diet:

1. Free choice mixed pasture and mixed hay

2. Progressive Grass Balancer at maximum recommended amount

I will add Progressive's Envision (fat supplement) as neccessary to maintain condition.


Hi Liz,

Are the Progressive products administered via powder mixed in with the grain?? I like the idea of adding a little extra "fat"--I know my cheeseburger intake increases dramatically when I am nursing!! :lol:

Does Progressive have a website?? Smartpak catalouge just came in the mail. . but I have issues with all that wasted packaging :( I'm a big girl, I can measure a scoop by myslef :winkgrin:

[erinwillow]

Congratulations on your new foal! I like to feed Born to Win plus Strategy at a rate to keep up weight. Purina also has a 12:12 protein/mineral block that I provide free choice. I also feed a mixture of alfalfa and orchard/timothy hay free choice, but I'm careful that the foal doesn't get the straight alfalfa. Another product that I feed is Succeed, a supplement for digeston and intestinal health. A study has also been published that shows it increases the IgG element in the mare's milk- great news for the foal. Peg


Hi Peg,

I DO like the Purina products. I tend to feed the Ultima to our stallion during peak breeding season and he always has this "glow" about him. But I am not feeding it to our mares. . . was wanting to opt for something with a supplement built in for their particular needs, i.e. milk production, weight maintaince, etc. Does Purina make a mare formula??

[Peg]

I like the feed program for the mares that I have because I feel that have all bases covered. The Born to Win is a concentrated 30% protein that I supplement with either Strategy or oats, depending on the condition of the mare. I forgot to add that I also add "Healthy Coat" as an amino acid and fat source. I add or take away alfalfa depending on how much protein they are getting. I do not feed the foals the 30%, but "Strategy" only. They will eat the block only as needed. I know there is a mare feed, you can call your local rep. or go on line where they have their feeds profiled. I have fed this for 5 yearsand to date have had no problem with ocd lesions. The Porgressive is highly spoken of, but my distributor is 60 miles away. Peg

[clint]

Hi all,

Maggie foaled on Feb. 8th and since then we've been feeding her good , quality Alfalfa Hay and two scoops of Omolene 300 (Mare and foal). She looks great but I was wondering if anyone had "favorite" broodmare diets for maintaining excellent condition???

A few years ago I fed that diet to a mare and foal and ended up with a terrific case of contracted tendons. I took a vow then to never, ever feed much alfalfa and never to feed Omalene 300 to a mare and foal. I have the best result feeding orchard grass, sometimes with a little alfalfa, sometimes not, and Born to Win. Should I ever have a mare/foal pair looking scrawny, I would change the BTW to Strategy, but so far, that hasn't happened.;)

Purina products are very convenient for me to get and I like Born To Win for mares just fine. In fact, I fed it all during gestation this past year to my chubby broodmare.

[erinwillow]

A few years ago I fed that diet to a mare and foal and ended up with a terrific case of contracted tendons. I took a vow then to never, ever feed much alfalfa and never to feed Omalene 300 to a mare and foal. I have the best result feeding orchard grass, sometimes with a little alfalfa, sometimes not, and Born to Win. Should I ever have a mare/foal pair looking scrawny, I would change the BTW to Strategy, but so far, that hasn't happened.;)

Purina products are very convenient for me to get and I like Born To Win for mares just fine. In fact, I fed it all during gestation this past year to my chubby broodmare.

Goodness!! contracted tendons?? From the feed??? How did that happen ???:confused:

[clint]

Goodness!! contracted tendons?? From the feed??? How did that happen ???:confused:

A straight alfalfa hay and high power feed like Omalene 300 gives many calories and high carbohydrates. It can accelerate the growth of foals, and my four month old colt shot up and, as his doctor said, his bones outgrew his tendons. I was able to resolve it by changing his diet to all grass hay and a handful of minerals, and he didn't need surgery. Since that incident I have been way more careful about the diet of foals, keeping it much more low power.;) They need protein, but I keep the Ca:Ph ration reasonable, and restrict grain to a ration balancer like Born to Win so the foal meets vitamin/mineral needs without getting a lot of excess carbohydrates/calories.

[erinwillow]

A straight alfalfa hay and high power feed like Omalene 300 gives many calories and high carbohydrates. It can accelerate the growth of foals, and my four month old colt shot up and, as his doctor said, his bones outgrew his tendons. I was able to resolve it by changing his diet to all grass hay and a handful of minerals, and he didn't need surgery. Since that incident I have been way more careful about the diet of foals, keeping it much more low power.;) They need protein, but I keep the Ca:Ph ration reasonable, and restrict grain to a ration balancer like Born to Win so the foal meets vitamin/mineral needs without getting a lot of excess carbohydrates/calories.


Hi Clint,

Were they stall-bound while on this diet??? Ours are now out 24/7, not that the snow and bitter cold have subsided. I think this may also make a difference. There isn't any grass at all so that is why we have chosen the Alfalfa Hay (which is never 100% "pure" Alfalfa as it tends to grow well here with other grasses) however, it is high Alf content. I can always switch the grain--as it is not the major component of the diet in favor of the forage available all day. Hm, scary story though :eek:

[clint]

Hi Clint,

Were they stall-bound while on this diet??? Ours are now out 24/7, not that the snow and bitter cold have subsided. I think this may also make a difference. There isn't any grass at all so that is why we have chosen the Alfalfa Hay (which is never 100% "pure" Alfalfa as it tends to grow well here with other grasses) however, it is high Alf content. I can always switch the grain--as it is not the major component of the diet in favor of the forage available all day. Hm, scary story though :eek:

The only time my mares are stalled is when they foal. They go out 24/7 within a few days. Our weather is generally so nice that it isn't ever necessary to stall them after that. Contracted tendons are always a worry with foals on rich diets. Frankly I would never feed a straight alfalfa diet to any horse, but especially not a foal.

[junebug84]

I had the best results with the Purina Omolene 300. It kept my mares (and foals) in great condition. However, my hay is not very rich at all, so I need and little bit extra in my grain. I also add Roughage chunks to the grain, to add a bit of bulk.

Vitamins and minerals are a completely different story for me. My vet has my mare on injection as her selenium levels were very low, and she could not absorb it well enough from oral supplements. This raised a red flag for other vitamins and minerals as well, so she is on injections for that as well. Normally, I feed Optimal. My Purina dealer is fantastic, and will always run my horses through the computer after my hay is analyzed to make sure I'm meeting their dietary needs.

[vanheimrhorses]

i would feed a 16% growth feed and if just owning one mare would go with purina omolene 300 i would also feed the baby when it starts eating the new ocd pellets that prevent ocd and i would feed the mare now and then the baby 1500IU of vita E as I fed this to my babies and none had joint problems and all were 16.2 hunters when finished. I used diamond v yeast culture for the vita e source, i would also use select vitamins and blue seal minerals

[aiken4horses]

Frankly I would never feed a straight alfalfa diet to any horse, but especially not a foal.

IMO I have to agree. I lived in CA for many years and Alfalfa hay is grown locally and is extremely rich. Saw many cases of epiphicitis, joint disorders, stones, etc.
Vets all warned about feeding full alfalfa diets to ANY horse. It was always suggested that the diet consist of no more than 50% Alfalfa.

I always explain it as the difference between cheescake and ricecakes. I LOVE cheesecake but can't live on it. :(

[okggo]

Just wanted to add, there was a thread on here not too long about alfalfa and SEVERAL breeders noted that the feed it free choice with great results.

I think the trick is balancing the needs of the particular horse. I personally am feeding TC Growth, pro-biotic, Ultimate Finish, alfalfa cubes, and free choice timothy/orchard grass mix. But my mare is thin and I'm doing my darndest to plump her up some.

Let me hunt down that other thread for ya...
Okay here ya go (it's last tri-mester, and for lactation) http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=133609

[erinwillow]

okggo,

Thank you soooooooooo much for findting the other thread! I remember it ;) Everyone seemed to agree on the importance of feeding Alfalfa to the late trimester or nursing broodmare and I will stand by that...I've had great results for the broodies with the nice quality hay.

I guess my goal in asking about the nursing diet was to MAINTAIN condition and weight and not to witness any drop off or weight loss AS she nurses her foal. Omolene was recommended to me and so far so good. Am still tracking down the Progressive for a little extra fat. . . any other good ideas for a fat supplement??

[clint]

Here is an article that appeared in The Horse magazine recently, which provides some good information about the latest research on the importance of Ca:Ph rations and types of grains that may keep foals from developing DOD. http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10477