Mare in foal eating straw bedding
welcom...@nospam.com
small runout area. She's normally an outdoor pasture horse and only
has a 3 sided leanto for shelter, so she is not exposed to straw.
Since she's almost due to foal, I covered the stall floor with straw.
The next morning it was gone, she ate it. She's getting a full bale
of quality hay per day (40 to 45lbs). Which is more than I normally
feed a 1000 to 1100lb quarter horse/pinto (who is probably 1250 to
1300 lbs now). So, besides eating 45 lbs of hay, and a large scoop of
grain and senior feed, she is eating a whole 30 lb bale of straw. I
know she is eating for two, but this seems excessive, not to mention
straw contains no nutrition from what I was told.
I was told not to use shavings for birthing because the newborn will
become coated with them before mama cleans it. So, what should I do?
I guess there are only 3 options, 1. keep adding straw and let her eat
it. 2. Use shavings despite the mess that will occur on the foal, or
3. Use nothing (the floor is rubber cattle mats over dirt).
For all I know, she will likely have the foal outside in dirt of the
runout, but I am trying to make her as comfortable as possible. On
the other hand she seems to think the straw is food, and even seems to
enjoy it. (I tossed her a handful while I was cleaning her stall,
just to watch her reaction, and she ate it right up).
Also, she is eating more hay than a draft mare I once owned, should I
limit her? She's already a bit overweight (not including the
pregnancy), and she's 22 to 25 years old.
PS. This pregnancy was not planned. Our young stud get in with her by
accident, and those two just loved each other. We thought she was too
old to get bred, so we left them together. Surprise !!!!
Any suggestions about dealing with the stall issue, and amount of hay?
Thanks
Liz
Lynz
cindi
> I was told not to use shavings for birthing because the newborn will
> become coated with them before mama cleans it. So, what should I do?
> I guess there are only 3 options, 1. keep adding straw and let her eat
> it. 2. Use shavings despite the mess that will occur on the foal, or
> 3. Use nothing (the floor is rubber cattle mats over dirt).
I use shavings. No foals have ever become coated with it. You can
see some pics here:
http://www.allisonacres.org/tinkerbell.html
http://www.allisonacres.org/tillysstory.html
http://www.allisonacres.org/gussie05colt.html
> For all I know, she will likely have the foal outside in dirt of the
> runout, but I am trying to make her as comfortable as possible.
Both our 07 foals were born outside on dirt. I scoop the manure four
times per day but Jewel passed manure right into the path of her foal:
http://www.allisonacres.org/captain.html
You know to clean the umbilical stump a few times per day with
Novalsan, right? That's the main point of entry for germs. It should
be cleaned asap and then a couple extra times that day and then twice
or so per day for a few days.
> On
> the other hand she seems to think the straw is food, and even seems to
> enjoy it. (I tossed her a handful while I was cleaning her stall,
> just to watch her reaction, and she ate it right up).
It *is* food - it's just hay made from plants that have already had
their grains harvested for other purposes. The problem is it is a
very dry, coarse, stemmy food that can often cause impaction colic.
Some folks are feeding straw now since hay prices are so bad, but it's
best to start slowly and there must be a protein supplement such as a
bit of alfalfa since straw has almost no protein. I'd feed a vitamin
supplement too if it were me feeding straw.
Your mare is probably very hungry if she's just getting hay - it is
very hard for pregnant mares to eat enough hay to satisfy their needs
because hay is very bulky and their stomachs can only hold so much.
Mares in foal should be started on some form of concentrated feed at
least by their last two months of gestation. I personally do not feed
grain but my bred mares get pelleted hay, flax, beet pulp, rice bran,
oil, and pretty much free choice hay which is mostly alfalfa for the
protein content but I give grass hay too. The alfalfa is important
also to ensure the calcium/phosphorus ratio is correct, because all
that other stuff except the beet pulp and unless specially formulated
can be inverted in its ratio. That will cause problems with the
foal. Grass hay can be inverted also and pregnant mares on no alfalfa
should have been getting a vitmain/mineral supplement with calcium
added, formulated for horses on grass hay/no alfalfa.
> Also, she is eating more hay than a draft mare I once owned, should I
> limit her? She's already a bit overweight (not including the
> pregnancy), and she's 22 to 25 years old.
No, pregnant mares in their last two months of gestation and their
first two months of lactation should not have their diets limited.
She will lose weight once she's lactating, maybe too much. Draft
horses do not eat a whole lot - they tend to have slower metabolisms,
so it's not a good comparison. A pregnant mare in those last two
months and first two months will need more than double the feed she
normally gets.
good luck and keep us updated,
cindi
welcom...@nospam.com
<alliso...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>On May 14, 11:25 pm, welcomera...@nospam.com wrote:
>
Thanks Cindi
>> I was told not to use shavings for birthing because the newborn will
>> become coated with them before mama cleans it. So, what should I do?
>> I guess there are only 3 options, 1. keep adding straw and let her eat
>> it. 2. Use shavings despite the mess that will occur on the foal, or
>> 3. Use nothing (the floor is rubber cattle mats over dirt).
>
>I use shavings. No foals have ever become coated with it. You can
>see some pics here:
>http://www.allisonacres.org/tinkerbell.html
>http://www.allisonacres.org/tillysstory.html
>http://www.allisonacres.org/gussie05colt.html
>
That's what I was hoping to hear....
Shavings will be what I use then.
>> For all I know, she will likely have the foal outside in dirt of the
>> runout, but I am trying to make her as comfortable as possible.
>
>Both our 07 foals were born outside on dirt. I scoop the manure four
>times per day but Jewel passed manure right into the path of her foal:
>http://www.allisonacres.org/captain.html
I've learned over the years with horses that we can prepare all sorts
of fancy stuff for them, but they do things themselves and it's
usually in the dirt and mess. But a little dirt never hurt anyone. I
just have a feeling that is what she will do. I told the guys to put
a cattle mat outside in the corral so there is a "comfy spot". We
have several laying around, so why not.
Speaking of silly things that horses do. We have a shetland pony mare
who was given to us because she is blind. We all love her dearly, and
sshe's the sweetest pony there could be. One day the guys were
working in the barn and dropped a small piece of wood in front of her
stall. It's about a 4 inch block. Somehow she found it reaching thru
the gate and grabbed it with her mouth. That's her favorite toy now.
she hunts around the stall feeling for it, and rolls it around with
her nose, picks it up in her teeth, and plays with it. We always have
to make sure it dont get tossed out. Who needs to spend money on
toys.
>
>You know to clean the umbilical stump a few times per day with
>Novalsan, right? That's the main point of entry for germs. It should
>be cleaned asap and then a couple extra times that day and then twice
>or so per day for a few days.
>
We've has 2 foals in the past. We always cleaned them, but we used
iodine. Is Novalsan any different, or better? Is this something we
can get at a farm supply or from a vet (this is a very rural area, not
too many places to shop).
The first coal we got (same mare as now) had a perfect birth, no
complications, and he's now a great horse at 8. The second one had
problems (different horse). The placenta did not come out of the mare
completely, the foal was unable to nurse, and so we bottle fed it both
mamas milk and a supplement. We all tried our best, our vet came back
to check, even our farrier helped, but the foal did not survive. Taht
was one of the worst days of my life. The mare was ok though, after
the vet removed the placenta remains.
Thanks for the advice. I have been giving her some sweet feed, and
senior feed, as well as some whole oats and corn. About 2 scoops a
day. Maybe I should up that to 3 scoops and offer more hay.
If straw has no protein, what does it have. Being a plant, it must
have something nutritious.
>> Also, she is eating more hay than a draft mare I once owned, should I
>> limit her? She's already a bit overweight (not including the
>> pregnancy), and she's 22 to 25 years old.
>
>No, pregnant mares in their last two months of gestation and their
>first two months of lactation should not have their diets limited.
>She will lose weight once she's lactating, maybe too much. Draft
>horses do not eat a whole lot - they tend to have slower metabolisms,
>so it's not a good comparison. A pregnant mare in those last two
>months and first two months will need more than double the feed she
>normally gets.
>
Our draft mare ate a lot. But she was a giant 19.1 hand Percheron.
She was around 20 years old when we got her, had been a log hauling
work horse all her life, had some arthritis, and no one would bid on
her at an auction. We could not resist, and for a few dollars we
bought her, then had to pay many more dollars to transport her because
she did not fit in our trailer. But she was worth every penny. A
beautiful horse with personality to match. She died from old age a
few years ago. We only had her for about 3 years, but we will never
forget her.
>good luck and keep us updated,
>cindi
Will do !
By the way, to reply to Lynz, about not keeping her in her pasture.
The reason she wont have it on pasture is many. The top reason is
that there are lots of coyotes around here. Other reasons are because
my pastures are very hilly with a creek, and rough terrain, the
stallion (sire) is out there (even though I dont think he's harm his
own, but why take chances), and lastly I only have electric fences,
and if the foal gets under the fence how will mama care for it. Then
too, I dont want to have to hike all around that large pasture 10
times a day.
Also, we have had lots of rain along with the spring melt, and lots
of muddy areas. The area out front of the barn is finally pretty dry.
I have half a round pen in front of the barn. She can enter the open
barn door, and we used a few steel gates indoors, so she can only go
into the first stall. With any luck, the guys will complete the lean
on the front of the barn so she can use that rather than the stall.
So far they got the roof done and are starting to close the walls. I
think she might get an attitude with the mare in the next stall
otherwise. But if the lean is not done in time, I told the guys to
hang a plywood panel above the stall wall to block that stall from
view.
This corral is inside the pasture, so the stallion can come and visit
her, but cant enter. He's always up there snorting and hollaring,
because his mare is locked up. At night he sleeps right outside the
corral. We've never seen any coyotes near the buildings, but I'll
feel safer having the stallion close by to her after she foals. He's
a sweet horse, but I know he can fight and will protect her and the
foal. He's an appaloosa, with some pony in his background, probably a
welsh cob. (large, almost draft-like body, but short legs), and mama
is a Pinto-Quarter Horse. Both are very colorful. I cant wait to see
the foal. I was told that mama might have a little Belgian in her
too, and she's got tthe build for it. I better get some sleep.
Thanks for the links to your pictures. You got some nice looking
horses and foals.
Liz
cindi
advice on what to clean the umbilical stump with changed from iodine
or betadine to novalsan. Iodine kills tissue, and dead tissue is very
susceptible to becoming infected. You want to dilute the novalsan
with water so it is just a light sky blue color. As for straw, it is
around 4% protein usually, and is mainly fiber. Sorry to hear about
your foal that died, that is awful. I had a retained placenta here
once but everything turned out OK.
take care,
cindi