Page 96 - Majestic Vol4

Pregnancy to Foaling

A pregnant mare may show few physical changes
until its fifth month of pregnancy. The gender of the
unborn foal can be determined in the second month
of pregnancy with the use of ultrasound; by the fourth
month, the hooves are developed, and hair gracesits
lips; by the sixth month, measuring 56cm long, the
body of the fetus is covered with fine hair; by the
eighth month, it has a swatch of hair on its tail and
weighs up to 19kg; by the tenth month, its weight
would have drastically increased; during the eleventh
month when foaling is imminent, the fetus will shift
its position, turning to face the birth canal.
During delivery, the mare positions herself on
her side and strains powerfully to expel the fetus,
delivering completely within 10-15 minutes. A
newborn foal measures at least 109cm long, and
weighs up to 70kg. Underlying medical conditions
can cause a mare to miscarry. Spontaneous abortion
is most likely in a twin pregnancy due to the lack of
sufficient nutrients to support the foetuses.

怀孕到出生

母马受孕后，身体的变化要到五个多月后才比较明显
地看得出来。孕后两个月时，已可看出仔马的性别；
四个月大时，马蹄已形成，唇部周围长出毛来；六个
月大时，大部分的身体已长出毛，仔马身长约56公
分；八个月大时，开始长出鬃毛，体重达19公斤；十
个月大时，体重大幅增加；十一个月大时，仔马在母
体里会自行调整位置，以便在生产时两只前蹄先出产
道。
当母马即将生产时，她自己先行躺下，用力的将仔马
推出产道，整个生产的过程只有十到十五分钟。仔马
出世时身长至少有109公分长，体重可达70公斤。如果
母马怀孕的情况不好，将会导致流产。若母马怀上双
胞胎，流产的几率就非常高，因为母体没有足够的空间
同时孕育两匹仔马。

94