Foal Growth
The nutrient needs of the young growing foal have to be met to achieve optimum growth, development and structural soundness at maturity.The table below shows how mare’s milk composition decreases over the first three weeks after foaling.
Milk composition changes through the course of lactation to correspond with the changing role of milk in the nutrition of the foal. The milk, from a nurse mare that has been lactating for a few months, may not contain adequate levels of essential nutrients for the orphan or compromised foal.
| Age after foaling | Units | 1-4 weeks | 5-8 weeks | 9-21 weeks | Foal-Gro |
| Fresh weight | Fresh weight | Fresh weight | Fresh weight | ||
| Total solids | % DM | 10.7 | 10.5 | 10.0 | 12.5 |
| Energy | Kcal/100g | 58 | 53 | 50 | 54 |
| Protein | % | 2.7 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.7 |
| Fat | % | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.9 |
| Lactose | % | 6.2 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Calcium | % | 0.11 | 0.1 | 0.08 | 0.11 |
| Phosphorus | % | 0.07 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.07 |
Adapted from NRC, 1989.
The digestive tract of a very young foal is simple and fairly undeveloped. The ability of the foal to absorb antibodies from dam’s colostrum declines rapidly from 12 hours after birth. Feeding large quantities of milk in a single meal will overwhelm the digestive tract’s ability to digest and absorb the sugars and protein in the milk. This leads to diarrhoea (nutritional scours). Milk replacer is best offered in small quantities, provided many times a day.
The mature horse is anatomically classified as a non-ruminant herbivore or hindgut fermenter. Horses have developed digestive tracts that can digest and utilize high fibre diets. The adult horse stomach can only hold about 7.5-11 litres of liquid. Only 9% of the digestive capacity of the horse’s digestive tract is in the stomach and 60% is in the large intestine.
Another critical concept in feeding the young growing foal is to feed a balanced diet that supplies sufficient nutrients which are correct amounts relative to each other. The growth rate of the foal is dependent upon energy and protein intake.
Milk from well-fed normal mares meets foals’ needs for about two months (Schryver et al., 1986). ‘Normal’ foals will consume 20-25% of their body weight daily in milk for the first five weeks and 17-20% thereafter (Oftedal et al., 1983).
Solid food does not provide adequate nutrition to the foal until it is about 3 months of age. Milk pellets can be added to the grain to ensure adequate nutrition (from 2mths age). Foals are usually weaned off milk replacer at 8-12 weeks of age.
The concentration of Ca, Cu, K, P, Na and Mg in mare’s milk decline during the first 100 days of lactation (Anderson and Loch, 1994). This could adversely impact foal health and performance.
Supplemental copper and zinc may reduce the incidence of degenerative orthopaedic disease (DOD) in horses (Hintz and Cymbalauk, 1994)
Foal Rearing Objectives
| Growth of frame (skeleton and muscle) deposition | High health status | Optimal fat |
Underfeeding a foal will reduce its growth potential and can lead to poor health and reduced ability to overcome stress challenges.
