Alexandra the Great: The Story of the Record-Breaking Filly Who Ruled the Racetrack

Alexandra the Great: The Story of the Record-Breaking Filly Who Ruled the Racetrack — page 5
4 3 AlexANdrA the greAt 4 filly’s naval and watched to make sure she would begin to nurse She nosed around Lotta Kim’s belly looking for her udder But Lotta Kim had no milk Often once a foal starts nursing the mare’s milk comes in But not this time Instead when the filly tried to nurse clambering around underfoot and rooting around in sensitive tick lish areas Lotta Kim furious sore and exhausted almost stomped her newborn Don and Jim rushed to protect the baby Whoa whoa settle down now Lotta Kim Don called out He and Jim grabbed her halter and led her from the stall They tried over the next few hours to interest the mare in her new baby leading her back into the stall several times to see if she would let the filly nurse But Lotta Kim ignored her Finally they took Lotta Kim away The mare never looked back never once whinnied for her baby As soon as he had led Lotta Kim away Don climbed the stairs in the foaling barn two at a time The next few hours were critical for the filly Right after a mare gives birth she makes a special first milk or colos trum Colostrum is full of antibodies that help protect a foal from disease Without colostrum a foal can get seriously ill and even die And a foal can only absorb colostrum’s antibodies within the first 24 hours of its life though sooner is better On the upper level of the barn Dede kept spare colos trum in a freezer When a mare has a stillborn foal or makes extra colostrum Dede collects and freezes it just