马驹新生：你必须知道的七件事 － 赢在起跑线

马驹新生：你必须知道的七件事 － 为“运动潜力”打下坚实的基础

一. 生产期间检查马驹和母马
Check the Foal and Mare at Birth
生产期间检查马驹和母马

You should be present at the birth, make sure that the membranes (afterbirth) are free from the foal’s nose once the foal is born and on the ground. Avoid too much intervention - allow the mare to remain down and resting. Up to one third of the foal’s blood volume is pumped from the placenta within a couple of minutes after foaling. Leave the umbilical cord intact, do NOT cut it. The foal will normally break the cord itself as it moves or when the mare stands up.
母马产驹时，你应该在场，马驹一落地就应该确保胎衣没有覆盖住马驹的鼻子。同时也要避免过多的干预行为——让母马来行动，并让其放松。因为马驹身体里超过三分之一的血液都是在落地后的几分钟里从胎盘传输到身体的（若母马受惊跳起导致脐带断开，血液还没完全进入马驹身体，影响马驹的体质）。让脐带保持连接，一定不要断开脐带。通常情况下，脐带后在马驹移动或母马站起来时自动断开。

Birth Time Check List:
生产期间的注意事项：
1. Check the mare for foaling tearing, bruising or injury - seek advice from your vet if necessary.
2. Check that the cord breaks and the foal is vigorous.
3. Check the mare’s membranes. They should come away (expelled) within 1-2 hours. Check that the full placenta or membranes (afterbirth) are present by spreading them out. If in doubt seek advice from your vet.
1.检查母马是否存在产后撕裂，擦伤或受伤的情况——如果有必要，咨询你的兽医的建议。
2. 检查脐带是否已经断开，马驹是否有活力
3.检查胎衣。1至2小时内，胎衣应该全部出来。将胎衣展开，检查是否完整。如果不确定母马体内是否留有部分胎衣，咨询兽医建议。

Note: If the membranes are retained (kept inside the mare) for more than 4 hours seek advice from your vet. An injection of oxytocin hormone may be necessary to release the membranes attached in the womb. If the membranes are not expelled within 6-8 hours, a vet must come and remove them. Membranes retained for more than 8 hours are difficult to remove and may develop infection, resulting in severe toxicity, with risk of laminitis (founder). This is a common cause of mares dying after birth.
注意：如果胎衣留在了母马体内超过四小时，咨询兽医建议。或许需要用一种后叶催产素激发体内的胎衣脱离子宫。如果在6到8小时内胎衣依然停留在体内，兽医必须要赶到现场来将之移出。胎衣在子宫内停留超过8小时，就很难移出，可能会因为一些毒素而导致感染，以及蹄叶炎的风险。这是导致母马产后死亡的最常见原因。



二. 确保马驹能站起来，检查是否存在反常情况
Make sure the foal can stand, check for any abnormalities.
确保马驹能站起来，检查是否存在反常情况。

Birthweight is a critical measure of chances of survival as well as the foundation for future growth and development of the new born foal. Foals weighing less than 35 kg at birth have little chance of growing and achieving adequate early growth targets for an athletic future.
新生马驹的体重对于马驹的存活率来说至关重要，同时对未来身体的成长和发展也一样重要。体重轻于35千克的马驹能成长的几率几乎没有，并且，早起成长的目标也很难到达。

Handy Hint : Attend to the Cord
The umbilical stump should be sprayed with 10% iodine solution spray to help dry it up and reduce the risk of infection. If the stump is soft and leaking fluid (urine), seek advice from your vet.
贴士：关注脐带
肚脐处应该喷洒10％的碘，以帮助起变干，减少发炎的风险。如果肚脐出发软并且有液体渗出，咨询你的兽医。



三. 初乳的重要性
The Importance of Colostrum
初乳的重要性

It is important the newly born foal receives colostrum milk as soon as possible after birth to provide energy, protein and water, as well as essential antibody protection against disease. Colostrum (first milk) provides immunoglobulins or antibodies that are concentrated into a mare’s milk during the 10-14 days prior to foaling.
对新生马驹来说，尽快吃到初乳是非常重要的，初乳能提供能量，蛋白质，水，以及重要的能抵抗疾病的保护型抗体。初乳提供免疫球蛋白和抗体，在产后的10－14天内，这些都通过母乳传递给马驹。

Low levels of antibodies are present in the foal’s blood at birth and intake of colostrum is essential to provide immunity against common diseases during the first few weeks of life.
新生马驹血液内的抗体水平低，因此在马驹初生的几周里能够摄取初乳，对于增加马驹的免疫力以抵抗常见疾病的侵袭来说至关重要。
Failure to either obtain, or to absorb, adequate levels of antibodies from colostrum within 16 hours after birth will predispose a young foal to a higher risk of bacterial infection.
在马驹出生后的16小时内，没能摄取初乳，从中获得足够的抗体，容易导致马驹遭遇细菌感染的纪律大大上升。

A foal that does not receive adequate colostrum or antibody cover during its first day is more likely to succumb to infectious disease. Many of these foals develop severe diarrhea or are retarded in their growth and development.
一匹在出生第一天里没有摄取足够量的初乳或者抗体的马驹，更容易遭遇感染性疾病的侵袭甚至遭遇不幸。这其中的大多数马驹未来可能遭遇痢疾或成长过程中智力愚钝迟缓。

It is most important that all newborn foals receive adequate colostrum within 8-12 hours after birth. A healthy, active newborn foal weighing 50-55kg at birth, will suckle from 2-3 litres of colostrum during the first 12 hours of its life.
对新生马驹来说，出生后8－12小时内摄取足够的初乳至关重要。一匹健康，活泼的新生马驹的体重约为50－55kg，在它们出生的前12个小时内，它们将需要吸收2－3升初乳.

Handy Hint
Most new born foals stand and drink within 30 mins to 3 hours after being born. A new born foal is abnormal if it does not stand within 60 minutes of birth, fails to seek security and comfort from its mother within 2 hours of birth, or has not attempted to suckle within 3 hours of birth.
贴士
大部分马驹在出生后30分钟至3小时内能站起来并吃奶。若马驹在出生后的60分钟内未能站起来，出生两小时内未能从母马处得到安全、舒适感（母马、马驹只见联系不紧密）；或出生3小时内没有尝试吃奶，都是反常现象。

Colostrum contains three types of protein immunoglobulins:
·    IgG for immunity against bacterial and infective diseases.
·    IgM for general immunity and health
·    IgA which increases in milk after foaling and remains for up to 3 weeks, is not absorbed into the body and provides local gut protection against bacteria and other germs that commonly cause diarrhoea in a young foal.
初乳中含有三种类型的免疫球蛋白：
·      IgG：帮助免疫系统抵御细菌和感染性疾病
·      IgM：有助于免疫力和健康
·      IgA：在产驹后的三周内，母乳中IgA含量增高。IgA不被身体吸收，不能为肠胃提供保护以抵御细菌和别的能导致马驹腹泻的微生物。



四. 初乳的分泌
Secretion of Colostrum
初乳的分泌

Expert management and care of a new born foal is essential to ensure that it receives adequate immunity via colostrum milk. A mare only produces colostrum for the first 2-3 days of lactation, and the level of antibodies is highest during the first 6-12 hours. Surveys have shown that up to 23% of foals tested within the first few weeks of life, have low blood levels of antibodies in their blood.
对初生马驹专业的管理，照料是至关重要的，如此才能确保马驹通过初乳增强免疫力。哺乳期的母马只在前两至三天分泌“初乳”，在前6至12小时内初乳中的抗体水平是最高的。研究显示，高达23％的马驹在出生后的前几周里，血液中的抗体水平低。

A less than optimum uptake of antibodies from colostrum can result from low levels in the mare’s milk, or failure of the foal to suckle or to absorb sufficient amounts of colostrum within the first 12-16 hours after birth. After 24 hours the unique proteins that form the immune antibodies can no longer be absorbed, but local immunity is provided by the milk by IgA for up to 3 weeks.
从初乳中吸收的抗体含量为能达到最近水平，其原因可能是母乳中的抗体含量低，或马驹不能成功的吃奶，或在出生后12－16小时内不能摄取足够含量的初乳。出生24小时后，能塑造免疫性抗体的独一无二的蛋白质则将再也无法被摄取；此外， 有益于马驹免疫系统的母乳中的IgA则只存在于马驹出生后的3周内。

Up to 12.4% of mares prelactate, or ‘run their milk’, seen as thick milk dripping from the teats and splashing down the mare’s legs, before foaling. If a mare loses milk for more than 3 days before foaling, she will significantly deplete her colostrum levels of essential IgG and IgM, for systemic immunity, but usually adequate IgA reserves will remain to provide gut immunity for 2-3 weeks. There is no way to prevent prelactation in a mare near to foaling.
在产驹前，高达12.4％的母马出现乳头分泌粘稠的乳汁，或顺着腿往下流的情况。如果母马在产驹前，分泌乳汁的情况持续三天以上，那么它的“初乳”中的重要的，有益于免疫系统的物质IgG和IgM将大量流失，但通常，足够的IgA储备将能被保留以为马驹出生后的两三周内提供肠胃免疫保护。母马临产前流失初乳的情况是没有任何办法被阻止的。

During the first week of life, a foal suckles up to 105 times each day, and stays within 1 metre of its mother for about 85% of the time, and rarely moves more than 5 metres away. The frequent intake of colostrum and milk containing IgA antibodies bathes the gut lining with protective antibodies. Frequent nursing also stimulates the mare to start to produce more milk to feed her foal, with daily volumes of 15-17 litres being produced by the peak of lactation 4-10 weeks after foaling.
在马驹出生后的第一周里，马驹每天吃奶的次数高达105次，其中85％的情况中马驹摄取的母乳在1升以内，此外马驹的活动范围不会离开母马超过5米。大量摄取初乳和母乳中含有IgA抗体使得马驹的肠胃处于抗体的保护中。高频率的吃奶同时也能刺激母马产生更多的奶，产驹后的4到10周内，母马分泌乳汁的高峰期中，每天的产奶量大约在15－17升。

First time mothers mares may be confused and upset by the foals initial attempts to nurse and deprive their foals of essential colostrum. Foals that are poor suckers, weak or become separated from their mothers at birth may also not be able to suckle an adequate volume of colostrum. If you are unsure as to whether a foal has suckled sufficient colostrum, consult your vet for advice.
第一次产驹的母马产后可能会对马驹首次吃奶的行为感到困惑，抑郁，甚至禁止马驹摄取至关重要的初乳。吸奶能力弱，虚弱，或者在出生后与母马分离的马驹或许也不能吸取足够量的初乳。如果你不确定你的新生马驹是否摄取到了足够的初乳，向你的兽医寻求建议。



五. 初乳的吸收
Absorption of Colostrum
初乳的吸收

A foal that is born prematurely and survives should be able to absorb antibodies because the special gut cells are formed early in foetal development. Although a foal’s immune system can produce antibodies from 2-3 weeks of age, optimum response is not developed until 10-12 weeks of age. Therefore, the colostrum absorbed during the first 12-16 hours after birth must provide a temporary cover against common diseases.
早产并存活的马驹应该能吸收抗体，因为肠细胞在胎儿早期发育期就形成了。尽管马驹出生后两三周里免疫系统就能提供抗体，但该功能要在马驹出生后的十至十二周里才发育到最理想的状态。因此，出生后的十二至十六小时里初乳的吸收至关重要，因为这涉及到为马驹提供临时的，抵御常见疾病的保护。

The low point of immune protection in a foal’s blood, especially a foal that did not receive adequate colostrum, occurs at about 5-6 weeks of age. A newly foaled mare produces colostrum for only 2-3 days, but the level of antibodies rapidly falls after 12-14 hours, once her foal has suckled and depleted the initial colostrum reserve.
马驹，特别是没有摄取足够初乳的马驹，在出生后的第五、六周里，血液中免疫力出现低谷。第一次产驹的母马只会在产驹后的两三天内分泌“初乳”，然而其初乳中的抗体含量会在马驹开始吃奶并耗尽最初的初乳储备后的十二至十四小时内急剧下跌。

Handy Hint
Ideally, a pregnant mare needs to be exposed to the environmental contamination and profile of microorganisms, such as bacteria that cause scours, joint-ill and septicaemia, for at least 2 weeks prior to foaling. In other words, do not move her to a new farm in the 2 to 3 weeks before she foals.
In fact, studies have shown that up to 4 weeks exposure to germs in the paddock or foaling environment, is needed to provide adequate
levels of environment specific antibodies as immunoglobulins in her colostrum milk.

贴士
理想状态下，怀孕的母马在产驹前的至少两周里，需要被暴露在有污染的，有诸如导致腹泻，关节疾病，败血症的细菌，等微生物分布的环境下。也就是说，一定不要在母马产驹前的两到三周里将它转移到新的地方。事实上，研究显示，在围场或产驹环境，母马需要在长达四周的时间里接触细菌，以让母马能在初乳中提供足够的适应该环境的特殊抗体——免疫球蛋白。



六. 检查母马的乳房
Check the Mares Teats
检查母马的乳房

Flat shiny teats indicate that a foal is drinking or the mare has little
milk. Enlarged, dirty teats suggest that a foal has not been drinking regularly. Occasionally a new mother mare will not be used to her foal suckling and not allow it to drink. A foal may not be able to drink because it is sick, or the mare may have developed a painful infection in her udder (mastitis).
如果母马的乳头扁平发亮，则说明马驹在吃奶，或者母马分泌的乳汁少。乳头大，脏，则说明马驹没有有规律的吃奶。偶尔会出现这样的情况：第一次产驹的母马不习惯马驹吃奶，或者不让马驹吃奶。马驹或许也会因为它生病了而不能吃奶，或者母马的乳房出现感染（乳腺炎）而疼痛。

Consult your vet for advice. After the first week of life, a foal drinks 2-3 times per hour, or up to 60-65 times daily. The peak of lactation in a mare occurs at about 4-10 weeks after foaling. A well fed mare will provide enough milk for her foal to obtain most of the nutrients from milk, as well as some grazing and nibbling at its mother’s feed to meet its needs as it doubles its birthweight in the first month after foaling.
咨询兽医的建议。出生一周后，马驹每小时会吃两到三次奶，每天吃奶次数高达六十至六十五次。母马分泌乳汁的高峰期大约是马驹出生后第四到十周。被饲喂的好的母马将能为马驹产生营养足够丰富的乳汁，同时马驹能跟着母马一起“Grazing”（在牧场上走走停停吃草），“尝试”母马的饲料，在这个过程中，马驹出生一个月后的体重通常是出生时的两倍。

A foal's future health is often influenced by the care and attention it receives in the first days of its life, making this a crucial time for the foal. If your mare is foaling for the first time it is important to make sure that you are well prepared to care for the new arrival, and have ready access to veterinary care, should it be necessary.
马驹未来的身体健康状况通常受到马驹出生后几天里所接受的照料和接收到的关注的影响，因此马驹出生后的几天是至关重要的。如果你的母马是第一次产驹，确保“你为迎接新生生命所做的准备工作足够充分”是非常重要的，能随时提供兽医照料也是非常有必要的。



七. 新生马驹的营养
Young Horse Nutrition
新生马驹的营养

A foal attains nearly 80% of its mature height and 50% of its mature weight in the first 6 months of life.  During this time of extreme rapid growth the foal is building muscle and bone.  As the young horse grows, minerals deposited in cartilage cause the bone to harden.
马驹在出生六个月里，实现身高发育的80％，体重发育的50％。在这成长发育速度极端显著的时间里，马驹的肌肉和骨骼也在发育。虽然马驹的成长，软骨中储存的矿物质使骨骼更加强硬。

Proper nutrition is critical for your foal to fulfill its genetic potential. A lack or imbalance of minerals can lead to improper development of the bones, which can cause developmental abnormalities of the skeletal structures.  The foal needs sufficient energy, protein, minerals and vitamins to develop normally.
对你的新生马驹来说，恰当的，能充分发挥马驹基因潜力的“营养”至关重要。缺乏营养或者营养不均衡，可能会引起马驹骨骼发育不恰当，这会导致马驹骨骼结构异常。马驹需要充分的能力，蛋白质，矿物质，维他命来维持正常发育。

Good nutrition, good management and proper health care will get your young horse off to a great start and form a solid foundation to carry it into maturity.
好的营养物质，好的管理照料，好的健康互利将给你的马驹带来美好的开始，为其健康的成年期打下坚实的基础（赢在起跑线上）。






作者：凯瑟琳 · 戴维斯

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