Milk Testing 101 (with pH ! )

[FLIPPED_HER_HALO]

[QUOTE=rideagoldenpony;3121842]
I really am liking doing the two of them together. I especially like the pH trick. However, what I don’t like about the strips is the huge range between, say, 200 and 400. Though I am watching pretty close once they hit 200 anyway…

But I do have a stuning new filly toddling around my foaling stall – and that’s the best part of the whole testing process!!! :lol:[/QUOTE]

Congrats!

My mares bag is growing…still nothing but a few watery drops out of it so I haven’t done anything. We’re day 317 today.

[westernrider]

I’ve tested mine a couple times now. My Ca is above the 250 but not to 500 (the two choices on my strips) pH had dropped from 8.4 to 7.2.

I thought I might actually get to meet the little fellow last night, as she showed some signs of starting labor… but she’s waiting a little longer. I think I will test again midday today. I do feel we are close.

[westernrider]

Just retested. This morning the milk came much more readily, and was opaque and a bit foamy. The 1ml milk with 6 ml distilled water was definitely cloudy. Results? Ca 500, pH 6.2.

Just out of curiosity, I then tested the plain milk, not mixed with distilled water. I got the same result. I wonder why we need the distilled water?

[Signature]

Sounds like you are really close!!!

I think once the concentration gets that high that it’s actually off the chart, so it’s still that high when diluted. Maybe?

I bet you have a baby tonight! Good luck!!

[westernrider]

I am watching her on the cameras. She is breathing deeply, but quiet. She was trying to sleep standing up and almost fell down. She finally laid down to rest a little but is now back up. This is her 5th baby so she knows what to do. I do not expect her to be dramatic about it, but rather more stoic. I am thinking today is the day.

[westernrider]

Tested again at 2:30. Milk is much whiter now. pH still 6.2 (the lowest my color chart goes) but Ca is up-- now between the 500 and 1000 colors… I don’t suppose there is any further need to test, unless it’s to see if her Ca will get all the way to 1000?

It should be noted, that there is still just one horse in the foaling stall… no baby yet.

[Signature]

I would think you have to be close!!! My gosh!!

Our mare tonight is ~300ppm calcium and down to 7.4 pH. How quickly can it drop? Milk has a yellow hue now and is sticky and plentiful. No dripping though (she dripped before both previous foals), however, she is acting suspicious. I don’t think it’ll be tonight but I guess you never know. Hopefully within the next day or two!

[westernrider]

My mare took about 18 hours to drop from 7.8 to 6.2 on pH. She literally dropped one box per test and I was testing twice a day.

I do feel like I will have a baby by morning. The strip tests are a nice confirmation of what my mare (and my gut) are telling me.

[Foxtrot_s]

This is amazing information which I hope I can use in August (Irish foal). Thanks for the info, Pinto. Stuff you learn on this board.

[Signature]

No baby last night as I thought, but this AM pH is down to 7.2. So, perhaps tonight? She looks totally ready and is acting suspicious. Did not finishing eating this AM.

Tick tock tick tock…

[pintopiaffe]

Signature–you’ve got a way to go yet. Starting to drop is a good sign, but it will ‘bottom out’ or be below 6.8 before she goes usually. The starting DOES mean you’re getting there–like 24-48 hrs. But it’s when you see it 6.8 (or on the lowest reading) that you know it’s TONIGHT (or 6-12 hrs) or sometimes, NOW… I’ve had it read above 7 in the a.m., bottom out at afternoon check, and safely in bed post-foaling/nursing/pooping etc. by 10pm. :yes:

OBVIOUSLY though the other signs are part of it–not finishing brekkie is one of my favorites!

[Signature]

Ok, she was down to 6.2 pH last night but no foal. She seemed upset about being in by herself so tonight she has a buddy and we’ll see!! Calcium is still over 300ppm but I don’t think to the 425 mark.

This AM the milk looks even more like milk. Still way low on the pH, box is bright yellow which is 6.2, the lowest on the scale! Still very sticky. Still acting funny. We shall see!

[bwf]

I have had great luck with the PH test…
Never not had one go in 24 hours after PH is at the lowest.
Most of mine’s PH have droped quickly…only one has droped slowly.

[pintopiaffe]

well, is it DLee that made a liar out of me? But Signature, you should be going this afternoon or tonight.

I guess the proof in the putting will be larger #s of folks using pH and then REPORTING BACK. Perhaps my small personal experience is not as accurate… but…

Let us know!

[westernrider]

Sorry to be late checking in-- but wanted to report that my mare foaled at 1 am Saturday. Her pH first tested 6.2 Friday, at 10 am, with Ca at 500. I tested again Friday evening, still pH 6.2 but Ca was 1000.

So in my case, labor started 14 hours after the pH tested 6.2. Thanks again, Pintopiaffe for the great info. I am testing the second mare too, since the first mares’ test strips certainly were consistent with what she was telling me and what my gut was telling me…

[Signature]

Thanks to pintopiaffe also for this great test tool!!

Our mare just had a lovely chestnut filly by Donatelli tonight at 9pm, 24 hrs or so after the initial low pH reading of 6.2. The calcium still I didn’t feel was up to the 425ppm mark though (about 300?) at about 10am. She began dripping milk at about 4pm this afternoon and I didn’t bother to test her (felt it was obvious) and didn’t take too long after that!

Thanks again, I really found this very informative and thank you for the support! We have another mare due in about 10 days testing at ~75ppm and 8.4pH right now, ways to go of course, but we shall see if it hold true again! I’ll let you know!

[rideagoldenpony]

I’m watching a mare tonight that was 300 Chemetrics/6.4pH/400 or so calcium… Those numbers were around 4 pm. I’ll keep you posted.

[tartanfarm]

reading question

tested my mare twice today. Her milk is thick and the color of Bailey Irish Cream. The PH is around 7.4 and Cal. 250. This was for both readings.

So I’m confused as to where this puts me. Do I sleep or stay up? This is the first attempt at using the strips and although this mare is not a maiden it is my first foal with her.

Any input appreciated.

[westernrider]

When my mare had those test results, her milk was clear and yellow, with some faint white flecks if you really looked hard.

To me, the test results say sleep. But thick milk, would say she’s close. The color of Bailey’s Irish Cream? Isn’t that sort of tan? That does not sound right.

How about her tail? Vulva? Teats?

[tartanfarm]

her tail area has been soft for a few days, vulva is very pink but not rosey, and she is fully bagged up. She is a shire, so everything is extra large.
when I say Bailey’s it is more of a yellow beige then tan. Last night it was yellow creamy. both have been sticky.