Broodmare Nutrition

Having a mare in foal means that you're taking on new responsibilities. The most important may be your mare's nutrition.

Broodmares should be fed as much forage (pasture or hay) as possible along with the least grain needed to maintain moderate box condition.

Nutrient requirements of non-lactating mares before the second trimester of gestation are similar to those of mares at maintenance.

Broodmares can usually get the protein and energy they require from good-quality pasture. Feeding five or six pounds or more daily of a properly fortified commercial grain mix, such as Southern States Broodmare Special, should provide adequate vitamins and minerals.

However, if you feed less commercial grain mix or plain oats than that, you'll need to supplement your mare's diet with additional minerals and vitamins, such as those found in Equimin, to support proper fetal development.

Many people believe that in the second half of gestation, mares require much more protein and energy. While mares require slightly more protein and energy then, mineral and vitamin requirements, especially for calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and vitamin A, increase most.

Mineral deficiency is not as critical for the mare at this time as it is for the developing fetus. Vitamin/mineral deficient foals are born weak or susceptible to structural or health disorders.

You probably cannot determine whether a broodmare is suffering from a deficiency simply by her appearance. So it is extremely important during the second half of gestation that you provide supplemental minerals and vitamins. (Note: Warmblood mares are particularly at risk for vitamin and mineral deficiencies.)

When the foal is no longer developing in utero, the mare no longer needs additional vitamins and minerals - assuming her basic mineral requirements are being satisfied.

While the major nutrients you should supply during gestation are minerals and vitamins, the major nutrients you should feed during lactation are protein and energy. You will probably need to feed grain to your lactating mare to maintain moderate body condition. It's best to make a slow change in her ration before she foals. But remember not to overfeed the mare during gestation.

Calcium and phosphorus are also critical to the lactating mare, and she must be able to use them efficiently. Add yeast cultures to the ration to improve the digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in your mare's diet.

The amount of grain you feed should closely follow the mare's milk production.

When her milk production reaches maximum levels 6 to 8 weeks into lactation, she should receive the most grain.

Gradually decrease the amount of grain following peak lactation in order to prevent the mare from becoming over-conditioned.

Feed mares as much forage as possible, along with the least grain needed to maintain moderate body condition.

Give mares adequate minerals, and vitamins A and E during gestation. (This requires five to six pounds or more of properly fortified feed such as Southern States Broodmare Special, or other feed supplemented with Equimin.)

Use a feed that contains yeast cultures and mineral proteinates, specially for lactating mares.

Many pregnant mares exhibit problems during the first 60 days following breeding.

Early embryonic death can be associated with improper nutrition, reduced stress resistance and increased susceptibility to disease in the mare. The inclusion of mineral proteinates in the diet has been successfully used to reduce the frequency of these problems.

Also, current research has demonstrated that mares receiving mineral proteinates produce a greater number of viable embryos each ovulation cycle, and the health of their uterine tissue is also better.


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The most important may be your mare's nutrition. Proper nutrition during gestation is critical to producing a healthy foal. There are three common mistakes in broodmare nutrition. They are: 1) Feeding too much protein and energy during gestation. 2) Underfeeding minerals and vitamins during gestation. 3) Underfeeding protein and energy during lactation. Broodmares should be fed as much forage (pasture or hay) as possible along with the least grain needed to maintain moderate box condition. Nutrient requirements of non-lactating mares before the second trimester of gestation are similar to those of mares at maintenance. Broodmares can usually get the protein and energy they require from good-quality pasture. Feeding five or six pounds or more daily of a properly fortified commercial grain mix, such as Southern States Broodmare Special, should provide adequate vitamins and minerals. However, if you feed less commercial grain mix or plain oats than that, you'll need to supplement your mare's diet with additional minerals and vitamins, such as those found in Equimin, to support proper fetal development. Many people believe that in the second half of gestation, mares require much more protein and energy. While mares require slightly more protein and energy then, mineral and vitamin requirements, especially for calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and vitamin A, increase most. Mineral deficiency is not as critical for the mare at this time as it is for the developing fetus. Vitamin/mineral deficient foals are born weak or susceptible to structural or health disorders. You probably cannot determine whether a broodmare is suffering from a deficiency simply by her appearance. So it is extremely important during the second half of gestation that you provide supplemental minerals and vitamins. (Note: Warmblood mares are particularly at risk for vitamin and mineral deficiencies.) When the foal is no longer developing in utero, the mare no longer needs additional vitamins and minerals - assuming her basic mineral requirements are being satisfied. While the major nutrients you should supply during gestation are minerals and vitamins, the major nutrients you should feed during lactation are protein and energy. You will probably need to feed grain to your lactating mare to maintain moderate body condition. It's best to make a slow change in her ration before she foals. But remember not to overfeed the mare during gestation. Calcium and phosphorus are also critical to the lactating mare, and she must be able to use them efficiently. Add yeast cultures to the ration to improve the digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in your mare's diet. The amount of grain you feed should closely follow the mare's milk production. When her milk production reaches maximum levels 6 to 8 weeks into lactation, she should receive the most grain. Gradually decrease the amount of grain following peak lactation in order to prevent the mare from becoming over-conditioned. Key elements in broodmare nutrition Don't overfeed protein and energy during gestation. Increase protein and energy during lactation. Feed mares as much forage as possible, along with the least grain needed to maintain moderate body condition. Give mares adequate minerals, and vitamins A and E during gestation. (This requires five to six pounds or more of properly fortified feed such as Southern States Broodmare Special, or other feed supplemented with Equimin.) Use a feed that contains yeast cultures and mineral proteinates, specially for lactating mares. One way to help keep mares healthy and in foal Many pregnant mares exhibit problems during the first 60 days following breeding. Early embryonic death can be associated with improper nutrition, reduced stress resistance and increased susceptibility to disease in the mare. The inclusion of mineral proteinates in the diet has been successfully used to reduce the frequency of these problems. Also, current research has demonstrated that mares receiving mineral proteinates produce a greater number of viable embryos each ovulation cycle, and the health of their uterine tissue is also better.