STUD NOTES

THEY'RE HERE!

Post foaling procedures and protocol

Having just delivered a live, healthy foal, everyone is happy: the mare, the foal AND the foaling attendant. And although they don’t know just yet (given that the majority are usually tucked up in bed at the time), so is the mare owner. But, for the foal to have the best possible start and for the mare have the best possible opportunity to fall pregnant again, there is still plenty to do, not to mention the paperwork ahead. I am just going to run through a normal scenario of the first 24 hours our post foaling protocol here at Yallambee.

It is our policy that Rick and I try and attend every foaling. Failing that, our son Sam is a great backup and has assisted in many difficult and different scenarios, so is a more than capable primary attendant when required.

Furthermore, we have the backup of experienced night watch to assist in a sticky situation. It is also our policy that all mares (where possible) foal in the stable complex, in a straw box - with the exception of some daytime foalings on nice days. I’m sure it is the case with all studs, but we do not consider the individual monetary value of the mares that enter our front gates. With pregnant mares, our night watch would have no idea of which is an expensive horse, and which isn’t … and we like to keep it that way. The Yallambee philosophy is that someone is paying for a professional foaling supervision of their mare and she is priceless to that owner.

Each mare receives equal treatment at all times. You have to remember that we are mare owners too, and it is always an anxious time waiting for the safe arrival of the foal.

As mentioned in previous articles, the foal is born without natural defences in the form of antibodies. The most likely entry point of pathogens (any disease producing micro organism or ‘foreign’ material) is the newly exposed umbilical stump at foaling. Once the normal foal is fully presented we leave it where it is, umbilical cord intact. At this stage the attendant is still in ‘non presence mode’ despite being behind the mare and with the foal at this stage. If you place your hand gently over the cord, you can feel the pumping transfer of blood between mare and foal. This decreases in intensity over the next few minutes.

The umbilical cord should break by natural rupture as a result of the mare getting up or the foal’s first attempts at movement. The cord should never be cut as it will promote excessive bleeding and the introduction of scissors or whatever piece of equipment is used is unlikely to be sterile.

When a stump is cut, the vessels are less able to contract and “close off” as quickly as the cord that ruptures by natural causes. The very fact there are ragged edges allows the blood to coagulate more efficiently. If the mare is still down, and has not acknowledged her foal (maiden mares for instance), or if we feel the need to bond the foal and its mother, we may drag the foal under the mare’s nose. If we do need to break the cord to accommodate this, we do so by simulating the stretching action associated with foal movement or a mare getting up.

Regardless of how the cord has broken, immediately this happens the cord is sprayed by a diluted Betadine solution. Some people use diluted iodine, but if the iodine is slightly too strong it is irritant … We all know how much we sook it when we put it on our own cuts and, let’s face it, the umbilical stump is a pretty big and deep ‘wound’!

Some stumps may bleed and it may require an umbilical clamp to be placed over the site temporarily. Now it is time to leave mare and foal to their own devices for a while.

Our night watch then begins the paperwork: date, time, colour and sex of the foal are all noted, along with who the primary attendant was. The attendant will make notes about the foaling - easy or hard delivery, any added actions taken during the course of the foaling process, or for that matter, immediately after, such as post foaling colic of the mare, oxygenation of the foal, traction assistance to get the foal out, etc.

Once we are happy that both mare and foal are fine, in good health and love each other, it is at this point the primary attendants (Rick or I) goes back to bed.

Nevertheless, I have trouble getting back to sleep after the adrenaline rush of a foaling (yes, it still happens): and it doesn’t help if you’re wet with foetal fluids and chances are it’s a cold night. Then it’s the night watch’s turn to take over the duties of post foaling care and welfare.

The night watch keeps a close eye on the foal’s first attempts to stand, and may offer some assistance to provide initial stability (the time the foal takes to stand is now added to our observation sheet). The night watch also ensures the foal has nursed in some way during the first 3-4 hours. If it seems unlikely that strong nursing will take place around this time, and there is wastage of precious colostrum trying to get the foal to take the milk through the bottle, then I will be called up and the foal will be fed via a stomach tube with previously collected colostrum. It is amazing how quickly these weaker foals get their act together once they have a good feed. It almost ‘kick starts’ them and they are up and about, seeking and vigorously nursing independently in no time. Just going in and tubing these foals can save a great deal of mucking around and frustration, and is often our first option for the slow nursing foal.

All our staff are trained to know exactly what a normal placenta should look like, and where the likely problems are. Box foaling allows for placentas to be picked up soon after being expelled, and they are unlikely to be damaged. Time of placenta being expelled and the fact it has been carefully observed is noted on the observation sheet. Any abnormalities are noted and I will probably examine the placenta myself to see if anything further needs to be done in response to this finding. Should a placenta still be retained after about four hours it is time for action. Usually an oxytocin injection will sort this problem out, but failing that it will be manually removed. Again, all these actions will feature on the observation sheet.

Passing of meconium (i.e. bowel movement) is an important event. Failure to do this can lead to the meconium impacting, causing foal colic, and in its extreme state, rupture of the bowel. Early meconium is seen as a large number of hard pellets. These pellets will become softer until all the meconium is passed and we now have yellow soft mare milk faeces. This is what we are looking to confirm. Confirming the passing of the meconium is a requirement for us to sign off on the foal. We have enema packs to assist in the passing of meconium, which are very effective.

The night watchman will do drawings of the wet markings of the foal, whereby all hair whorls, white markings and unusual permanent features are noted. We have a picture template in which they can do their colouring in.

At approximately 10 hours, post parturition, I will have expected that:

• The foal is showing good activity levels
• The foal is nursing strongly and had a very good intake of high quality colostrum to pass an IgG test, whether naturally or with intervention
• The mare’s placenta has passed intact
• The foal is well on the way, or has already passed it’s meconium
• Wet markings are done.
• Worm drench the mare 12-24 hours post foaling. This way, each mare is heading out ‘clean’ to the post foaling day paddock

At about this stage we will:

• Get the observation sheet and double check that the sex of the foal is correct! There is nothing worse than telling the owner the wrong sex of the foal

• Take blood from the foal and perform the IgG test and deal with it if there is a reading below required levels
• If not confirmed by a visual sighting of soft yellow faeces, manually check the rectum for evidence for meconium passed or retained meconium, and deal with it
• Check the foal for inverted eye lids, and deal with it if present, check for signs of jaundice and cataracts (which can be very hard to pick up)
• Check the mouth for overshot or undershot jaw and cleft palate - better letting the owner know sooner than later
• In regards to colts, feel the testicle sack for an inguinal hernia or other abnormalities. Check the urine is being properly propelled from the penis and retracts, and not dribbling on to the umbilical stump
• Check the umbilical stump has dried up, and if not, deal with it and that urine is not leaking from this region.
• Check the mares colour and demeanour and, if concerned, check heart rate and temperature
• Check the mare’s vulva for bruising and lacerations
• Selectively, a simple internal examination is performed to ensure the mare receives the appropriate treatment program such as a uterine washout, and/or an antibiotic infusion
• Commence or continue oxytocin course

Unfortunately for the mare, but fortunately for the owner, the minute the mare foals, I am thinking about getting the mare back in foal! Therefore, there is considerable focus on how she foals and what measures we take to help get the uterus and the mare back in shape to accomplish this result.

In all fairness, I think the foaling down fees that stud’s charge are well and truly warranted.

There is a great deal of value in what farms have to do to achieve good results and prevent undesirable outcomes. It is not just the professional labour process I have explained, but the land dedicated to the foaling zone, building facilities, specialised equipment required (along with maintaining night watch wages), plus access to quality backup personnel. The overheads are frankly enormous.
In fact, foaling margins - in the scheme of our annual income - are pretty insignificant. 

Just as well we love our job!