Transcript Late_Pregnant_Mare

Late Pregnancy & Preparing for
Foaling
Colin Mitchell BVM&S CertEP MRCVS
Hexham
Content
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Mare nutrition
Routine care
Vaccinations
Preparations for
foaling
Definitions
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Mare in foal for 11 months
Gestation = pregnancy = in foal
Lactation / lactating – mare feeding foal
Womb = uterus
Mare Nutrition
• By 7 months of gestation – foetus 17% of
birth weight
• 60% birth weight in last 3 months
• Total weight gain at full term – 10 – 12 %
• Foal birth weight approx 8 – 10 %
• Average TB mare 500 kg (not in foal)
• Average TB foal 45 kg
Mare Requirement
Early – mid gestation
• Early demands
insignificant but not
unimportant
• Good quality pasture
may meet energy and
protein requirements
• Need general mineral
supplement
Early – mid gestation
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Little / no conc feed
required unless :
1. Lactating
2. Pasture / hay quality
or quantity declines
• Do not suddenly
increase or decrease
the mares intake
Exercise
• Can ride quietly and
safely up to 6 / 7
months
• Healthy pregnant mare
benefits from natural
free exercise up to and
including last few
days
• Little proven risk from
natural movement
Late gestation
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From 7 months – feed small, but
increasing amount of conc to diet
Last 3 months, energy demand increases :
9th month
: 10 %
10th month
: 15 %
11th month
: 20 %
Space restrictions
Space Restrictions
Late gestation
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Average 550 – 600
kg TB mare in last
month of pregnancy,
receives:
1.
concentrate
2.
ad lib pasture / hay
/ haylage
Which Concentrate feed ?
• Ca & Pr : Energy
• Differ from
maintenance to
pregnancy & lactation
• Commercially
available conc mixes
designed for the
purpose are
advantageous
Late gestation
• Forage quality –
monitor & feed as
appropriate
• Beware of starving if
obese and overfeeding
if lean
• No sea-weed
Nutrition - complexities
• Grain based diet raises
blood glucose and insulin
for 4 – 6 hours
• Feeding 1 – 2 high starch
meals daily ??
• Surges / changes in
insulin, growth hormone,
glucose and thyroid
hormone
• Developmental
orthopaedic disease
Source of energy
• Fibre and oil based
diets reduce these
hormone fluctuations
• May reduce incidence
of DOD
Feeding oil
• Concentrated source of
energy
• 2 ¼ times the energy of
carbohydrates
• Horses digest well – no
temperament problems
• Introduce gradually
• Remember the ‘100 rule’
The 100 rule
• Do not exceed 100ml
veg oil per 100kg
bodyweight
• For every 100ml fed –
supplement 100iu
vitamin E
Farriery
• Routine trimming
every 6 weeks
• Have re-shod if
usually shod
• Try not to attempt
anything new
• Check ingredients of
any hoof supplements
• Sedatives ???
Dental Care
• Routine rasping –
every 6 – 12months
• Fibre very important
dietary constituent
• Careful handling
• Care with sedatives
Worming Strategy
• Should have one in place
already
• Most quite safe – check
label
• Care with handling
• Good worming + good
dental care
=> Efficient use of good
quality fibre
Vaccinations
• Tetanus – a priority
• Influenza
• Herpes Virus ( EHV )
Tetanus
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Primary course
: 2 injections 4-6 weeks
Boosters
: yearly / other year
Repeat booster 4-6 weeks prior to foaling
Tetanus anti-toxin often given to mare and
foal on first day additionally
Antibody level
booster
booster
Time
Antibody level
F
F
booster
booster
Time
Influenza
• Usually combined
with tetanus
• If programme up to
date - ?continue
• Not usually required
by foal at an early age
Herpes Virus ( EHV )
• 75% of all horses
carriers
• Very widespread
• Highly contagious
• Viral recrudescence
EHV – disease syndromes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Respiratory disease
Abortion
Neonatal foal disease
Paralytic form – uncommon
Sexually Transmitted Disease
Equine Abortion
Cord abnormalities
Placental abnormalities
Foetal abnormalities
EHV
Twinning
Maternal illness
46%
25%
18%
6%
3%
2%
EHV - vaccination
• Given at 5, 7 & 9 months of pregnancy
• Offers protection against abortion
• Can be used to reduce level of EHV in
environment
• Yard situation ??
Colostrum
Foal needs colostrum for :
1. Warmth
2. Energy
3. Laxative
4. Immune system – protection from
environmental “bugs”
As foaling approaches
• Mare – needs to be in foaling environment
at least 3 weeks prior to foaling
• Caslicks removal
• 15’ x 15’ box – thick straw bed
• Overhead light
• Tail bandage
• Wash & dry rear end & hind limbs of mare
with warm water
• CCTV
• Emergency numbers
• Clean towels
• Antibiotic spray