11/11/2025
Feeding your Brood mare through these winter months,
In the early stages of a mare’s pregnancy the fetus grows slowly, therefore the nutritional requirements are very similar to those of a non-pregnant mare.
By the time the mare has been pregnant for five months, this is when the fetal growth rate starts to increase, which results in corresponding increases in the mare’s nutritional requirements.
Even at seven months, the fetus is still very small – less than two percent of the mare’s body weight and only approximately 10 to 15 per cent of its weight at birth.
Fetal growth is most rapid in late gestation and during the final trimester the fetal foal grows approximately one pound per day, this gain is about 70 to 75 per cent of its birth weight.
At this stage with the fetus growth accelerating at a great rate, the mare’s diet must be monitored closely with the nutrient level increased to ensure support for this growth, and the greater demand on the broodmare’s body.
In cases where a mare is undernourished during pregnancy, the mare will naturally use her own bodily stores to nourish the foetus. The mare will quickly lose condition, with her vital mineral stores becoming depleted.
When body reserves are low during late pregnancy and lactation this may result in reduced colostrum quality, poor milk production and reduce re-breeding success.
However also bear in mind that when broodmares become overweight this can lead to problems at foaling and also increase the risk of issues such as laminitis.