Objectives:

| BW at birth and weaning: | Birth weight → 50kg Weaning weight → 200-250kg CP 14-16% DM 2.5-3% F/C ratio : at weaning 1 : 3 Ca : p ratio : 1.5 : 1 | | --- | --- | | Length of lactation | Max 6 months | | Daily milk consumption: | 20-25% of BW for first 5 weeks → after 17-20% | | Onset of solid feed consumption | at 3 months of age Forage is introduced | | Daily DM intake of foals: | 10% | | Forage : Concentrate ratio | More Concentrates than Forage (nursing = 0:1-2, weaning = 0.5-1:1.5-3) | | Ca:P ratio: | • Ca:P = 1.5-2:1 (maintenance) ◦ Increased needs depending on physiological status (lactation etc) ◦ 1.5 x maintenance for growing foals and pregnant mares ◦ 1.7 x maintenance for lactating mare | | Feed supplements: | Mineral (Ca:P and Zn:Cu) and vitamin supplement + roughage + salt |

Newborn foal

1st hour → Newborn uses carbs stored in liver and glycogen from skeletal muscles

2-4th hour → Stored body fat is the primary energy source (lasts 24h)

4h+ hour → Energy is being supplied by a combination of carbs and fat

• Foals should consume 20-25% of BW of milk in the first 5 weeks and 17-20% thereafter (10-12l/50kg)

• Gastric pH of newborn foals is high (~4) → older foals (2.6)

  So that colostrum Ig’s can be absorbed.

Mare’s milk energy content

DM: 10% Protein: 2.7% Lactose: 6.2% Energy: 58 kcal/100g Fat: 1.8%

• Foal is a small intestinal animal→ nutrients are digested in small intestine
• Slowly foals become fermenting animals → at 3 months of age Forage is introduced
• Concentrates are needed for nursing foal as the mare’s milk do not cover the foal’s requirements after 2 months
• Lacation length max 6 months

Weaning

🚫 NOT BEFORE 3 months!! 6 months is prefered

Lactase is the primary hydrolase until 3 months of age, at which time maltase increases

At 6 months of age → maltase and amylase reach adult levels

• Very little microbial digestion before 3 months of age