Weaning and feeding your mare question

[eagles ring farm]

When weaning do you

for drying up milk

1-return your mare to her regular amount of feed before foaling (increased for last trimester)

2- return her to her regular feed portion if she is not bred back

3- withhold grain completely

We used to think withholding grain all together was how to dry up a wet mare when weaning but we don't do it anymore and it seems they dry up just fine when getting their regular grain

Your thoughts?

 

[disneyhorse]

Your second option.

 

[chandab]

This year, I did your second option, only a couple days into weaning, so the mares are still drying up, but they seem to be doing fine.

 

[targetsmom]

Well, I always withhold all grain, even for the ones bred back, while they are drying up. Then gradually add back to what they got before the last trimester.

ETA: Actually I kept up the beet pulp and alfalfa cubes so the mares would THINK they were getting grain and didn't try to kill me! But they weren't really fooled....

 

[Miniv]

We've always withheld the grain for a few weeks and then gradually return their feed back to what they'd get before their last trimester and while nursing. However, there's always that BUT.......The exception would be if the mare had been pulled down by nursing. We would handle feeding differently for her.

 

[REO]

I don't withhold feed from my mares when weaning. They always dry up fast and just fine

 

[rabbitsfizz]

I do not feed my mares but, when weaning, I always put the mares through onto fresh grass so they have something to do and to take their minds off the foals. The way I wean they can come and go as they like for the first couple of weeks so the more they "go" the better. They seem to dry up just as fast as in the old days when I did all the fasting stuff- I really do not conside rthat necessary any more.

 

[ohmt]

We do not withhold feed either and the mares have always done just fine. They are on pasture 24/7 and that keeps them busy. We do switch their grain over to a 30% supplement instead of the grain though as that's what all of the mares get over the winter.

 

[supaspot]

I don't withhold feed from my mares when weaning either , I wean gradually, for the first few days they are separated only at night with just a stable door in between them , they can touch muzzles but cant drink , after 2-3 days theyre seperated all day too and get a quick drink morning and evening for another couple of days , then theyre completely separated , the milk dries up very quickly and within 24 hours the bag has softened

 

[eagles ring farm]

I stopped withholding grain about 5 years ago. and it has worked fine for me just checking with everyone again

to get any new thoughts. Thanks for the replys

 

[Becky]

I simply cut my mares feed back to a non nursing mare amount after weaning and they dry up just fine.