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Mare Nutrition at the End of Pregnancy
Pregnancy in mares is divided into three periods: early, middle and late. Each of these periods is important in its own time. However, mare nutrition at the end of pregnancy is very important. This article will discuss nutrition at the end of pregnancy.

During the first 7-8 months of pregnancy, the fetus grows very slowly. The foal’s growth rate during this period is 90 grams per day. Therefore, nutrition during this period does not pose a challenge for the mare. Non-lactating mares at the beginning of pregnancy can be fed like other adult horses. Quality forage along with concentrates providing minerals and vitamins that meet all the mare’s needs is appropriate food during this period.

End of pregnancy
However, during the 3-4 months of the end of pregnancy, the fetus grows and develops faster. It grows about 450 grams per day. During the last 90 days of pregnancy, the foal grows about 450 grams per day. This weight gain has a great impact on the vitamin, mineral, protein and general nutritional needs of the mare at the end of the gestation period. This increase in foal weight also reduces the mare’s abdominal space. Therefore, as the foal size increases, the amount of forage consumed by the mare decreases. As a result, by reducing the amount of forage consumed, the mare should be fed with concentrates rich in grains and vitamin and mineral supplements at the end of gestation.

The role of protein
Even in conditions where the mare’s physical condition is optimal with forage consumption, the consumption of concentrate is also important. Although forage can maintain the body’s calorie requirements to maintain the body’s appearance, it is not able to provide other nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals. Good physical condition of the mare and sufficient fat reserves alone do not guarantee optimal foal growth. Research has shown that the birth weight of the foal is strongly affected by the amount of protein consumed by the mare at the end of gestation. Even in conditions where the mare is completely obese and overweight.

It is not unusual to see weak and stunted foals from obese mares. This is because these mares are fed a high-calorie, low-quality protein diet at the end of their gestation period. Even when high-protein forages such as alfalfa are used in the diet, the diet may be deficient in some amino acids.

Research has shown that even high-quality alfalfa is not completely broken down in the early stages of the digestive tract. Therefore, some of the essential amino acids are not available to the mare. The diet of the mare at the end of her gestation period should be such that a mixture of grains or high-quality protein sources containing the amino acids necessary for optimal foal growth is available to the mare.

Minerals
The unborn foal has its highest mineral reserves during the 10th month of pregnancy. Mares’ milk is also practically poor in trace minerals such as copper, which are essential for bone growth. Therefore, the mare should be fed an adequate amount of minerals during this period. These substances are stored in the developing foal’s body. These substances are consumed by the foal immediately after birth.

In the first weeks after birth, foals do not consume sufficient amounts of nutritious feed. For this reason, the low-requirement minerals are not absorbed in sufficient amounts from the feed at the very beginning of the postnatal development stages. Adequate nutrition of the mare with these minerals at the end of the gestation period ensures that the foal can use these substances in the early stages after birth for optimal growth.

Pastures and forages are usually poor in minerals such as copper and zinc. Therefore, providing sufficient amounts of minerals to feed the mare at the end of the gestation period is vital and essential.