Therefore, the first step in the weaning process should include ensuring the foal is eating a good quality hay and comfortable eating a well-balanced ration containing 14-16 percent protein, 0.7 percent calcium, 0.4 percent phosphorous and a 0.5 percent trace mineralized salt to support the rapid muscle and skeletal growth.
What should the foal eat before weaning?
Prior to weaning, the foal should be accustomed to eating solid feed. This is usually not a problem if the mare is being hard fed, as many foals are dipping into their dam’s feed bin by a few weeks of age.
How much to feed a baby foal?
Foals will start to show interest in feeds very early on and, by around two months of age, their mother’s milk will no longer supply all the nutrients needed for optimum growth. To support smooth, steady growth, suckling foals should be offered one pound of a properly-formulated foal feed per month of age per day.
How much to feed a suckling horse?
To support smooth, steady growth, suckling foals should be offered one pound of a properly-formulated foal feed per month of age per day. For example, a 3-month-old would ideally be eating about three pounds of feed per day, in addition to milk and free choice hay or pasture.
What do weanlings eat when weaning horses?
When weaning horses, it is important to offer weanlings a high-quality feed specifically formulated for foals. Young, growing horses have different requirements for protein, vitamins and minerals than adult horses. A proper balance of high-quality proteins, calories, calcium and phosphorus is needed for correct muscle, bone and tendon development.
What to feed weaning foals?
FOAL FEEDING GUIDELINESProvide high-quality roughage (hay and pasture) free choice.Supplement with a high-quality, properly-balanced grain concentrate at weaning, or earlier if more rapid rates of gain are desired.More items...
What is the best foal feed?
Grass, the most natural of equine foods, should always be available when foals are turned out, and hay should be provided in the stall. Alfalfa (lucerne) or an alfalfa/grass mix will provide both energy and calcium for sound skeletal development. Water and salt should be accessible to mares and foals at all times.
What should I feed my 6 month old foal?
6 months of age, feed up to 1# of foal ration per 100# body weight, plus at least 1# hay/100# weight. It is best to feed more hay, especially quality alfalfa hay. Overfeeding grain can cause a problem with the joints called epiphysitis; this occurs because of the low calcium and high energy in grains.
What to feed a mare after weaning?
A grain concentrate appropriate for a weanling on pasture or fed a legume-mix hay (such as an alfalfa blend) will generally contain 14% crude protein. Some horsemen that are feeding strictly grass hay will provide feeds with 16% or 18% crude protein.
When can a foal start eating grain?
As early as one week of age your foal may start taking some interest in feed by nibbling at hay or grain. This initial interest may be just a way of imitating mom, but the foal soon learns to use these other sources of nutrition and his digestive tract quickly adjusts to solid food.
At what age do foals eat grass?
Commonly foals are weaned at four to six months of age. Once a foal is no longer nursing, then the weanling should be eating approximately two to three percent of its body weight in feed and forage a day. It is essential that the ration be properly balanced for vitamins and minerals, energy and protein.
How do you look after a foal after weaning?
To support smooth, steady growth, suckling foals should be offered one pound of a properly-formulated foal feed per month of age per day. For example, a 3-month-old would ideally be eating about three pounds of feed per day, in addition to milk and free choice hay or pasture.
What should a 4 month old foal eat?
(A 4-month-old weanling should eat enough daily forage to equal between 0.5 and 1 percent of his body weight.) Think of him as a fussy toddler who won't eat his vegetables unless they're really tasty. Turn him out on a productive pasture or entice him with good-quality, palatable hay (fresh and clean, early-cut).
What nutrients does a foal need?
Consequently, by the time the foal is two-three months of age, mare's milk and free-choice hay or pasture will fall short of meeting the growing foal's requirements for important nutrients such as protein, energy, calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc and other minerals and vitamins.
How long does it take for a mare to dry up after weaning?
seven to 10 daysFollowing weaning, the mares should be turned out in an area where they can be freely exercised, and their grain ration should be decreased for seven to 10 days to facilitate drying up and to prevent weight gain, as they are no longer producing milk for their foal. Thomas R.
How long does weaning a foal take?
Some horsemen wean at around three months, while others leave mare and foal together until the baby is four, five, even six months old. The foal's precise age isn't as important as his physical, mental and social development.
What age can you take a foal away from its mother?
Typically, foals are weaned when they reach at least three months of age. However, for many foals, delaying weaning until they are four to six months old is recommended. At three months your foal has its own immune system starting to work. Prior to this age your foal relies on mum for immunity.
What is the purpose of hard feeds?
The hard feeds should provide the energy, protein, and minerals necessary to compensate for those not present in the forage. In addition, the grain should have sufficient levels of lysine, an amino acid essential for proper growth.
Is it stressful to wean a mare?
Weaning is a stressful time for foals. While mares are often ready to say good-bye to their rowdy charges, foals can be far more fretful and often enter a growth slump immediately following weaning . Therefore, proper nutrition is paramount.
