This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (BRIAN C JACOBSEN) To answer Gail's questions:
"Does one need to take much better care with calcium supplementation for the mare - possible danger of depleting the bone calcium? Can they replace the calcium fast enough, even if you supply it? (50+ woman whose OB GYN harps on calcium consumption)." ---> Calcium deficiency is not as much a worry in horses as it is in people. However, the mare does put a lot of calcium in that milk, so supplementing her with a "lactating mare" ration or some alfalfa hay is a good idea. "Are there any dangers to the foal in growing too fast. Joint problems (Is there some kind of hip problem that comes from overfeeding foals - I think of the stuff that happens to broiler chickens fed high protein feeds?)." ---> Yes, foals can certainly have problems from growing too fast. Thankfully, Fjord foals are less prone to it than some faster-growing breeds (Quarter Horses, Paints, etc). Epiphysitis (pronounced Ee-pif-ee-sight-iss) is inflammation of the growth plates of the long bones of the legs. It is a result of either an improper Calcium to Phosphorous ratio in the feed, or growing too fast, usually in foals that are being pushed to be as large as possible for a Futurity Show. A young horse (usally less than 1-1/2 years old) with Epiphysitis often has swollen and painful "knees" (the carpus) and walks stiffly or shakes when standing still. Balancing the ration and/or cutting back on the protein and calories usually corrects this problem. And yes, the joints themselves can be affected. Osteochondrosis and Osteochondritis Dissecans refer to defects in the cartilage in the joints , and these have been associated with overfeeding young horses. Since mares' milk is well balanced for the foal, it alone is unlikely to cause much problem. When you add much grain and/or alfalfa hay also, though, you may be asking for trouble. From the mare's point of view, if she is not bred back and is getting enough calcium in her ration, she can go on making milk indefinitely. (I have seen a 4-y-o "filly" nursing her 8-y-o dam; She just never stopped. The mare didn't stop the filly, and the people never separated them.) IF, however, the mare is bred back, the foal should be weaned from her by the time she starts the last 3 months of her gestation; That is the time when the fetus is doing the largest part of its growing, and thus when the mare needs to be able to send the calcium to the fetus, not put it in milk. Also, if the mare is not allowed to have enough of a "dry period" (time between foals when she doesn't have to produce milk), she will produce less milk all the way through the next lactation. Good questions Gail! Brian Jacobsen, DVM Salisbury, North Carolina _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
