A
healthy foal will grow rapidly, gaining in height, weight and strength almost
before your very eyes. From birth to age two, a young horse will achieve 30 percent
or more of its full adult size, sometimes putting on as many as 3 pounds per
day. Generics and environment play significant roles in determining individual
growth patterns. Through research, we also know we can influence a foal's growth
and development - for better or worse - by the nutrition we supply.
STRIVE FOR BALANCE
Feeding young horses is a careful
balancing act. The interplay between generics, management and nutrition is complex.
While we can do nothing to change the genetic road map, we can alter its course
via proper management. The nutritional start a foal gets can have a profound
effect on its health and soundness for the rest of its life. We can accelerate
growth if we choose. However, research suggests that a balanced dietary approach
which supports moderate growth is less likely to cause developmental problems.
Some conditions which have been associated with rapid growth rates include:
- Contracted Tendons Epiphysitis Angular Limb
Deformities
- Osteochondrosis
THE NURSING FOAL
One of the foal's first missions
in life is to stand and nurse. In doing so, it receives the antibody-rich colostrum
which helps protect it from disease. During the first weeks of life, the mate's
milk provides everything a rapidly growing foal needs for sustenance. The burden
then gradually shifts to other sources. During lactation, a mare will produce
an average of 3 gallons of milk a day. But in order to do so she must receive
ample feed and water. Observe the foal's nursing habits. If it suckles for more
than 30 minutes at a time, it may not be receiving enough milk. Supplemental
feed or milk replacer may be required.
Peak lactation generally occurs
during the second and third month of a foal's life. At this time a mare will
need almost double the amount of feed she required during her early pregnancy
In addition to extra energy, her diet must include adequate protein, vitamins
and minerals to keep from depleting her own body reserves. Increases or decreases
in feed should be made gradually over a 7 to 10-day period.
THE FOAL'S CHANGING DIET
As early as 10-14 days of age,
a foal may begin to show an interest in feed. By nibbling and sampling, the youngster
learns to ear solid food. Its digestive system quickly adapts to the dietary
changes.
At 8-10 weeks of age, mare's milk
alone may not adequately meet the foal's nutritional needs. High quality grains
and forage should be added to the foal's diet. It is essential the ration be
properly balanced for vitamins and minerals. Deficits, excesses or imbalances
of calcium, phosphorous, copper, zinc, selenium and vitamin E are of particular
concern in the growing foal. Improper amounts or ratios can lead to skeletal
problems.
FOAL FEEDING GUIDELINES
As the foal's dietary requirements
shift from milk to feed and forage, your role in providing the proper nutrition
gains in importance. Here are some guidelines to help you meet the young horse's
needs:
- Provide high quality roughage (hay and pasture)
free choice.> Supplement with grain or concentrates beginning at about 4 weeks
of age.> Start by feeding 1 percent of a foal's body weight per day, tie. 1 pound
of feed for each 100 pounds of body weight), or 1 pound of feed per month of
age. Weigh and adjust the feed ration based on growth and fitness. A weight tape
can help you approximate a foal's size. Foals have small stomachs so divide the
daily ration into 2-3 feedings. Make sure feeds contain the proper balance of
vitamins, minerals, energy and protein. Use a creep feeder or feed the foal separate
from the mare so it can eat its own ration. Remove uneaten portions between feedings
. Do not overfeed. Overweight foals are more prone to developmental orthopedic
disease (DOD).
- Provide unlimited fresh, clean water.
WEANING
Foals are commonly weaned at 5
to 6 months of age. Beginning about the third month, the mare's milk supply gradually
declines and a natural weaning process begins. To prepare the foal for complete
weaning, its ration should be increased over a 2-3 week period to make up for
the nutrients being lost in the diminishing milk supply. The mare's grain should
be reduced and/or gradually eliminated to further limit milk production.
Once it is no longer nursing,
a 500-600 pound weanling should be eating approximately 2.5% of its body weight
in feed and forage a day.
SUSTAINING GROWTH
Weanlings and yearlings continue
to build bone, muscle and mass at a remarkable rate. From weaning to two years
of age, the horse may nearly double its weight again. Weanlings and yearlings
benefit from a diet containing 14-16 percent protein. They also require readily
available sources of energy to meet the demands of growth and activity. A good
rule of thumb is to provide 60-70 percent of the ration as concentrates and 30-40
percent of the ration as roughage-measured by weight. The diet must also provide
ample fiber to keep the digestive tract functioning properly. Some of the new "complete
feeds" have the ration already balanced.
Weight gain and development taper
off as the horse matures. As growth slows, you will need to adjust the ration
to approximately 1.5-2% of the yearling's body weight. The grain to roughage
ratio should also be adjusted so by the time the horse is a 2-year-old, half
of its daily diet (by weight) is coming from grain sources and the other half
from hay and pasture. Breed type, maturity and level of activity will affect
the horse's exact nutritional requirements.
TOTAL CARE & MANAGEMENT
Work with your equine practitioner
to develop a total health care plan for your foals, weanlings and yearlings.
A regular deworming, vaccination and examination schedule is essential to ensure
your feat is getting the care it needs. Remember, vaccination and deworming regimens
may vary depending on regional factors and disease risks. Consult your equine
practitioner for exact recommendations. Here are some other management tips:
- Unless there is a medical concern, provide
youngsters free choice exercise daily. Avoid confining foals for more than 10
hours per day. Use longeing, round-pen or tread mill work judiciously. Excessive
forced exercise can strain joints and limbs. Never exercise a foal to the point
of fatigue. Keep your youngster's feet properly trimmed to foster proper bone
development. Provide a clean, safe environment with adequate shelter from the
elements. Check the horse's surroundings and eliminate any potential hazards
such as loose boards, nails, wire fencing or equipment.
- The reward for providing excellent nutrition,
conscientious care and a safe environment will be a healthy foal that grows into
a sound and useful horse.
