The nutritionists and technicians at Connolly’s RED MILLS and Foran Equine are always engaging with the equine industry to provide expert advice and guidance that supports the health and performance of your horse. You can reach out to the expert nutritional team for advice on the best nutritional programme for your horse.
Colostrum – what is important?
Providing optimal nutrition for broodmares is vital throughout the entire pregnancy to support her wellbeing and the growth and development of the foetus.
A mare’s nutritional requirements increases during the third trimester and as she approaches her final weeks of gestation, her diet is fundamental in determining the quality of her colostrum.
Colostrum is the “first milk” produced by the mare immediately post-foaling, this generally tends to be a thick, sticky, yellow-ish liquid. The quality of colostrum generally refers to the amount of infection fighting immunoglobulins (IGs) or antibodies present.
Immune system
Foals are born with a functioning immune system, but it is considered naïve as it is not equipped with a ready to go supply of antibodies. The nature of the equine placenta is such that transfer of antibodies in-utero is inhibited, therefore, the foal requires an immediate supply from the mare in the form of colostrum post foaling.
The antibodies received through the colostrum will provide protection until the foal is producing its own antibody supply a few weeks later. It is crucial that the mare’s colostrum is of a high enough quality to provide the foal with adequate protection from invading pathogens.
Yeast probiotic supplementation
Yeasts are a single celled microorganism and are part of the Fungi kingdom. There are many types of yeast, but generally within equine nutrition we are talking about Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC). To confuse matters further, there are various strains of SC and only a few are permitted in Europe for use in equine feeds.
Yeasts function as a probiotic due to a few key capabilities:
(1) Live yeasts are oxygen scavengers; they therefore promote the growth of desirable anaerobic bacteria (those that do not like oxygen).
(2) They produce metabolites that promote the growth of lactic acid utilising bacteria, leading to a consistent pH, less likely to be acidic.
(3) Yeast competes with the lactic acid producing Streptococci bacteria for sugar, therefore limiting its growth.
The Connolly’s RED MILLS Horse Care Range contains a live yeast probiotic, in the form of SC. This is uniform across all Horse Care products, so whether your mare just needs a smaller ration of Grocare Balancer if she is a particularly good doer, or a full ration of Horse Care 14 Cubes/Mix, she will benefit from the additional live yeast in her diet. This will be especially important in the final trimester of pregnancy in order to help improve colostrum quality.
Foals are born with a functioning immune system, but it is considered naïve as it is not equipped with a ready to go supply of antibodies.
Clinical trials and potential benefits for the foal
Several studies have been carried out in farm animals and horses looking into the different effects of live yeast supplementation on both mother and offspring.
The relationship between live yeast supplementation and microbiome health, immune health, and weight gain are all key research areas being actively examined.
One study involved a group of 40 pregnant mares (study 1) that were divided equally into a supplemented group and a non-supplemented group (control).
Live yeast in the form of SC was added at a rate of 10g/mare/day to the basal diet from day 300 of gestation to 180 days post-foaling.
The results showed mares supplemented with the live yeast probiotic had significantly higher colostrum quality, with increased IgG concentrations both in colostrum (pre-suckling) and in the foal’s serum 24-48 hours after the first colostrum intake, compared to the control group.
This shows that supplementing the mares provided the foal with an improved level of circulating IgG, assisting the foal with a better defence to disease in those early days of life.
The study followed foals for up to 6 months postpartum and found that foals from SC supplemented mares had significantly higher body weights at 6 months compared to those from non-supplemented mares.
Foals were given access to the mares concentrate feed, and therefore live yeast, from 14 days of age and the improved weight gain was attributed to improved nutrient absorption and optimisation of the foal’s gastrointestinal microflora, compared to the non-supplemented group.
In a smaller study (study 2) consisting of 11 pregnant mares (5 supplemented and 6 control), there was also a positive effect on colostrum quality from providing live yeast supplementation to mares at a slightly higher intake over a shorter period.
As with study 1, the colostrum quality was improved with a higher concentration of IgG. Interestingly, this study found a positive effect after only 8 days of supplementation. Although foal serum IgG wasn’t measured in this study, it is a reasonable assumption that the colostrum quality would be positively correlated with circulating IgG in the foal.
Other research has showed that when supplementing mares with live yeast, it can induce significant positive changes to the microbiome of the young foal, including better-shaped droppings during the first 20 days of life.
It has also showed that when foals themselves were supplemented with live yeast in the first 20 days of life, they showed an improved microbiome profile with less harmful bacteria and toxins. Weight gain was also shown to be greater in the supplemented group compared to the control.
These trials show that supplementing mares with a live yeast probiotic during late pregnancy has multiple benefits including improved colostrum quality resulting in a foal that is better equipped with infection fighting IgG, improved gastrointestinal health, weight gain and overall development of the foal.
What else can we do to improve colostrum?
Similar to yeast, probiotics and prebiotics are also well understood for their gastrointestinal health boosting capabilities. Mannan-Oligosaccharide, or MOS, is often added to horse feeds.
A recent review of hundreds of MOS research papers concluded that when MOS is fed to mares, their blood shows increased levels of immunoglobulins.
As a result, they produced colostrum with higher levels of immunoglobulins, which in turn are transferred to the foal bolstering their ability to fight infection in the postnatal period.
The Connolly’s RED MILLS Horse Care Range contains the inclusion of MOS, alongside another prebiotic, Fructo-Oligosaccharide (FOS).
MOS and FOS work synergistically as MOS works as a pathogen binder and helps prevent undesirable bacterial species from colonising the hindgut while FOS works hard to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. Together, they help maintain a healthy hindgut for the mare and contribute to increased IgG levels.
Vitamin E
Another important dietary factor is the addition of vitamin E as it is a powerful antioxidant (particularly in combination with selenium), which has been shown to improve IgG levels when fed to mares at an appropriate level in late pregnancy.
Vitamin E levels are often low in most conserved forages and therefore, owners and breeders should check that their hard feed is providing adequate levels to ensure the mares overall dietary intake is meeting the demands of pregnancy and early lactation.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Providing Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet has been shown to improve IgG levels in colostrum as well as the transfer of IgG and other immune defences through the colostrum to the suckling foal, increasing the immune status of the young foal.
Good grazing is an excellent source of the precursors of Omega-3, but as most horses are predominantly fed conserved forage in the later stages of pregnancy, the best way to supplement the diet with Omega-3 is via an oil, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as flaxseed/ linseed oil.
Foran Equine KENTUCKY KARRON OIL - Quality Omega 3 for horses is a flaxseed oil that provides the optimum ratio of Omega-3s and Omega-6s to help support immune function in mares during late pregnancy and ultimately, benefit the immune defences provided to the newborn foal.
Postbiotics
Postbiotics are a relatively new and exciting area of research that has been shown to mitigate stress hormone levels and inflammation.
Nutritional supplements, such as Foran Equine’s NUTRI-GARD, which contain a combination of postbiotics, B vitamins to support a dwindling appetite, prebiotics for hindgut health, and digestible fibres, can be highly beneficial in supporting broodmares during the stresses of pregnancy.
Postbiotics are a relatively new and exciting area of research that has been shown to mitigate stress hormone levels and inflammation.
To summarise
When it comes to maximising broodmare health and colostrum quality, there will always be many factors to consider such as the quality of the basal diet, condition of your mare, her age and any other health complications she may have.
However, emerging research has unequivocally demonstrated that feeding live yeast, prebiotics and specific nutrients can positively impact colostrum quality and therefore the immune status of the foal.
This is of critical importance in order to give the foal the best start in life, minimising the risk of disease, and maximising potential future performance.
What should I feed my mare?
The Connolly’s RED MILLS Horse Care products provide an ideal nutritional profile to include a live yeast probiotic, two prebiotics and also include elevated levels of vitamin E.
The combination of all of these elements together provides the mare with all the tools to optimise her IgG production, colostrum quality and improve foal immune health.
Horse Care 14 Cubes or Horse Care 14 Mix are generally well-suited to most mares to ensure calorie and protein requirements are met whilst also providing a low starch diet. Alternatively, for mares that may require an even lower starch diet, Horse Care ULTRA Cubes may be a more suitable option with only 4% starch.
Connolly’s RED MILLS Grocare Balancer can also be a useful addition where mares potentially need a lower calorie diet. Grocare Balancer can also be added on top of another feed to boost amino acid levels while also receiving the benefits of the care package.
Utilising these feeds for mares throughout pregnancy helps to optimise colostrum quality and ultimately, give the foal the best possible start in life.
The nutritionists and technicians at Connolly’s RED MILLS and Foran Equine are always engaging with the equine industry to provide expert advice and guidance that supports the health and performance of your horse. You can reach out to the expert nutritional team for advice on the best nutritional programme for your horse.
Colostrum – what is important?
Providing optimal nutrition for broodmares is vital throughout the entire pregnancy to support her wellbeing and the growth and development of the foetus.
A mare’s nutritional requirements increases during the third trimester and as she approaches her final weeks of gestation, her diet is fundamental in determining the quality of her colostrum.
Colostrum is the “first milk” produced by the mare immediately post-foaling, this generally tends to be a thick, sticky, yellow-ish liquid. The quality of colostrum generally refers to the amount of infection fighting immunoglobulins (IGs) or antibodies present.
Immune system
Foals are born with a functioning immune system, but it is considered naïve as it is not equipped with a ready to go supply of antibodies. The nature of the equine placenta is such that transfer of antibodies in-utero is inhibited, therefore, the foal requires an immediate supply from the mare in the form of colostrum post foaling.
The antibodies received through the colostrum will provide protection until the foal is producing its own antibody supply a few weeks later. It is crucial that the mare’s colostrum is of a high enough quality to provide the foal with adequate protection from invading pathogens.
Yeast probiotic supplementation
Yeasts are a single celled microorganism and are part of the Fungi kingdom. There are many types of yeast, but generally within equine nutrition we are talking about Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC). To confuse matters further, there are various strains of SC and only a few are permitted in Europe for use in equine feeds.
Yeasts function as a probiotic due to a few key capabilities:
(1) Live yeasts are oxygen scavengers; they therefore promote the growth of desirable anaerobic bacteria (those that do not like oxygen).
(2) They produce metabolites that promote the growth of lactic acid utilising bacteria, leading to a consistent pH, less likely to be acidic.
(3) Yeast competes with the lactic acid producing Streptococci bacteria for sugar, therefore limiting its growth.
The Connolly’s RED MILLS Horse Care Range contains a live yeast probiotic, in the form of SC. This is uniform across all Horse Care products, so whether your mare just needs a smaller ration of Grocare Balancer if she is a particularly good doer, or a full ration of Horse Care 14 Cubes/Mix, she will benefit from the additional live yeast in her diet. This will be especially important in the final trimester of pregnancy in order to help improve colostrum quality.
Foals are born with a functioning immune system, but it is considered naïve as it is not equipped with a ready to go supply of antibodies.
Clinical trials and potential benefits for the foal
Several studies have been carried out in farm animals and horses looking into the different effects of live yeast supplementation on both mother and offspring.
The relationship between live yeast supplementation and microbiome health, immune health, and weight gain are all key research areas being actively examined.
One study involved a group of 40 pregnant mares (study 1) that were divided equally into a supplemented group and a non-supplemented group (control).
Live yeast in the form of SC was added at a rate of 10g/mare/day to the basal diet from day 300 of gestation to 180 days post-foaling.
The results showed mares supplemented with the live yeast probiotic had significantly higher colostrum quality, with increased IgG concentrations both in colostrum (pre-suckling) and in the foal’s serum 24-48 hours after the first colostrum intake, compared to the control group.
This shows that supplementing the mares provided the foal with an improved level of circulating IgG, assisting the foal with a better defence to disease in those early days of life.
The study followed foals for up to 6 months postpartum and found that foals from SC supplemented mares had significantly higher body weights at 6 months compared to those from non-supplemented mares.
Foals were given access to the mares concentrate feed, and therefore live yeast, from 14 days of age and the improved weight gain was attributed to improved nutrient absorption and optimisation of the foal’s gastrointestinal microflora, compared to the non-supplemented group.
In a smaller study (study 2) consisting of 11 pregnant mares (5 supplemented and 6 control), there was also a positive effect on colostrum quality from providing live yeast supplementation to mares at a slightly higher intake over a shorter period.
As with study 1, the colostrum quality was improved with a higher concentration of IgG. Interestingly, this study found a positive effect after only 8 days of supplementation. Although foal serum IgG wasn’t measured in this study, it is a reasonable assumption that the colostrum quality would be positively correlated with circulating IgG in the foal.
Other research has showed that when supplementing mares with live yeast, it can induce significant positive changes to the microbiome of the young foal, including better-shaped droppings during the first 20 days of life.
It has also showed that when foals themselves were supplemented with live yeast in the first 20 days of life, they showed an improved microbiome profile with less harmful bacteria and toxins. Weight gain was also shown to be greater in the supplemented group compared to the control.
These trials show that supplementing mares with a live yeast probiotic during late pregnancy has multiple benefits including improved colostrum quality resulting in a foal that is better equipped with infection fighting IgG, improved gastrointestinal health, weight gain and overall development of the foal.
What else can we do to improve colostrum?
Similar to yeast, probiotics and prebiotics are also well understood for their gastrointestinal health boosting capabilities. Mannan-Oligosaccharide, or MOS, is often added to horse feeds.
A recent review of hundreds of MOS research papers concluded that when MOS is fed to mares, their blood shows increased levels of immunoglobulins.
As a result, they produced colostrum with higher levels of immunoglobulins, which in turn are transferred to the foal bolstering their ability to fight infection in the postnatal period.
The Connolly’s RED MILLS Horse Care Range contains the inclusion of MOS, alongside another prebiotic, Fructo-Oligosaccharide (FOS).
MOS and FOS work synergistically as MOS works as a pathogen binder and helps prevent undesirable bacterial species from colonising the hindgut while FOS works hard to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. Together, they help maintain a healthy hindgut for the mare and contribute to increased IgG levels.
Vitamin E
Another important dietary factor is the addition of vitamin E as it is a powerful antioxidant (particularly in combination with selenium), which has been shown to improve IgG levels when fed to mares at an appropriate level in late pregnancy.
Vitamin E levels are often low in most conserved forages and therefore, owners and breeders should check that their hard feed is providing adequate levels to ensure the mares overall dietary intake is meeting the demands of pregnancy and early lactation.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Providing Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet has been shown to improve IgG levels in colostrum as well as the transfer of IgG and other immune defences through the colostrum to the suckling foal, increasing the immune status of the young foal.
Good grazing is an excellent source of the precursors of Omega-3, but as most horses are predominantly fed conserved forage in the later stages of pregnancy, the best way to supplement the diet with Omega-3 is via an oil, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as flaxseed/ linseed oil.
Foran Equine KENTUCKY KARRON OIL - Quality Omega 3 for horses is a flaxseed oil that provides the optimum ratio of Omega-3s and Omega-6s to help support immune function in mares during late pregnancy and ultimately, benefit the immune defences provided to the newborn foal.
Postbiotics
Postbiotics are a relatively new and exciting area of research that has been shown to mitigate stress hormone levels and inflammation.
Nutritional supplements, such as Foran Equine’s NUTRI-GARD, which contain a combination of postbiotics, B vitamins to support a dwindling appetite, prebiotics for hindgut health, and digestible fibres, can be highly beneficial in supporting broodmares during the stresses of pregnancy.
Postbiotics are a relatively new and exciting area of research that has been shown to mitigate stress hormone levels and inflammation.
To summarise
When it comes to maximising broodmare health and colostrum quality, there will always be many factors to consider such as the quality of the basal diet, condition of your mare, her age and any other health complications she may have.
However, emerging research has unequivocally demonstrated that feeding live yeast, prebiotics and specific nutrients can positively impact colostrum quality and therefore the immune status of the foal.
This is of critical importance in order to give the foal the best start in life, minimising the risk of disease, and maximising potential future performance.
What should I feed my mare?
The Connolly’s RED MILLS Horse Care products provide an ideal nutritional profile to include a live yeast probiotic, two prebiotics and also include elevated levels of vitamin E.
The combination of all of these elements together provides the mare with all the tools to optimise her IgG production, colostrum quality and improve foal immune health.
Horse Care 14 Cubes or Horse Care 14 Mix are generally well-suited to most mares to ensure calorie and protein requirements are met whilst also providing a low starch diet. Alternatively, for mares that may require an even lower starch diet, Horse Care ULTRA Cubes may be a more suitable option with only 4% starch.
Connolly’s RED MILLS Grocare Balancer can also be a useful addition where mares potentially need a lower calorie diet. Grocare Balancer can also be added on top of another feed to boost amino acid levels while also receiving the benefits of the care package.
Utilising these feeds for mares throughout pregnancy helps to optimise colostrum quality and ultimately, give the foal the best possible start in life.
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