Pregnant mares and protein

[frostedpineminis]

Hi I was wondering if people can tell me what percent of protein you give to your pregnant mares as well as how much? I was told by a well know farm that you should not give a pregnant mare anything over 10% protein as she will abort. They also said they feed about 1/2 to 1lb of grain twice a day.

I would like to know how much protein people are feeding their broodmares and how much, I see here and there that people are feeding numbers like 6-8 pounds of pellets and feed ect. are these people feeding hay and how much ect.

I want to start my broodmares on a program but not sure which way to go? I also have some mares that are larger than others, do people feed on a pen basis or somehow feed each individual horse its own program?

My mares are on good quality alfalfa/grass mix hay through a round bale hay net so can eat full time if they want, they have a mineral block with salt and I feed some grain more as a treat. I should also say my mares are in good shape with some being a little more on the "fluffy" side.

We do not have purina mini horse feed or Omelene ect which is why I would like % and amount sorry.

Also my other concern is that since we sort of dropped our percent 2 out of the 6 foals that we had last year had bad bites ( both parents had good conformation and perfect bites as well as other foals with perfect bites) does this have something to do with the protein or is it just a coincidence/ something else I should be investigating

 

[valshingle]

I feed my broodmares Purina Equine Junior starting their last 1-2 months. It is 14.5% protein and about 5% fat. The last month I switch them from alfalfa cubes to alfalfa hay. I also supplement with Platinum Performance.

They get about 1.5 - 2 lbs of grain twice a day.

I get nice healthy foals and mares with a good milk supply.

 

[valshingle]

My mares are fed separately the last month to ensure they get the proper amount and so I can monitor their appetites.

 

[ohmt]

We keep it between 10-12% up until about 60 days before foaling when they are moved up to 12-14%. They are kept there until their foals are weaned.

I would have a complete nutritional analysis of everything your feeding to see if there is something missing.

Were the foals with off bites all sired by the same stallion? Out of related mares?

 

[rabbitsfizz]

The bad bite thing would appear to be recessive, so one of the parents, and it would -probably but not necessarily be the stallion in this case, could "carry" it without exhibiting it at all- it is a flipping nuisance!!

I give my mare around 16% but they are out 24/7 and getting a lot of grass roughage (of course they prefer to graze even poor grass than eat good hay) so I am "making up" for what is missing. They get a "long" feed but not a huge amount of grain. I do not really change feed for foaling as by that time they are on good grass and get very little if any feed.

 

[frostedpineminis]

Thanks guys, non of the stallions or mares where related at all. I really hope its not a recessive gene. These crosses will never be repeated again I guess as I don't own some of the horses anymore but I still hope it is something that I can control if that makes any sense. I guess I will see what this year brings and go from there, it looks like I can up my protein a little when it gets closer to foaling.

 

[frostedpineminis]

sorry not off the same sire or related dam's

 

[wildoak]

I have safely fed more protein than that for many years.. I feed a 14% Bluebonnet pellet to almost everyone, including in foal mares, throughout the year. For the last 2-3 months, pregnant mares are brought up and fed separately, a 15.5% protein/9.5% fat, Purina product designed for mares & foals. The mares stay on it until foals are weaned, and the babies stay on it through their first year. They get a good quality coastal hay and limited alfalfa with this. I don't overfeed grain but I've had very good luck with this in terms of healthy mares & foals, good bone, etc.

Jan