The nutritional status of pregnant and non-pregnant mares grazing South East Queensland pastures.

The research investigates whether pastures in South East Queensland are nutritionally adequate to meet the escalating dietary needs of pregnant mares, particularly during the mid to late stages of gestation when frost may affect the quality of forage available.

Objective of the Study

• The primary goal of this research was to determine if the natural forage available in regions affected by frost, specifically South East Queensland, provides sufficient nutrition to support pregnant horses during their mid to late pregnancy stages.

Study Methodology

• The researchers analyzed the nutritional intake of pregnant mares grazing on grass/legume pastures in South East Queensland, particularly focusing on their intake of digestible energy and digestible nitrogen.
• The study was performed during the frost-affected periods of the year to assess how this could impact the nutrition of the pasture.

Results of the Study

• The researchers established that the pastures were able to meet the increasing nutritional needs of broodmares during their mid and late gestation periods.
• The mares were found to consume digestible energy amounts of 68.0 and 91.7 MJ/day respectively during these periods, both values likely to adequately cover the mares’ caloric requirements.
• Similarly, their digestible nitrogen intake was 91.2 and 138 g/day during mid and late pregnancy, which should meet their needs for protein synthesis, fetal development, and preparation for lactation.

Conclusion

• This study indicates that despite the potential negative effects of frost on pasture quality, the natural forage available in South East Queensland can sustain the dietary demands of pregnant mares.
• However, the study does not address potential variations between different pastures or other factors that might affect the nutritional adequacy of the forage, such as changing weather patterns or diseases. Future research could expand on these aspects to provide a more holistic picture.