colostrum from your mare

[Reble]

My Vet suggested to take colostrum from your mare, and freeze it in ice cube trays,

than put into freezer bag so you only have to unfreeze the amount you need.

Bags can be put in hot water for fast use. Do not use microwave.

He believes good for two years in freezer.

Do any of you freeze your colostrum?

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[tagalong]

I think the two year "shelf life" is a bit long - I never expect more than one year.... and although at the moment I do not have any available, I have followed exactly the same protocol as your vet suggested....

:

 

[Mona]

Yes, I try to keep some on hand also, freezing it in zip loc baggies. I too have heard 2 years is OK.

 

[yankee_minis]

How do you know you're not taking away too much for the current foal?

 

[Reble]

Good Question, I will watch for the answer?

another Question?

How often can you steal, and how much off one mare? Is OK?

 

[Mona]

The mare continues to produce colostrum for the forst 12 hours at least(12-24 I believe). If the foal is drinking well, and often, there ishould be no concern for it not having what it needs, as the mare is continually making it for that time period.

 

[Bess Kelly]

I've saved/frozen each foaling season for many years now. It has not ever put a foal in a compromised situation. The foal gets the first 3-4 hours worth, then I begin to take an ounce or two, every other hour or so. I mark the mare it came from, date, etc. I then continue to obtain some milk from the 2nd day, same deal mark mare and date. If I have a foal who needs help, then I know which is pure colostrum and the rich 2nd day milk. I keep mine from season to season and while I have only needed it once, I have been able to share this little "pot of gold" with others.

Did the same with my donks & goats......needless to say, I have a good amount of frozen milk :bgrin but, I had a separate frig for such things. The goat milk is also good for orphaned deer -- had a wildlife rescuer who often called me for that. Yes, thaw by setting the container of milk into warm water. Too much heat will kill the good stuff in the milk.

My mares have all been very good milkers and sometimes your maidens will be less so......another place to obtain a real quantity is if your foal doesn't make it. We all know how heartbreaking this is but, that mare could very well safe the life of yet another foal by saving a good quantity of colostrum from her, if she was full termed, etc.

OH, I freeze mine by putting it in a little 2oz cup (like a pill cup) and cover with plastic wrap to form a top....when it freezes this way you eliminate the air that causes the product to deteriorate...get freezer burn. If you use actual ice cube trays, after frozen put them into a plastic bag and suck the air out of it to vacuum seal as much as possible.

 

[Boinky]

how much colostrum does a foal need.. I managed to get 3 ounces out of my mare today to freeze.. should i be collecting more for "emergency" since i only have one more foal due this year or is 3 ounces enough for a foal should i absolutely need it?

 

[Reble]

how much colostrum does a foal need.. I managed to get 3 ounces out of my mare today to freeze.. should i be collecting more for "emergency" since i only have one more foal due this year or is 3 ounces enough for a foal should i absolutely need it?

Bump so someone can answer this question Above?

 

[rabbitsfizz]

About 700 ml has been suggested- as a bare minimum- which is about 20-30 ozs- (I THINK!!!!

: )but any foal given replacement colostrum should be IgG tested to make sure the immunity levels are OK- The foal, any foal, should be offered colostrum for the first 12 hours at least- longer if good replacement is available.

I have found a newborn takes around 125 ml a time- this is about 4 ozs- and should be fed every hour for the first three days- although I have stretched these times out- especially if the foal is with the mare with some prospect of actually nursing- the foal needs to get a little hungry in these cases.

I always milk the mare out into a baby bottle as soon as she has foaled, irrespective of the amount of milk she has- if it is a maiden and the foal is up and nursing I will hold off as I have no wish to interfere with this, but if the foal has a slightly slow start I will always off the bottle whilst it is on the ground- I did this with the big foals who were a lot slower rising than the littles, and I just have always done it. It in no way compromises the mares colostrum- by being milked out you encourage the milk through and by stripping the bag you encourage more milk to be replaced- no foal aver strips the bag with the fist nursing, most milk goes on the floor at this stage. I prefer it to go down the foal!!!

 

[DakotahMoon_Ranch]

I do that too Fizz...I am a worry wart and it bugs the heck out of me when a baby is slow to nurse, I'm often almost too eager to 'help' them get the hang of it. So if it looks like it's going to be a slow start, I will milk the mare out and get as much of it in the foal's mouth as I can (if they have a good sucking reflex - which all of mine have had so far *fingers crossed*). Somehow though I never 'remember' to harvest some colostrum to freeze in case I need it. I have to remind myself to do that this year, you just never know when you will need it!!

 

[Reble]

Mares from Which To Collect:

Collect colostrum from mares which are good milkers. Collect one side of the udder and leave the other side for the newborn foal. If the foal is weak or looks like it needs all of the mare's colostrum, don't milk the mare; there will be other mares you can milk.

Mares "leaking, dripping, or losing" colostrum over 1-2 hours before foaling should be milked and the colostrum refrigerated until the mare foals. The foal should be given the colostrum via tubing, bottle, or drinking from a bucket.

Mares that lose a foal at birth: if you are in doubt about the quality of the mare's colostrum, ask your vet.

Mares NOT To Be Collected:

Maiden mares

Poor milking mares

Mares with a history of foaling problems

NI-positive mares (RH negative)

Please note:

Wash the mare's udder with soap and warm water before collecting the colostrum. Rinse thoroughly.

Colostrum that has been frozen and kept frozen is good for two years after the date collected.

Don't store colostrum in baggies or styrofoam containers (they puncture easily); instead use the plastic container and attached test syringe provided by the Bank.

Milk enough to fill a 16 ounce container if possible.Label the bottles with the mare's name and collection date. Other helpful information includes the mare's foaling history (i.e. live foal-excellent milker) or (foal born dead-colostrum saved)

Personal tip: try using a large Pyrex type measuring container- 32 ounce capacity. Milk directly into it. It is handy to hold, and shows you at once how much you have milked.