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  Discussion on Agalactia (mare has no milk)
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Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2001 - 6:14 am:

Dear Dr O

Non-urgent query, just interested. One of the mares that I look after because they graze beside our house foaled last night. For the second time, this mare had no milk though fortunately this time around she's not actually trying to harm the foal, which she did last year - the last foal had to be bottle reared separate from the mare.

Her owner says his vet has told him there's no point getting any injection to bring on milk - this mare just doesn't produce. What sort of thing causes agalactia (somehow I doubt it's fescue toxicity here in Ireland)?

I was quite surprised when the owner bred her again after last time as I thought agalactia was a good sign not to breed again? This mare is a national hunt (jump racing) mare herself but broken down so I suppose it's either breeding or dog food (sorry Josephine, only teasing...)

Anyway, it was encouraging for me because when I got up this morning and found the foal had been born, of course who was suckling it but my mare? Nothing wrong with her maternal instincts which bodes well for her foal next year, I hope.

We did have terrible trouble getting mare and foal in from the field as the poor little scrap did not know which of the three mares in the field was its mother, and its own mother is a pig to lead (plants her feet and gets bolshy) but mission accomplished... I think it got its beastings (Ig) in time as well - thanks to your thoroughly wonderful website I knew it have to have these before 18 hours old so I risked calling the owner at 7 am on a Sunday morning!

All the best

Imogen

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 6:11 am:

Toxemia, infection, of any kind can result in a breakdown in the hormal hormonal events that bring on lactation. Poor nutrition could result in agalactiae. I don't know of any mares that "just do not milk" but I am sure it could happen. If it is true, you have to wonder if this may be a problem she passes on to her foals.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2001 - 2:50 pm:

It died after 36 hours... it left here fine and strong with its mother to its owners on the day it was born but apparently it was so strong and trying to suckle the milkless mother constantly despite being bottle fed that it just wore itself out. They did not call out the vet straight away either which probably contributed.

Shame, it was a fine strong filly. Hope they'll maybe think twice before they breed that mare again... She most definitely was not suffering from poor condition, anyway!

All the best

Posted on Saturday, Dec 29, 2001 - 7:44 pm:

There are mares that just don't have milk.In these cases the Nursemare takes over the mothering job. Again it runs in the family.Passed on from one to the other.But,,if the mare is a producer of quality racehorses,jumpers,or show horses then they will keep breeding her. Thats the horse business.
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