Question

I recently purchased a mare that is eight months pregnant. She was living in southern California on hay forage with neither grass nor grain, but now she is in Michigan with plenty of grass. She needs groceries to increase her weight (she is BCS of 4 now) and to provide adequate nutrition for the growing foal. We have grass hay that will be fed throughout the day and evening. I plan on providing free-choice salt and minerals for her. How can I help her gain a little weight and provide proper nutrition to the growing foal in the next couple of months?

Answer

To provide your mare with optimal nutrition, a fortified feed or a ration balancer is generally recommended with good-quality forage. I have included some general nutritional guidelines for broodmares in this response. More specific advice depends on several factors, including breed, age, and body condition, among others.

In addition to at least 1.5-2% of her desired body weight in forage (hay and/or pasture) daily, your mare should be fed a high-quality feed specifically formulated for broodmares. Gradually work up to feeding at least the minimum recommended by the manufacturer (probably 5-6 lb or 2.3-2.7 kg), but know that she may require more than this. Keep meals small, under 5 lb (2.3 kg), to be mindful of safe feeding practices.

This ration will significantly boost her calorie intake, which is important for two reasons: (1) she must gain weight to reach moderate body condition (BCS of 5), and (2) she must have access to the nutrients necessary to fuel fetal growth. Some broodmares are maintained slightly heavier (BCS of 6) as parturition approaches, but there is typically a reason for this, e.g., the mare is known to produce a lot of milk in early lactation, thus draining her energy stores.

When mares are in moderate to moderate-plus body condition, as many easy keepers are, they may do well on a ration balancer for most of their pregnancy. A ration balancer provides high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals without supplying too many calories. Nutritional needs generally do not change until the third trimester, when energy, protein, and mineral requirements increase. Providing too much energy can result in obesity and the negative consequences associated with that.

Certain supplements benefit broodmares, such as specific omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. The long-chain fatty acids EPA and DHA support broodmares, especially in the last trimester, to improve the mare’s reproductive health and the developing foal’s overall health. EO-3 is a marine-derived, concentrated source of EPA and DHA that outperforms plant sources of omega-3s. For broodmares, EO-3 supports maintenance of pregnancy, colostrum quality, and passive transfer of antibodies to foals.

Regarding antioxidants, vitamin E plays an important role in immunity, and supplementation may help boost immunoglobulins in colostrum. Most powder vitamin E sources are synthetic or natural acetate that require digestive enzymes for absorption. Nano-E uses advanced technology to encapsulate the fat-soluble vitamin E in a liposome, which increases absorption into the bloodstream.

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