Feeding The Broodmare: Eating for Two

and selenium are also essential for the foals bones and muscles to grow and develop properly. Because trace minerals are only present in low concentrations in mares milk it is important that these nutrients be supplied in late gestation so that the fetal foal can store them in its liver in adequate amounts to be available for use over the first few months after it is born.
The most commonly deficient vitamins in broodmares in the final trimester are A and E both of which are present in pasture and fresh hay however the amount in the hay deteriorates the longer the hay is stored. When the increased fetal uptake of these nutrients in late gestation coincides with unavailability of pasture and good quality hay that has been storaged for less than three months common in winter vitamins A and E may need to be supplemented. 
Generally speaking adequate amounts of the minerals and vitamins that are essential to the health of the broodmare and developing foal can be ensured with the addition of a good quality vitaminmineral supplement to the broodmares diet. This supplementation is typically not required if the mare is being fed five or six pounds or more of a properly fortified concentrate feed per day. 
Main Photo In early and midgestation many mares may be able to comfortably maintain condition with a diet of good quality forage pasture or hay and a vitaminmineral supplement. As early as the seventh month of pregnancy and almost certainly by the ninth month a broodmare may require the addition of concentrates to the diet to help maintain condition as the growing fetus increases the demands on her body resulting in a corresponding increase in her energy and protein requirements