Why is my mare producing milk

Who Designed This Website? We will only send you awesome stuff! Privacy Policy. About Blog Contact 07 Before Days Gestation Premature lactation — whereby a mare begins to drip milk before days of gestation — is gravely serious. After Days Gestation In the hours prior to labour, minor milk dripping is not uncommon.

All Rights Reserved. The starting point for addressing any equine health related issue is your observation. Summary Some mares lactate despite not being pregnant and not nursing a foal. There may be hormonal reasons for this, but the scientific explanation remains unclear.

There is some speculation about whether mares that have Cushing's disease PPID might produce hormones that cause milk production. The appearance of the milk in these mares can range from clear to white to honey-colored. Taken alone, with no other abnormalities or signs of illness, this type of lactation "witches milk" is not of great concern.

However, rarely fluid can be milked from the teats of mares that have swelling near the udder, as the result of an abscess in the area caused by Pigeon Fever. In addition, these mares may also be more susceptible to mastitis. Mastitis usually causes half the udder to swell suddenly and that side will also be warm and possibly painful. When milk is stripped out, it is often a yellow colored thick fluid that contains clots. Very Common. Less Common. Show More. There is an abundance of research to prove that the quality of the milk sets the foundations for a long and sound athletic career for the foal.

Whether your goal is the racetrack, the Olympics or the sales a sound horse is absolutely essential for success. Calcium is particularly well documented as a fundamental building block for strong bones and joints in horses too and plays a key role in muscle development.

Calcium works with phosphorus and the two must be in the correct ratio, Ca:P for healthy growth. Each mare is an individual but many need some help to produce the perfect pint. Restricted grass and early foaling dates mean that the minerals available from grass are not always optimum. Even with excellent grass, hay and feed some mares are just poor milkers and may need a little outside assistance to boost the quality of milk being produced.