Mare Care Mix

MARE CARE is a feed specifically formulated for broodmares during late pregnancy and lactation. Body condition can be a significant factor affecting mares’ reproductive performance; mares maintained in moderate body condition cycle earlier in the year, require fewer cycles for conception, have a higher pregnancy rate, and are able to maintain pregnancy better than thinner mares. A body condition scoring system usually ranges from 1 to 9. A mare in the lower part of the range is emaciated and a mare in the upper part of the range is obese. Using this system, research has determined that a mare with a condition score below 5 may not have enough stored body fat to support efficient reproductive performance. These mares are more likely to miss a breeding season than mares with a score of 5 or 6 and is particularly prevalent in mares older than 15 years.

MARE CARE is fortified with Stamm 30® for nutrient continuity and has the added benefits of flexible energy levels to control body conditions when the two foods are used together between the beginning and end of pregnancy. This feed can also be introduced as little as 30 days before the mare’s due date to provide her with balanced and appropriate nutritional support in preparation for foaling.

There are three additional elements to support the broodmare and foal:

• natural vitamin E is retained in tissues for longer periods of time than synthetic vitamin E, creating a reservoir that allows it to be immediately available when the horse needs it most: during periods of stress or during periods of confinement. Due to modern management practices, including early breeding dates, mares may not receive adequate vitamin E nutrition through rations composed largely of hay and grain and limited access to pasture. Mare-Care will help increase circulating levels of natural vitamin E, which can positively influence fertility and colostrum quality;
• the omega-3 fatty acids e omega-6 are necessary for the production and distribution of hormone-like substances that increase the chances of successful pregnancy, as mares are more likely to carry to term and foals are more likely to have more correct birth weights. These results suggest that mares with a history of abortions may benefit from nutritional support with omega-3 fatty acids. Mare-Care provides additional omega-3 fatty acids that may offer many reproductive benefits as research suggests that they may optimize conception rates and support fertility. Fertility studies have shown that follicles grow faster, forming more vigorous embryos, in mares fed omega-3. These fatty acids can be passed from the mother to the foal through milk. In fact, we know that supplementation of the broodmare is also beneficial to the foal. Mares that receive feed supplements produce a richer colostrum, which could benefit their foals’ health for a stronger immune system;
• Bio-Mos® is a source of manna oligosaccharide, a five-carbon-atom sugar complex derived from yeast cell walls that is not absorbed by the digestive tract. It has the unique ability to bind to pathogenic bacteria and simply carry them out of the horse’s body. Bio-Mos® has also been shown to support the horse’s immune system. Studies have shown that the inclusion of Bio-Mos® in broodmares’ diets optimizes colostrum quality as their foals have higher levels of IgG in their blood, offering them greater protection against disease organisms.