USE OF THE FOALWATCH
AND SOFCHEK
TESTS FOR EVALUATION OF PRE-FOALING MILK CALCIUM CONTENT
AND THE APPROACHING READINESS FOR BIRTH IN THE MARE.
William B. Ley
When To Begin Testing Your Mare
Begin sampling and testing approximately 10 to 14 days in advance of your mare's expected foaling date (calculated as 335 to 340 days from her last known breeding date). In mares with an unknown breeding date, testing should begin as soon as you note some udder enlargement and secretions can be obtained from the teats without undue effort. It is best to keep a close check on udder development on a daily basis and practice massage of the mare's udder and teats to allow her to get used to your presence in this area. Once a day sampling is sufficient until you begin to get values of calcium that exceed 100 ppm. Then twice daily sampling is recommended. The more accurate assessment of your mare's readiness to foal will be a late afternoon or an evening sampling each day (as most mares foal at night). Since a few mares do foal in the daytime, a morning sampling should not be neglected and is highly advisable when calcium values first exceed 125 ppm.
from the desk of:
William B. Ley, DVM, MS
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