Mare and Foal Nutrition
Bluebonnet® Pro Balance
COVER ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
Pro Balance is formulated with concentrated levels of essential nutrients.
✔ Forage-Only Diets
✔ Weight-loss, with fortified feeds fed less than recommended
✔ Compliment oats or other non-fortified grains
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(1-2 month supply)
Bluebonnet Lifeline®+ Equine
FERTILITY SUPPORT
Supports the reproductive tract, lungs, gut, and immune system, with a unique mix of European-sourced plasma and a fermentable digestive aid.
✔ Aging and older mares
✔ Hard-keepers and high-anxiety mares
✔ General digestive and fertility support
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Bluebonnet® Omega+
EMBRYO TRANSFER & FERTILITY SUPPORT
Specific source of Omega-3's, shown by studies to support early pregnancy maintenance, and fertility markers in broodmares.
✔ Aging and older mares
✔ General digestive, immune, and fertility support
✔ Embryo development
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Bluebonnet® Omega+
FETAL PROGRAMMING & FOAL DEVELOPMENT
Immunity and digestive support. Plus, possible support for bone metabolism, memory and cognition for foals.
✔ Marine-sourced DHA omega-3's
✔ Balanced ratio of omega-3 & omega-6 fatty acids
✔ Plus protein & antioxidants
NUTRITION CHECKLIST
CHECKLIST
THE ESSENTIALS
HEALTHY WEIGHT AND CONDITION
Begin the breeding season with a body condition score (BCS) between 5 and 6, maintaining throughout pregnancy and lactation. An already healthy broodmare will not require increased calories, until around month 5 (with a big jump in the third trimester.
Underweight broodmares are at a much higher risk for:
- significantly lower conception rates
- early pregnancy loss
- impaired foal development including lower immunity and orthopedic diseases (OCDs, etc.)
- reduced growth rates across bones, organs, muscles and other tissues
Overweight broodmares commonly have increased risks for:
- long-term impacts from extra physical strain
- metabolic issues for both mare and foal
- more difficult pregnancies
- decreased colostrum quality and milk production
- foal growth and developmental issues
PROVIDE A DIET BALANCER OR FORTIFIED FEED TO COVER ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
Look for products that include guaranteed levels of the nutrients listed below. Even before energy needs increase, these nutrients have been shown to be important to supporting: fertility, embryo development and maintaining an early pregnancy
Amino acids
- Lysine
- Methionine
Antioxidants:
- Vitamin A
Essential minerals:
- calcium
- magnesium
- phosphorus
Trace Minerals
- Zinc Methionine Complex
- Copper Lysine Complex
- Manganese Methionine Complex
- Selenium
INCREASE CALORIES AND NUTRIENT INTAKE STARTING AROUND MONTH 5, THROUGH A FORTIFIED FEED TO MEET GROWING FOAL NEEDS
Requirements begin increasing around month 5. By the third trimester, most mares will need extra calories through a feed or supplment due to rapid fetus growth, and eating less hay when the foal is taking up more room in her body.
EXTRA BOOSTS
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OR EMBRYO TRANSFER
The collective benefits of Omega-3s have the potential to help reduce the number of cycles to get a viable pregnancy. Some studies have shown a balanced diet, rich in specific Omega-3s can support:
- fertility
- embryo development
HIGH-ANXIETY MARES AND HARD KEEPERS
Studies show that supplementing plasma (serum-based proteins) may help:
- Lower stress biomarkers, to support improved conception and pregnancy rates
- support enhanced gut function, allowing for greater nutrient absorption and condition maintenance
OLDER MARES & FERTILITY SUPPORT
Older broodmares experience decreased hormone levels and egg production, often making breeding challenge.
Some nutrients have shown to be particularly helpful in aging broodmares, including:
- Plasma's benefits to digestive health and nutrient absorption, to support improved conception and pregnancy rates
- Omega-3's for fertility and early pregnancy
FOAL DEVELOPMENT BOOSTS
Newer research in foals and young horses indicates that certain Omega-3s could benefit:
- improve bone metabolism
- memory and cognition