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Equine Milk Test to
Predict Foaling
Taken from:
http://www.scottcreek.com/Milk_Test.htm
World Champion
Miniature Horses
The great thing
about using milk
test strips is that
they provide
additional
information to the
person who is
observing the
expectant mare. Add
this information
together with other
changes such as
udder development,
changes in milk
color, viscosity to
touch, mare behavior
changes and milk
test strips provide
a valuable addition
to the arsenal of
information the
observant broodmare
manager uses to
narrow down the
mare's foaling time.
Obviously, the use
of milk test strips
is predicated on the
ability to obtain
small samples of
milk from the mare
periodically, prior
to foaling. Once
again, obtaining
milk is somewhat
individual based on
the mare. Generally
speaking, however,
enough milk for
testing (approx. 1
cc. per test) can be
drawn from most
mares. With
miniature horses the
exception is with
maiden mares. Those
mares that have not
yet produced a foal
usually do not
produce milk until
just (meaning hours)
before the foal is
born. We have had
difficulty using
milk test strips
with maiden mares.
We generally rely on
the actual presence
of a measurable
amount of milk being
produced by maiden
mares as our
indicator that
foaling is imminent.
We use two types of
tests to aid us in
determining the
mare's readiness to
foal. One is
essentially a
measurement of the
quantity of calcium
present in the
mare's milk and the
other is the pH of
the milk. When used
together these two
tests have been
quite helpful as
indicators to when a
mare will foal.
OBTAINING TEST
STRIPS
Obtaining the test
strips has been
somewhat difficult
over the years based
on different
suppliers business
status. As of this
writing Fisher
Scientific Co. has
the two strips that
we use available for
ordering by the
general public. The
strips can be
ordered directly
over the internet by
going to
http://www.fishersci.com
You will need to
create a username
and password to
access the catalog
information, however
this takes very
little time.
The two strips we
order are as
follows:
Catalog No.
M100251, EM Quant
Test Strip - Total
Hardness (40-230 ppm)
These come packaged
100 strips to a vial
and need to be
refrigerated to
maintain their shelf
life
Catalog No.
0987620, Whatman
Type CS Test Strips
(pH Range 6.0 -
8.1), Whatman
number 2629-990.
These come 200
strips to the
package. Make sure
you keep these
strips in a sealed
container such as a
plastic bag and away
from any chemicals
or fumes that may
effect their
measurement.
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES
The additional
supplies you will
need are:
1. Distilled Water
2. Small Collection
vial for taking milk
from mare (we use
clean
prescription pill
bottle)
3. Test tube for
putting the milk and
distilled water into
4. Two syringes for
accurately measuring
the water and milk.
(we use a 1ml
insulin syringe for
measuring the milk
and a 6ml syringe
for measuring the
distilled water.
A. The procedure is
quite simple. Obtain
a small amount of
milk from the mare
by stripping it from
one of her nipples.
Usually you can be
successful by gently
squeezing slightly
above the nipple
then drawing your
fingers down toward
the tip of the
nipple. You should
collect at least 1
ml because that is
what is needed for
the test. Usually
you can get a couple
of mls.
B. Measure
accurately 6ml of
distilled water
using one of the
syringes and put
this into the test
tube.
C. Accurately
measure 1ml of the
mare's milk using
the other syringe
and deposit it into
the test tube.
C. Shake the test
tube vigorously to
mix the milk and
distilled water.
D. To test for the
CALCIUM
content in the
mare's milk, use the
EM Quant strip that
has 4 green spots on
it.
E. Take a test
strip and completely
immerse the colored
patches in the test
tube for 2 seconds.
F. Remove the strip
and give it a shake
to remove any excess
liquid.
G. Read the color
changes in the 4
patches after
waiting 1 minute.
Keep in mind that
the trick in using
these is the
interpretation of
color change and
putting this
information with
other signs that
your mare is giving
you such as bag
fullness, milk
consistency and
color, tail laxity,
and past foaling
history if you know
it.
Each mare is
different and all do
not go by the rule
of thumb. Knowing
that I will give you
the general trend
that we have seen
with our miniature
horses. If three of
the patches turn
from green to purple
within the minute
and the 4th shows
very little sign of
change chances are
that the mare isn't
quite ready. If
three change color
and the 4th turns
1/2 way from green
to purple, we start
watching her pretty
closely however it
doesn't necessarily
mean that she will
foal in the next day
either. If all 4
patches turn color
in less than one
minute chances are
that the mare will
foal within the day.
Use the same
milk/distilled water
solution to test the
pH level of
the mare's milk.
Use the Whatman
strip for this
test. Immerse the
strip into the fluid
as above to
completely cover all
of the indicator
bands. This test
can be read more or
less immediately.
The general trend is
that a mare's milk
will test above pH 7
for a period of time
before foaling and
as she approaches
foaling the pH level
will drop. When
the milk is pH 7.0
or below she is
getting close to
foaling.
Most of our
mares foal within a
matter of hours to a
day when the pH
level goes to 6.8 or
below.
When combining the
results of the
Calcium and pH tests
they give you
another indicator as
to the mare's
readiness to foal.
We check our mares
every evening. With
the preponderance of
mares foaling at
night we get the
most current
information by
testing in this
manner. I can't
emphasize enough,
however, that milk
test strips are not
the end all for
predicting foaling.
We use them to
provide us with one
more bit of
information to put
with all of the
other observations
we are making of the
mare.
The best tool still
remains the hardest
to follow through
with. That is
CONSTANT AND
UN-RELENTING
VIGILANCE WITH
ATTENDANCE AT EACH
FOALING.
If you can endure
this difficult
requirement and
utilize the various
tools such as milk
test strips to
inform your self,
the odds are
increased for a
favorable outcome
for your mare, the
new foal, and
yourself.
Equine Milk Test #2
Equipment:
1. Distilled Water
2. Small Collection
vial for taking milk
from mare (we use
clean
prescription pill
bottle)
3. Test tube for
putting the milk and
distilled water into
4. 2 syringes for
accurately measuring
the water and milk.
(use a 1ml insulin
syringe for
measuring the milk
and a 6ml syringe
for measuring the
distilled water.
5. Sofchek Milk
Strips can be
purchased at:
http://www.lambertshomeservices.com/sofchek_milk_strips.html
http://www.kee-port.com/milkstrips
SOFCHEK MILK TEST
STRIPS
The use of ION
test strips to
predict
parturition was
brought to the
forefront in
1984 by British
researchers.
Since this
practical melhod
or calculating
calcium and
magnesium
percentage in
mares' milk was
introduced,
brcedcrs have
had the
opportunity to
reduce
"sitting-up"
time during the
foaling season.
SOFCHEK, a "dip
and read" strip
for
water-hardness
testing, was
recently found
to indicate
calcium content
in mares'
prefoaling
mammary
secretions. The
day of
parturition can
be anticipated
by monitoring
color changes
throughout the
strip's 5 zones.
The SOFCHEK
strips were
first tested in
induction
studies at Fern
Leigh Equine
Research
Facility.
Beginning 2 to 3
weeks before
expected
parturition
strips were
dipped daily
into 1 ml
samples of
mammary
secretions from
24 mares. By
comparing each
strip to the
color-coded
chart on the
package label,
calcium content
could be
determined when
the strip's
fourth color
matched. A total
of 85 percent of
the mares foalcd
within 36 hours
or less. A
company
spokesman
advises that
while no
technical
background is
needed, precise
readings of the
strip are
important to
predict
parturition
accurately. 50
strips per
package.
HorseCarts.com
e-Store
SOFCHECK
MILK PREDICTION
STRIPS - pkg. of
50
$24.00
Procedure:
The procedure is
quite simple. Obtain
a small amount of
milk from the mare
by stripping it from
one of her nipples.
Usually you can be
successful by gently
squeezing slightly
above the nipple
then drawing your
fingers down toward
the tip of the
nipple. You should
collect at least 1
ml because that is
what is needed for
the test. Usually
you can get a couple
of mls.
Measure accurately
6ml of distilled
water using one of
the syringes and put
this into the test
tube.
Accurately measure
1ml of the mare's
milk using the other
syringe and deposit
it into the test
tube.
Shake the test tube
vigorously to mix
the milk and
distilled water.
To test for the
calcium content in
the mare's milk, use
the SofChek strip
that has 1 green
spot on it.
Take a test strip
and completely
immerse the colored
patch in the test
tube for 2 seconds.
Remove the strip and
give it a shake to
remove any excess
liquid.
Read the color
change in the patch
after waiting 1
minute.
Keep in mind that
the trick in using
these is the
interpretation of
color change and
putting this
information with
other signs that
your mare is giving
you such as bag
fullness, milk
consistency and
color, tail laxity,
and past foaling
history if you know
it.
Each mare is
different and all do
not go by the rule
of thumb. If the
patch turns from
green (0 ppm) to
Brown (25-50ppm)
within the minute
chances are that the
mare isn't quite
ready. If the patch
turns from green (0
ppm) to Rust
(120-250ppm) within
the minute start
watching her pretty
closely however it
doesn't necessarily
mean that she will
foal in the next day
either. If the patch
turns from green (0
ppm) to Orangey
(425ppm) within the
minute chances are
that the mare will
foal within the day.
(RESULTS MAY VARY)
THESE STRIPS WERE
DESIGNED FOR USE
WITH WATER, H, THESE
ARE THE OPINIONS AND
DIRECTIONS OF
PERSONS WHOM HAVE
USED THEM FOR
FOALING PURPOSES,
THEY ARE NOT OUR
OPINIONS. THIS
INFORMATION WAS
FOUND ON THE
INTERNET AND WE ARE
PASSING ALONG THE
INFORMATION WE HAVE
FOUND DUE TO REQUEST
OF OUR CUSTOMERS.
http://www.diywatertesting.com/additional_supplies_you_will_need.htm
Equine Milk Test #3
Compliments of:
Penny Steward,
Siesta Quarter
Horses, Dallas,
Oregon
Equipment:
What you need is
Water Hardness test
strips that are used
to check well water.
In our area they are
available from
Nurenberg Scientific
Supply in Portland
for about $40 for
100 strips. They can
be ordered by phone
at (503) 246-8297,
and they will ship
them out quickly.
This outfit is a
scientific supply
house where my
husband gets class
materials for his
high school biology
classes ... I had to
track them down, and
that was the biggest
challenge. Then you
go to Payless and
get a gallon of
Distilled water for
99 cents ... that is
the other "magic
ingredient."
The other equipment
you need is little
plastic disposable
cups, a clean (not
sterile) 3cc and 6
cc syringe.
Procedure:
Milk the mare
into one cup
(you only need 1
cc -- a few
squirts)
Measure 6 cc of
distilled water
into a second
cup.
In the small
syringe, draw up
1 cc of milk and
squirt it into
the cup of
water. FLUSH the
syringe in the
distilled water
at least once.
This is such a
small sample
that it can
affect the test
if you leave
milk in the
syringe.
Dip the strip,
which which has
four color
blocks on it,
and time exactly
1 minute and
read the
results.
Analysis:
1-2 blocks
changed -- give
the old girl a
pat and go to
bed. You are a
long way from
foaling. The
milk will be
clear sticky
fluid or
slightly cloudy,
and probably
hard to get.
Test every other
day.
3 blocks changed
-- At this
point, the mare
may look like
she is ready,
but not tonight.
Check the mare
before you go to
bed if it makes
you feel better,
but it is highly
unlikely that
anything will
happen. The milk
will be cloudy,
and may almost
be white. Test
every day, same
time each day.
3 blocks change
right away, 4th
changing if
strip is left
out after 1
minute -- Not
yet. Continue as
above...
4 blocks changed
WITHIN 60
SECONDS -- Put
on the coffee
pot, get out a
good book and
get your foaling
kit, vet phone
#, etc., in
order. You are
within 48 hours
of foaling,
probably closer
to 24 hrs or
less. The milk
may be white (in
which case you
probably don't
need to test,
but I do
anyway).
Cautions:
Measure
precisely. The
sample dilution
is critical. Use
the syringes,
and flush the
milk as
mentioned above.
Test at room
temperature. In
a really cold
barn, the speed
with which the
chemical
reaction occurs
can be slowed
up.
Keep the test
strips in the
frig, per the
manufacturers
directions. They
can be used from
one year to the
next, but keep
them sealed and
refrigerated.
Keep the
distilled water
clean. Pour some
out of the
gallon into a
smaller bottle
for use, and
close up the
rest. When
foaling season
is over, use the
left-over in
your coffee pot
for a really
GOOD cup of
coffee...
Observations:
This
test has saved me
many nights in the
barn, especially
once I figured out
that the
3-going-to-4 reading
isn't valid. I have
had several friends
and others try this,
and it has worked
for most of them
(some who didn't
measure precisely,
were in very cold
areas, and in one
case got old strips
got false lows.
Another person used
boiled water, which
was sterile, but not
distilled. She got a
false 4 on a mare
barely bagged --
which told her she
had chemicals in the
well water).
However, I have used
it for about 5
years, and NEVER had
it fail me. I have
had many mares
(about 1/3) who
didn't read the
"Thou shalt wax"
chapter in the
foaling manual, and
maiden mares are
likely to do
anything they darn
well please.
In only one case
have I heard of the
test going to 4 and
the mare not foaling
within the 48 hours.
However, we all know
mares can decide to
hold on if something
doesn't suit them,
including weather,
environment, etc. I
had one mare hold
off a night because
I put a newcomer in
the stall next to
her, and the
newcomer could look
into her stall. I
covered the wall
with a blanket, and
she went ahead and
foaled.
This isn't voodoo --
the test detects a
rise in magnesium
and calcium that
occurs in the milk
just prior to
foaling. My vet had
me give him the
directions and he
has passed this
along to many of his
other clients, with
excellent results.
Good luck, everyone.
Penny Steward
http://www.premierpub.com/articles/milktest.htm
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