Question about mares milk prior to foaling

[wc minis]

Hi,

I have a mare that is 330 days from last breeding date today. She has had a small bag and until this past monday I was barely getting anything from it and it was clear. Well last Monday I checked her and it is noticably bigger, about 1/2 full I would say, and creamy white colored, but it is watery, and plenty of it. It has been the same since. I have been testing her and it is reading 200 and 8.4 with the pool strips. This is the mares 2nd foal, and last year she was a maiden and fooled me

So I am wondering if her milk is going to get sticky? I will keep testing her with the pool strips, but was just curious to know if the milk will get sticky or not? Thanks

 

[Miniv]

Yes, It will get VERY sticky........which indicates that the colostrum is present.

 

[wc minis]

Thanks. How fast can it change from watery to sticky? I test her twice per day, 700 am and 430. I just dont want to miss her foal this year

 

[weerunner]

My mare started with clear and colourless liquid and not much. then she progressed to clear and yellowish but still watery which I could get a stream or two of with each squeeze, this went on for a few weeks. Then about one week before she delivered the 'milk came out in big drops and it was thick like vegetable oil but turned sticky when I rubbed it between my fingers. Two hours before she foaled she had wax on her teats and her milk was whitish and came out easily. That's when I knew baby was on it's way.

They are all different but that's how it went with my mare this year.

 

[Miniv]

Weerunner is very correct. Every mare is different, but she described a good progression. Waxing is a wonderful indication, but is not too common in minis.

The sticky stuff tends to start happening within a week of foaling and keeps getting thicker and getting more sticky. Some mares' milk/colostrum stays yellowish and some will get white mixed in.