Weaning: Nutritional Factors for the Mare - from KER

Kentucky Equine Research has just released a new article on the mare's nutritional needs, particularly at and after weaning. Here's an excerpt:

"When a mare gives birth, the foal is completely dependent on her milk for its nutrient and energy needs. A healthy, properly nourished mare produces 3-4% of her body weight in milk per day. For an 1,100-lb (500-kg) mare, that could be 33-44 pounds of milk every day!

"Thus, the mare’s energy and protein needs double and triple, respectively, in the first three months of lactation. ..."

Read the full article here.