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-
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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
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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
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Addison Co-op Recognizes
Quality Producers
FREEMAN, N.Y. Addison
Milk Producers Cooperative con
ducted their annual meeting re
cently in Freeman, N.Y. Patron
age checks had been mailed in
December to co-op members.
Robert Button, treasurer, re
ported that the co-op is in sound
financial position.
President Robert Nichols re
ported on the activities of the co
op this past year. The co-op is
concerned about the attrition of
dairy farmers as the result of cur
rent market conditions. Nichols
reminded members that Addison
Co-op could use additional quali
ty producers for their market. He
also noted that United Ag Serv
ices pays a sign up bonus for any
member that signs up a new
member.
James Patsos, CEO of United
Ag Services, discussed the milk
situation and consolidation going
on in the industry. He predicted
that milk prices will improve in
membranes beyond four hours placenta up with baling twine,
post foaling is considered “re- Do not cut the placenta off at the
tained” and a veterinarian should vulva as the weight assists in ex
be contacted. pulsion of the membranes. Con-
Many mares object to the versely, do not pull on these
membranes contacting their membranes as damage to the
hocks and it is advisable to tie the uterus may occur.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 15, 2003-A2l
2003. With the increased milk
price, co-op premiums, and
MILC payments the average
price for 2003 should be about
$l4 per hundredweight, accord
ing to Patsos.
Patsos presented awards to the
top quality producers in Addison
Co-op this past year. Top Quality
Producers are:
•Walk-Moor Farms, Cohoc
ton, N.Y.
•Double D Dairy, Cameron
Mills, N.Y.
•Ervin Miller, Jr., Woodhull,
N.Y.
•James and Patricia Welch,
Troupsburg, N.Y.
•Kim Shaklee and Janice
Brown, Canaseraga, N.Y.
•Don and Kathy Bossard, Ca-
naseraga, N.Y.
If anyone has an interest in im
proving this milk market, contact
Bob Nichols, Addison, N.Y. (607)
359-2199.
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