Happy Thursday!
We have an exciting post for you today. Dr. Ernie Martinez has written a piece detailing the steps taken at Lane’s End in preparation for foaling. It’s a great example of how Lane’s End leaves nothing to chance. You can follow Dr. Martinez on twitter at @emartinezdvm.
Alys also sent us some great photos of Zenyatta’s first colt playing in the snow.
Enjoy!
-Team Z
Enjoying Late Pregnancy & Preparing for Foaling
By Ernie Martinez II. DVM from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
As Zenyatta approaches the end of her second pregnancy, we begin to prepare for the arrival of Little 13Z. Very little will change from her daily routine. She will continue to be fed and checked by farm staff twice a day. They will begin to closely monitor her for any signs of premature labor. These might include early udder development or an abnormal vaginal discharge. Thankfully, Queen Z has strided through this pregnancy like a champ and everything has been very routine.
In the last trimester we vaccinate her with a three shot series of vaccinations for Rotaviral diarrhea. This can be a very life threatening diarrhea when acquired in the neonatal stage, and we do all we can try to prevent this disease or at best minimize the severity of any clinical signs. All farm mares receive this series of vaccinations, and we have had very healthy newborn foal crops for some time.
When Queen Z has one month to go we will give her annual series of booster vaccinations. This serves two purposes. First, we provide Queen Z with her annual booster of vaccinations for protection against Equine Herpes Virus 4&1, Eastern-Western Encephalitides, West Nile, Influenza, Rabies & Botulism. Second, and most importantly, by vaccinating her one month before to foaling we will booster the volume and quality of antibodies in her colostrum. Newborn foals are born immunologically naive and must consume and absorb the antibodies from colostrum for their initial immune protection. When 13Z is born we will test her colostrum to insure it is of high quality. If it were to be low, we will give the new foal a pint of colostrum from our colostrum bank. When 13Z is between ten to twelve hours old we will test a blood sample to determine the IgG, or antibody, level. We want all our foals to be above 800 mg/dL. Greater than 1200 mg/dL would be off the charts and even better!
As the foaling date draws nearer, Zenyatta will be brought up to the foaling barn where she will stay until she foals. In the foaling barn she will be under 24 hour surveillance as we patiently wait for her to foal. As she gets closer to foaling, or parturition, her udder will start to develop and the teats will fill. The classic sign that foaling is near is the production of wax or “waxing up.” This is a sebaceous-like pre-colostral secretion that in most cases means foaling is imminent.
Two weeks before Queen Z’s due date we will sample and test her blood for neonatal isoerythrolysis, or NI. We call it an NI Screen. NI occurs when the foal ingests colostrum from the mare with antibodies that react with the foals red blood cells (RBCs). The antibodies are produced by the mare due to transplacental hemorrhage in late gestation. The mare’s immune system identifies the RBCs as foreign because they contain stallion DNA. If the foal were to consume NI antibodies in the colostrum the foal’s RBCs would be coated in the maternal antibodies and cleared by the foal’s immune system, causing a hemolytic anemia. The foal would crash in respiratory distress as it would have no RBCs to carry oxygen. Thankfully, the NI screen allows us to detect NI positive mares. In a positive case we would muzzle the foal and supplement it with tested negative colostrum until the antibodies were cleared from the mares milk. This normally takes 10–12 hours.
So when she draws close to foaling time we will have done all we can do to insure that her colostrum will be top quality, we will have screened her colostrum for NI and we’ve made an easier pathway for the birth of 13Z. Now all we can do is wait.
See you at the Foaling Barn!
Nikki
What is Z’s official due date? Was this ever announced?
Lovely pictures! Thanks for sharing.
Nikki
Nevermind… I just read late March- thanks. :-)
Donna
SOOOO excited for Z! Can’t wait to hear her baby news!!
yvonne pece-schnell
You have made us all feel the Lady “Z” is our too. Thank you for this and caring for her and all the others on your farm as well as you do!
Gloria
Man, I would love it if Big Mama Z held off to foal that baby on April 1st! Just like mama!
Colleen Robbins
Wonderful information. It is so great that Lane’s End treats their foals and Mares like royalty. Zenaytta and Z12 look great. Here’s hoping for a wonderful birth Zenyatta!
Marilyn
When will they name 12Z?
carolinarkansas
Probably not til he is ready to race ….so next year….maybe
Kathie Roller-Stell
Great post, but your information about vaccinations in the last trimester in the second paragraph makes it sound like the three shots in the series are given in the last trimester….aren’t they in fact spaced out; 5th, 7th and 9th months generally?
kathleen
those are the pbk…….pneumabort K shots.
Sue FLCPRC
Wow that is some interesting information.
The photos are exquisite as always.
LE and Team A you are too good to us.
Thank you
Sue FLCPRC
Sorry typo Team Z
Sue FLCPRC
I was looking again at the photos.
In the first one Prince Z looks like he is thinking ( you are not getting ahead of me) to his buddy in that one. cute
Celeste
Thank you so much for the info. Cannot wait to see the new baby.
12Z is so handsome. When will they name him?
Cynthia Hahn
In the past when my mare was approaching foaling date I used a Predict-A-Foal kit which utilizes a small milk sample to predict foaling within 12 hours. Do you guys use anything like this? It was always spot on and never missed!
Wendy Treadaway
Really interesting and informative. I had no idea so much testing, etc., was done and so much care was taken re the foal’s immune system. And, as always, the pictures of Z12 were great and much appreciated!
Ann NC (PUR)
Thank you Dr. Martinez for the great info. Praying for a safe delivery and healthy foal.
Alys,you made my day! I knew KY had snow and was picturing young z12 playing w/ his buddies. Low and behold,my dreams come true w/ your great photos.
Thanks ever so much. You are the best. z12 looks great!
Dolly McCall
You referred to 13Z as her. Does that really mean you already know it’s a filly?
Barbara Wood (Texas)
I thought that for a moment, too, but I think the “her” refers to Zenny.
Kim in Saratoga NY
Dolly, The refference to “her” in that sentence meant Zenyatta, not 13Z. I had to read it a couple times also to realize that!
♥ Love Auntie Judy aka JAG / So. Calif.
Thank you for sharing these adorable pics of Our Queen! She is having soooo much fun – I smile each time I see her!
Prince Z12 is celebrating his FIRST BIRTHDAY tomorrow – I sent him a card last week, so I hope it arrived. I hope you can share video and/or pictures of his big day :-)
Auntie Judy will begin her pacing soon…. love you XO
♥ Love Auntie Judy aka JAG / So. Calif.
LOL I looked through the photos so quickly I thought they were of Zenny. I never noticed the blaze was Prince’s – shame on me!!! Sorry Zenyatta :-)
Abigail_1849
Auntie Judy: I thought they were of Zenny too at first! He really does look so much like her it’s ridiculous!!!
Sue FLCPRC
His first Birthday wow it has been a year.
Trina I bet you have a special poem for our big boy…
ronni
Love the pictures of 12Z!!! Wow, he’s certainly grown!! Anxiously awaiting 13Zs arrival!!
Sandra Frey
Happy 1st Birthday to 12Zenyatta on Friday, March 8th! You’re such a handsome colt! Much love to you, Zenyatta, and all connections! xoxo
Lori
He’s growing up! Lovely photos, thank you.
I can’t wait to find out what his official name is going to be :-)
Trisha-VA
Ah Ha! Was the referral to “she” a slip or do they know for sure. I am hoping for a little white filly. Whatever she has is ok by me as long as it is healthy and Zenyatta has no issues when giving birth.
Sending thanks to all who care for the fabulous one. There is no doubt in my mind that the Mosses chose the best to care for the best.
Sending love hugs and kisses to Zenyatta, 12Z and all her connections.
I am excited now
Abigail_1849
Trisha: I missed that! It will be interesting to see if that was a slip-up or not…..Thinking, too, that if Zenny foals a filly, she and Rachel will have had same-sex babies in the same year twice in a row!
DeniseinAZ
The ‘she’ is referring to Zenny, not the foal- i had to read it twice too
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Welcome back, Denise!
Louise Castello
I believe they were talking about Zenyatta. She is the one who has colostrum!
Mary McCrea
Ms. Z is such a class act … can’t wait to her news if her and her 2013 foal.
Lin' Otherlyn
Praying for a safe Z-livery. Thank you for posting this and for posting the photos of “Z” leetle preeence. Little “STING” is so cute. Who’s his pal?
Janie (in L.A.)
I can’t believe 12Z will be a year old tomorrow already! Wow, time really does fly. Can’t wait to hear about his new sibling’s arrival!
Marilu V
Dear Lanes End:
Thank you for the information from Dr. Ernie Martinez.
We know she is in good hands. Our thanks to everyone involve in taking great care of Zenyatta in the foaling barn. Hugs to Zenny and praying everything will go well.
Kim
Thank you so much for the beautiful pics and all the information. Starting to get nervous about our Queen and the impending birth!
Gloria Jeanne- OCCali
Great update~ can’t wait!
Lorie
Just love the snow pictures and Z12 playing he is growing so much, he also looks like he is the Boss in the Paddock which is good. I was noticing how much he carries himself like his mother when he is lopping the more I see him the more I’m sure he will be a great horse to.. Sure am looking forward to the next little Z.
May God keep you all safe .
Jan S. / Houston
That’s what I thought too Lorie. LOL. “The Boss.” He’s going be something else!!!
maryp ny
Oh my, PrinceZ will be officially 1 yr old tomorrow!! Zenny will be 9 on 4/1. The year has flown by and now we await the arrival of Zenny’s 2nd foal. It has been so different this time not having “her” (Dottie) tell us about how she feels and what goes on in her life. However, I am so thankful to Team Z and Lane’s End for letting us know and see how she is (and PrinceZ too).
So much credit is due Jerry and Ann Moss for making this grand mare available to racing fans and I believe influenced others to do the same. Hoping someday Zenyatta can have visitors.
Love all the Zsters here and all the invaluable expertise and knowledge (and love and kindness) that is evident in the blog. My appreciation to ALL.
Love, hugs and blessings,
Maryp
Linda in NJ
Wow that’s hard to believe 12Z will be a year old and even harder to believe. that Xenny’s 9.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Thank you so much, LE and Team Z, for the lovely pictures and detailed info. about the foaling process! We do so appreciate it. Pacing is beginning in earnest now.
I have a question for anyone who knows. I was mulling this over with another Dumpling recently, and we were wondering if a mare is NI positive, will she be in every pregnancy, or is it something that just happens for random reasons? Thanks in advance to anyone who can give info. on this.
Lisag In Texas
Is there a report for a full moon? One more day, Prinz. You are growing into a fine young man. Lisag
Randy
Absolutely fascinating information! Thank you Dr. Martinez, Lane’s End, the Mosses, Team Z and of course, Alys. I don’t think Zenny could be at a better place than LE… ALL the horses there are so very lucky.
Also wishing a very happy first birthday to Z12… a year ago tomorrow… seems impossible.