Collecting Colostrum for your Foal
If you have a pregnant mare in your barn, plan ahead to collect and freeze some of her colostrum — that all-important first milk — so you have it on hand if a foal is born without access to this essential liquid.
Colostrum is produced within the first 24 hours after a mare has foaled and the best quality colostrum is available in the first eight hours post-foaling. Unlike other species that pass antibodies and immunoglobulins across the placenta into the fetus, the foal’s immune system does not kickstart until it receives colostrum during the first 24 hours of life. Newborn foals are able to absorb the life-giving antibodies and nutrients for that first day. After the first 12 hours, colostrum absorption begins to decline, and after 24 hours the foal’s digestive tract changes so the antibodies can no longer be absorbed.
Every foaling season, foals are born without access to this life-giving liquid. Sometimes a mare dies while giving birth. Another mare will reject her foal, or leak milk and colostrum before the foal is born. Another foal may be too weak to stand and nurse. When a foal does not obtain enough quality colostrum to be protected from viruses and bacteria, it is referred to as failure of passive transfer of immunity. Often, the mare can be milked and colostrum either provided to the foal through a bottle or tube, or stored in the freezer until needed.
To collect this magic milk, first allow the newborn foal to properly nurse several times (assuming that he can) and wait until he is resting, ideally about eight hours after birth. Then follow these basic steps:
- Wash your hands and then gently wash the mare’s udder with warm water. Have a clean, reasonably wide plastic container or stainless steel mixing bowl on hand to collect the milk.
