Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mare's Milk Enough?
My mare is going to have her first foal this summer, will I need to feed the foal or will it get all the nutrients it needs from its mum’s milk?
Milk is low in certain key vitamins and minerals, for example copper, which are vital for correct growth and development. The nutritional composition of mare’s milk changes throughout lactation and typically begins to gradually decline in the second month of lactation.
Usually foals will begin to show an interest in their dam’s concentrate feed at approximately two weeks of age. At this stage it is a good idea to introduce a small quantity of good quality specifically designed concentrate feed. Introducing concentrate feed at this time will: a) Help balance the nutritional deficiencies in mare’s milk, preventing any deficiencies or imbalances. b) Aid the anatomical and physiological maturation of the digestive tract. c) Teach the foal to eat on its own, thereby helping to reduce stress and the risk of digestive disturbances post weaning.
You should also aim to weight your foal and record its height every few week in order to monitor its growth rate. Abnormal growth rate may increase the risk of developmental problems such as epiphysitis.
Dodson & Horrell produce creep feeds specifically designed for Thoroughbred and Native/ Warmblood foals.
Typically Thoroughbreds grow more rapidly than other breeds and have higher nutrient requirements. Dodson & Horrell’s highly palatable Foal Creep Pellets have been formulated specifically to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Thoroughbred, providing high quality protein and optimal levels of energy, vitamins and minerals to ensure optimal growth and development.
Native and Warmblood foals tend to maintain their weight and body condition reasonably well, but still require high levels of vitamins and minerals for correct growth and development. Foal Mix has been specifically formulated for low intakes and therefore contains elevated levels of vitamins and minerals. This means that energy intake can be limited, preventing the foal from putting on too much weight, which stresses their joints, whilst still ensuring that they receive all the essential vitamins and minerals they require for correct growth and development.
As with all horses make sure that any changes to the foal’s diet are introduced gradually.
