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Re: [RC] feeding broodmares - Susan Garlinghouse, DVMYup, that's all true, alot of good mares will maintain weight very well on good quality grass hay alone. I still prefer adding in the broodmare pellets anyway just for the higher levels of minerals (especially copper and zinc) provided by the pellets. Somewhere around here I have a study that discussed a lower incidence of angular limb deformity issues in foals whose moms were supplemented during gestation, versus those that were not. We sure got alot of crooked-leg foals at CSU and invariably, the mare was on an inappropriate ration during pregnancy, though of course that's not the only factor involved. In addition, I have a farm that I work with whose incidence of ALDs went from 28% to 0% once the mineral profiles were fiddled with a bit. Anyway, good grass hay or pasture sure goes a million miles towards a good healthy mom and baby. I just like the extra insurance. :-) As for what's a good mare pellet---find what's readily available locally, formulated specifically for mares and foals, from a source that has a pretty good turnover so the product is fresh. I like Buckeye Gro 'N Win alot, as well as Purina Omolene, but those aren't readily available everywhere. JMO. Susan G That said--with our Arab mares, we find that we are better off to supplement VERY little, if at all, if we have high-quality hay. Our mares get plenty chunky on hay alone, and raise healthy babies without losing any weight, just with free choice hay. We are deficient in selenium here, but otherwise our hay pretty well meets their needs. So we go through more frequently with E-Se injections for the mares and babies than we do for idle mature horses, but otherwise have no problems. (Disclaimer--given the hay quality in some parts of the country, one may still need to follow Susan's advice--just be aware that it isn't necessary in all situations.) Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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