Protein requirements - Pregnancy

Pregnant mares that are not lactating do not require protein in excess of their maintenance requirement until the last third of pregnancy. However, more care than usual should be taken to ensure that the quality of the protein in the diet is acceptable. Since 60 - 65% of foetal growth occurs during the last 90 days of pregnancy, protein requirement will increase during this period.

Protein requirements for foetal growth in excess of the maintenance requirement (grams of digestible crude protein per 100 kg of bodyweight)

Example: Digestible crude protein (g/d) for pregnancy, mare 500 kg BW in10. month of pregnancy: DCP = 5 x 33 = 165 g/d