How do you check your mares milk?

Equine Repro · 04-13-2007, 06:11 AM

I'm going to respond here as there are a few posts that are incorrect and/or misinformed, although not uncommon.

By testing the mare's milk on a regular basis, you are NOT compromising the colostrum or risking stirpping it out. A few drops which is all you need, won't have any impact whatsoever. With that said, I'll try and explain what to look for.

Firstly, waxing is a poor and unreliable indicator of impending foaling. Mares can and do wax anywhere up to a month before foaling...if they wax at all! Don't watch for wax as you could be completely fooled.

It is not completely understood what triggers foaling in the mare. Obviously, there are specific cascades of hormones and stimulus that will result in the mare going into labor, but it's complex and not any one specific thing. With that said, calcium in the blood stream is known to be essential as part of the process. It works somewhat like a conduit for stimulating parturition. As part of that calciums appearance in the blood stream, it also precipates out into the mare's milk...usually <smile>. NOTHING is absolute in the equine. But, with that said, calcium is visible!! Therefore it does make it a bit easier for those of us on foal watch. With that said, when I'm on foal watch, I check the mares' milk twice a day - usually at morning and evening feedings. A few drops in the palm of my hand is sufficient to give me an indication of whether or not I need to stay up that night, or get another night's sleep <smile>.

Usually, the milk will start out as clear, watery and maybe slightly yellow in color. It'll taste salty, almost like sweat. As it begins to change, it will become thicker, stickier and somewhat like honey in consistency, but it will still be clear and may become more yellow in color - it will still be slightly salty in taste, but less salty as things progress. As it gets closer, the milk will become slightly white (that's when you begin going on high alert!!!) almost the color of skim milk. The taste will become bland, almost tasteless. As things progress, it will become whiter, more opaque and thicker in consistency. Usually when the milk becomes heavy looking, about the color and consistency of cream, and becomes slightly sweet in taste, foaling will usually occur within 24 hours. BE AWARE!!!! All of these changes can occur over a period of days OR hours!!! I have one mare that will literally go from clear fluid first thing in the morning to white, skim milk in color at noon, to foaling by 4 o'clock in the aftternoon

!!! And, I've had mares that will go from the skim milk color to actually foaling over a period of about a week

. Fortunately, once the milk turns, most mares will foal within a couple days.

Testing the milk is probably the most reliable method of determining impending foaling. There is very little risk to anyone (except maybe the person trying to get the sample if dealing with a cranky mare <grin>). In all the years I've been foaling out mares (pushing a few thousand mares now <smile>), I've never had a foal compromised by lack of colostrum!

There are several foal predictor kits available. However, the items they are testing are things that you can actually visualize or taste. So, I prefer to save my money and just do things the old fashioned and cheap way. But then, I'm usually testing more than a few mares, as well!

Good luck and I hope the above helps!

Kathy ST.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
Equine Reproduction

tightpaycheck · 04-13-2007, 06:26 AM

Hmmm ok, so if it is clear, I am doing things right, and it is going to be a while until she foals? Does anyone have a guess as to how quickly it can go form clear to foaling?

breezebayou · 04-13-2007, 06:46 AM

It depends on the mare like she said. Some will change in hours, some stay at clear for days or a week. My mare has had clear yellowish fluid for about 3 days now, last night it started to taste a bit bland/sweet, so maybe we are getting somewhere!! LOL.. So glad she left that info, I didnt like the idea of someone thinking I was taking away colostrum from my mares foal, when only expressing a minute amount..

How far along is your mare? we are at day 332 right now.. still waiting..

Equine Repro · 04-13-2007, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tightpaycheck

Hmmm ok, so if it is clear, I am doing things right, and it is going to be a while until she foals?

Maybe <smile>....

Quote:

Does anyone have a guess as to how quickly it can go form clear to foaling?

See my post above..."All of these changes can occur over a period of days OR hours!!! I have one mare that will literally go from clear fluid first thing in the morning to white, skim milk in color at noon, to foaling by 4 o'clock in the aftternoon

!!! And, I've had mares that will go from the skim milk color to actually foaling over a period of about a week

. Fortunately, once the milk turns, most mares will foal within a couple days. "

It's why I check my mares twice a day. I miss very few foalings, I don't have foaling cameras or foal alert systems. Everything is done visually. Good luck!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
Equine Reproduction

Doll-Face · 04-13-2007, 10:15 AM

What a FANTASTIC post Equine Repro, thank you so much for that great information!

tightpaycheck, this is what Im going through with my mare right now. Shes bagged a LITTLE and all we get is clear drops. I have a test kit and cant wait to use it!

tightpaycheck · 04-13-2007, 01:03 PM

I think she is somewhere around 355 days right now. I don't have the paperwork here, it's at the barn. I tasted it , it was bitter/saltyish. I want something that will tell me if I need to check on her every couple hours or not. If it can change a few hours before foaling then it won't help me much at all.*sigh* I tried to check on the other mare, who is 340 days right now, but that seemed likely to result in me getting hurt. I am going to need a second person to help me there.

breezebayou · 04-13-2007, 01:36 PM

Yes Breeze was quite upset with me yesterday about trying to check hers, and that was WITH 2 of us. Bitter/salty is probably still not quite ready. I have heard across the board that it turns sweet just before. I try to check twice a day, morning and night, now if I saw a change, I would check more often so I wouldnt miss the change.. I am enjoying this thread, it gives me something else to obsess over!! ROFL!

BPH · 04-13-2007, 05:10 PM

well paris milk tonight is SUPER sticky feeling... yesterday i tried it and it didnt taste like anything to me. a week ago it was indeed salty and really thin. tonight is honey colored for sure, but light colored honey. haha

i dont know, i just hope she goes soon. SOON!

tightpaycheck · 04-13-2007, 05:41 PM

I feel for you! I want a baby or two sometime soon.

04-13-2007, 10:15 AM	#15
Doll-Face Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,169 Images: 228	What a FANTASTIC post Equine Repro, thank you so much for that great information! tightpaycheck, this is what Im going through with my mare right now. Shes bagged a LITTLE and all we get is clear drops. I have a test kit and cant wait to use it! __________________ Britnie Proud owner of Huffs Scarlet Rose (Daisy) ~ Reg. QH mare & Tuff ~ 8 month old gray sabino QH colt

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Using nonfat milk instead of evaporated milk?	Jess!	Off Topic	29	04-13-2007 01:23 PM
Never thought about that (gelding to check mares)	prettyqtrs	Horse Breeding	9	06-20-2006 06:41 AM
mares milk	belle4	Horse Breeding	6	09-11-2005 01:37 AM
pool test strips for checking mares milk?	morganslil1	Horse Breeding	8	06-08-2005 12:58 PM
need opinions on mares milk bag	horse_luvr83	Horse Breeding	26	02-20-2005 01:55 PM

04-13-2007, 06:11 AM	#11
Equine Repro Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wynnewood, Oklahoma Posts: 525 Images: 14	I'm going to respond here as there are a few posts that are incorrect and/or misinformed, although not uncommon. By testing the mare's milk on a regular basis, you are NOT compromising the colostrum or risking stirpping it out. A few drops which is all you need, won't have any impact whatsoever. With that said, I'll try and explain what to look for. Firstly, waxing is a poor and unreliable indicator of impending foaling. Mares can and do wax anywhere up to a month before foaling...if they wax at all! Don't watch for wax as you could be completely fooled. It is not completely understood what triggers foaling in the mare. Obviously, there are specific cascades of hormones and stimulus that will result in the mare going into labor, but it's complex and not any one specific thing. With that said, calcium in the blood stream is known to be essential as part of the process. It works somewhat like a conduit for stimulating parturition. As part of that calciums appearance in the blood stream, it also precipates out into the mare's milk...usually <smile>. NOTHING is absolute in the equine. But, with that said, calcium is visible!! Therefore it does make it a bit easier for those of us on foal watch. With that said, when I'm on foal watch, I check the mares' milk twice a day - usually at morning and evening feedings. A few drops in the palm of my hand is sufficient to give me an indication of whether or not I need to stay up that night, or get another night's sleep <smile>. Usually, the milk will start out as clear, watery and maybe slightly yellow in color. It'll taste salty, almost like sweat. As it begins to change, it will become thicker, stickier and somewhat like honey in consistency, but it will still be clear and may become more yellow in color - it will still be slightly salty in taste, but less salty as things progress. As it gets closer, the milk will become slightly white (that's when you begin going on high alert!!!) almost the color of skim milk. The taste will become bland, almost tasteless. As things progress, it will become whiter, more opaque and thicker in consistency. Usually when the milk becomes heavy looking, about the color and consistency of cream, and becomes slightly sweet in taste, foaling will usually occur within 24 hours. BE AWARE!!!! All of these changes can occur over a period of days OR hours!!! I have one mare that will literally go from clear fluid first thing in the morning to white, skim milk in color at noon, to foaling by 4 o'clock in the aftternoon !!! And, I've had mares that will go from the skim milk color to actually foaling over a period of about a week . Fortunately, once the milk turns, most mares will foal within a couple days. Testing the milk is probably the most reliable method of determining impending foaling. There is very little risk to anyone (except maybe the person trying to get the sample if dealing with a cranky mare <grin>). In all the years I've been foaling out mares (pushing a few thousand mares now <smile>), I've never had a foal compromised by lack of colostrum! There are several foal predictor kits available. However, the items they are testing are things that you can actually visualize or taste. So, I prefer to save my money and just do things the old fashioned and cheap way. But then, I'm usually testing more than a few mares, as well! Good luck and I hope the above helps! Kathy ST.Martin Equine Reproduction Short Courses Equine Reproduction

04-13-2007, 06:26 AM	#12
tightpaycheck Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,808 Images: 2	Hmmm ok, so if it is clear, I am doing things right, and it is going to be a while until she foals? Does anyone have a guess as to how quickly it can go form clear to foaling?

04-13-2007, 06:46 AM	#13
breezebayou Full Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 81 Images: 9	It depends on the mare like she said. Some will change in hours, some stay at clear for days or a week. My mare has had clear yellowish fluid for about 3 days now, last night it started to taste a bit bland/sweet, so maybe we are getting somewhere!! LOL.. So glad she left that info, I didnt like the idea of someone thinking I was taking away colostrum from my mares foal, when only expressing a minute amount.. How far along is your mare? we are at day 332 right now.. still waiting..

04-13-2007, 01:03 PM	#16
tightpaycheck Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,808 Images: 2	I think she is somewhere around 355 days right now. I don't have the paperwork here, it's at the barn. I tasted it , it was bitter/saltyish. I want something that will tell me if I need to check on her every couple hours or not. If it can change a few hours before foaling then it won't help me much at all.sigh I tried to check on the other mare, who is 340 days right now, but that seemed likely to result in me getting hurt. I am going to need a second person to help me there.

04-13-2007, 01:36 PM	#17
breezebayou Full Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 81 Images: 9	Yes Breeze was quite upset with me yesterday about trying to check hers, and that was WITH 2 of us. Bitter/salty is probably still not quite ready. I have heard across the board that it turns sweet just before. I try to check twice a day, morning and night, now if I saw a change, I would check more often so I wouldnt miss the change.. I am enjoying this thread, it gives me something else to obsess over!! ROFL!

04-13-2007, 05:10 PM	#18
BPH Full Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Skagit County, Washington Posts: 252 Images: 1	well paris milk tonight is SUPER sticky feeling... yesterday i tried it and it didnt taste like anything to me. a week ago it was indeed salty and really thin. tonight is honey colored for sure, but light colored honey. haha i dont know, i just hope she goes soon. SOON!

04-13-2007, 05:41 PM	#19
tightpaycheck Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,808 Images: 2	I feel for you! I want a baby or two sometime soon.