Comparison of Foaling Prediction Technologies in Periparturient Standardbred Mares.
Authors: Diel de Amorim Mariana, Montanholi Yuri, Morrison Madonna, Lopez Rodriguez Maria, Card Claire
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Foaling Prediction Technologies in Standardbred Mares Predicting impending parturition in mares remains clinically challenging, yet timely attendance at foaling significantly improves outcomes for both dam and foal; this 2019 study directly compared five laboratory and technological approaches to identifying mares within 24 hours of delivery across 40 Standardbred animals. Daily mammary secretion samples were analysed via calcium titration, calcium/magnesium test strips, digital and paper-based pH measurement, and refractometry (Brix), whilst a vulval-mounted birth monitoring system recorded both accurate alerts and false positives. Calcium titration emerged as the single most reliable predictor—particularly valuable for ruling out imminent foaling—though combining calcium titration with digital pH assessment substantially improved prediction sensitivity compared to either method alone. Notably, multiparous mares displayed lower prefoaling calcium concentrations than maidens (with colts extending gestation length in both groups), suggesting parity-dependent physiological variation that practitioners should account for when interpreting results. For practitioners managing high-value periparturient mares, adopting a combined approach using both calcium titration and digital pH monitoring offers meaningful improvement in foaling prediction accuracy, potentially reducing unnecessary nocturnal surveillance whilst preserving readiness for complications.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Use calcium titration method as a primary screening tool to rule out imminent foaling, reducing false alarms during mare monitoring
- •Combine calcium titration with digital pH measurement for improved predictive accuracy when attending to births is critical
- •Account for parity differences in prefoaling mammary secretion when interpreting results—multiparous mares show lower calcium levels than maidens
Key Findings
- •Calcium titration method was the single best technology to predict when a mare was not going to foal
- •Maiden mares and mares carrying colts had longer gestational length than multiparous mares carrying fillies
- •Combination of calcium titration and digital pH measurement improved foaling prediction compared to either technology used individually
- •Calcium concentrations were significantly lower in multiparous mares compared to maiden mares when measured by titration method