🐴 Feeding the Lean Lactating Mare at Weaning: Recovery Nutrition in 2025 🍼🍽️

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

By the time foals are weaned, many lactating mares—especially those with high-producing milk lines—may be noticeably thin. In 2025, the focus shifts to recovery, reconditioning, and prepping mares for a healthy next breeding cycle. 🧠🐎

📉 Why Mares Get Thin During Lactation

Lactation is one of the most nutritionally demanding stages of a mare's life. Calories are diverted toward milk production at the expense of body condition—especially if forage or feed is inadequate. 🍼

After weaning, it’s important to help the mare recover, but many owners mistakenly restrict feed to try to stop milk production. Here's what the science says. 🧬

🚫 The Myth: Reducing Feed to Stop Milk

Some broodmare owners cut nutrition at weaning to "dry up" the mare—but there's no evidence that feed reduction stops milk production. ❌

Research Findings:

• 📉 Gradual reduction in concentrates over 2 weeks had no ill effects on mares in good condition
• 🧠 Milk production drops naturally after the stimulus of nursing is removed—not because feed is reduced

In fact, for mares that are thin, this approach can be harmful. ⚠️

🧬 Feeding Guidelines for Thin Mares

After the foal is weaned:

• 🍽️ Keep feed levels steady—no need to increase or decrease dramatically
• 📈 Nutrients that once fueled milk production can now support weight gain
• 🛑 Do not milk the mare—this prolongs lactation by stimulating the udder

Monitor for Mastitis:

• 🌡️ Check udders for heat, swelling, or pain
• 🚨 Call your vet if signs of mastitis appear

📋 Nutrition Targets

Provide a balanced diet that includes:

• 🌾 High-quality forage (grass or alfalfa hay)
• 🥣 Moderate concentrates if the mare is underweight
• 🥥 Fat supplements (e.g., rice bran or vegetable oil) if weight gain stalls after 2 months

Fat is an excellent calorie source:

• ✅ Dense in energy
• 💪 Helps gain weight without excess bulk
• 🧠 Easy to add gradually into the feed

📅 Feeding Timeline Post-Weaning

👶 Don’t Forget the Foal

During this transition, ensure the weaned foal continues receiving:

• 🥣 Access to a high-quality, foal-formulated concentrate
• 🩺 Routine vet care, deworming, and vaccinations

The mare’s change in diet should not impact the foal’s nutrition after weaning. 👶

📲 Ask A Vet for Mare Nutrition Help

Is your lactating mare struggling to gain weight after weaning? Visit AskAVet.com or use the Ask A Vet App to build a recovery diet and track progress. 📱🐴

Dr Duncan Houston and the team can help formulate high-calorie, low-risk feed plans and monitor for post-lactation complications. 💬🧠

🏁 Final Thoughts

In 2025, we know that restricting nutrition doesn’t help mares stop producing milk. For lean mares, maintaining and gradually improving caloric intake after weaning supports recovery, future breeding, and long-term health. Feed smart—and support your hardworking broodmares. 🐴❤️

Need a feeding plan for a lean mare? Visit AskAVet.com for custom nutrition support 🐎🍽️