THE FOALING MARE Fredrick R. Hofsaess Ph.D. Professor of Animal Science Spring is coming, and for many mares, so are their foals. While the normal gestational length of the mare is 340 days, considerable variation in preg nancy length exists and a varia tion from 320 to 360 days is cer tainly possible. Therefore, the expectant mare should be watched during the last month of pregnancy to avoid “unexpected” arrivals. Mares may exhibit a variety of signs as foaling approaches; with some mares, especially maidens, showing few signs of approaching parturition. Signs may include softening and flaccid musculature around the tailhead, relaxation and edema of the vulva, some filling of the udder, and “dropping” of the abdomen. “Waxing” of the teats may occur a few days to a few hours before foaling. Some mares may leak colostrum for hours or days before foaling. Mares may be sampled for the calcium ion concentration in the udder, as it is known that the cal cium level of the “colostrum” rises 72 to 24 hours before foal ing. As the mare approaches foal- ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ICC CACAM SHOW - OPCN HOUSC ♦ March 22&23 @lO ci.m.-4 p.m. X ♦ Alien Restaurant 6quip. ♦ ♦ Onsite Vendors - Special €quip. Pricing X ♦ fit. 96 Lodi - ♦ ♦ Call 607*582*6532 ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦4 ♦♦♦♦ ♦ -f ♦ Generator Systems Diesel or Propane, 10-500 KW, Agricultural and Industrial. New, Used or Reconditioned Martin Diesel Services Shop (570) 658-5303 Office (570) 922-4494 Let us help you harvest wM |L rmiip maximum tax savings! Smoker CT Tompany www smokercpa com CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ADVISORS 49 E Mam St, Leola, PA 17540 717-656-7544 431 W Mam St, Eph' PA 1752: :phrata, . 717-721 3299 Call to schedule 24 S Mam St, Manheim, pa 17545 your appointment! 717-665-5979 ' *''' ing, most will show some degree of discomfort exhibited by walk ing in circles, looking at their flanks, mild sweating, and rubbing/switching their tail. Many may defecate and uri nate frequently and some will eat a considerable amount of straw while leaving available hay un touched. During this time, the foaling is being positioned and the placental membranes are di lating the cervix. Stage II or “active” labor may last from a few minutes to 20 minutes and includes uterine and abdominal contractions to rup ture the first water bag and ex pulsion of the foal. It is important to leave the mare alone during this time as long as progress is being made with each series of contractions. Commonly there will be four to eight strong contractions fol lowed by a “rest” period of sever al minutes. Normally the feet will pres- first ented (soles down) fol lowed by the nose/ head. If the mare re- mains in Specializing in agricultural tax issues: Farm income averaging Ag preservation Depreciation AMT calculations labor for more than 15-20 min utes with no progress being made, a malposition may exist and the mare should be gotten up and walked while competent as sistance is obtained. Malposition may exist if only one foot is present, if the head does not follow the two feet, more than two feet are presented, feet are upside down, or the nose ap pears without the front feet. As the foal emerges, the inner sac or amnion usually breaks. If the amnion does not break, free the nose/head from the mem brane so the foal is able to breathe. Allow the mare and foal to lie quietly and undisturbed. The foal will usually begin to move about in 10-20 minutes and break the umbilical cord. Most foals will be in dorsal re cumbancy (sitting on their chest) within 30 minutes. The naval stump should be dipped in a con tainer of tincture of iodine. Be careful to avoid contacting the skin with iodine as it may scald the hide of a newborn foal. Redip the cord again at least twice in the next 24 hours. Most foals will develop a nurse reflex within 30-45 minutes after birth. The last stage of labor is the expulsion of the afterbirth or placental membranes. This should take only a few hours and the retention of the placental your cows K-Mag is a unique combination of three nutrients and sulfur - all in a readily available, water-soluble, sulfate form It's also very low in chloride, has a low salt index and won't change soil pH K-Mag supplies your alfalfa with the nutrients needed to produce higher yielding, better quality forage Your cows will benefit from a more nutritional diet to help them produce more milk ~i ’