[Sondra]

My mare had a gorgeous foal last year, Blue roan pinto with one blue eye and two blue eye lids; a real looker. However, unknown to me, my mare is a carrier of NI. Her foal died with in 2 days of being born. This summer while I was away for a week my mare was put in the pasture with our stud due to a miss communication. Of course, she is bred again. With NI, it is only present in the mother's colostrum, it does not effect the normal milk. So, I have been looking for alternatives. My one trainer told me that a few years ago when her one mare didn't produce any colostrum she purchased some from the local feed store and the baby did great. Have any of you ever used Colostrum powder?

[tightpaycheck]

What is NI?

[Sondra]

NI= Neonatal Isoerythrolysis. The Anti bodies in the mother's colostrum attack the baby's red blood cells. Also known as Jaundice syndrom. It kills them with in days.

[CayceV]

I keep colostrum paste on hand, but have never used powder. You might look into a colostrum bank to see if you can get some from another mare.

[Sandra-A1]

Jeffers has several different ones that can be used on multiple species.
Dried Colostrum (Natur's Way)
Colostrum Supplement (Manna Pro)
Colostrum Starter Supplement (Natur's Way)

Save-A-Caf® Ultra Start™ Colostrum Supplement (Milk Products Inc.) it says that this can be used with foals too.


You might want to check there and see if any are of interest to you:
Livestock Supplies at Jeffers Livestock: Livestock Supply, Livestock Supplies, Livestock Vaccines, Livestock Supply Stores, Discount Livestock Supplies, Livestock Equipment, Goat Supply, Rabbit Supply, Livestock Fencing, Fence Supplies and Farm Suppl

[Sondra]

Thank you!

[Equine Repro]

Originally Posted by Sondra

My mare had a gorgeous foal last year, Blue roan pinto with one blue eye and two blue eye lids; a real looker. However, unknown to me, my mare is a carrier of NI. Her foal died with in 2 days of being born. This summer while I was away for a week my mare was put in the pasture with our stud due to a miss communication. Of course, she is bred again. With NI, it is only present in the mother's colostrum, it does not effect the normal milk. So, I have been looking for alternatives. My one trainer told me that a few years ago when her one mare didn't produce any colostrum she purchased some from the local feed store and the baby did great. Have any of you ever used Colostrum powder?

Is the stallion the same sire as the one for the foal last year? NI is directly linked to specific breedings and a blood test can be performed to determine whether or not this particular breeding is at risk. If the stallion is a different sire than the previous foal's, you may be fine. Talk to your veterinarian. NI is NOT fun.

Unfortunately, the replacement milks do not provide appropriate passive transfer for your foal. You would be better locating a source for mare colostrum. There are banks for it if you search now. Or, have a product such as Seramune on hand for when the foal is born. Be sure to have an IgG test done on the foal, as well.

Good luck!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
Equine Reproduction

[katylynn06]

When is your foal due? When I was looking for colostrum I found the powder for $14.95 at the feed store and found some paste for $125 at a vet in the next county. I asked my vet what would be the difference and he said the $125 paste is as close to real colostrum you can get w/o getting it from the mare. It actually contains all the IGg stuff the foal needs. Where the powder for $14.95 is all synthetic.

[Sondra]

My mare is due in June. I'm thinking maybe I will buy the paste and then feed foal lac powder untill the Mare's colostrum is done.

[AQHA Hunter]

Per my animal breeding/genetics professor, powdered colostrum is of little to no value. The special protein molecules in colostrum are too easily broken down by any type of heating, drying, etc. I agree that if you can find a paste or frozen mare colostrum, that would be your best bet. Good luck!