Weight loss in weanling foals
Energy — Weanlings need energy to support their growth and development. Consult a veterinarian or equine nutritionist if questions arise on determining the ideal amount of energy for each weanling. Creep feed is feed (usually grain) that is available to the foal, but not to the mare. Average daily gain, wither height, and hip height are common measures of growth rates in young horses. Creep feeding has achieved somewhat of a negative connotation with many horse owners. Protein — High-quality protein is essential for muscle, ligament, and tissue development, so ensuring your weanling consumes adequate amounts of protein each day is crucial. These horses often have less pressure on them to look their best at a young age. Change Location Australia Canada Ireland New Zealand Spain United Kingdom United States. Although feeding weanlings is confusing, the fact remains that nutrition mistakes (overfeeding or underfeeding) made early in life can lead to structural problems that limit performance potential. Some will be shown in halter futurities where maximum growth and condition are required at a young age. Both scenarios can put weanlings at risk for developmental orthopedic disorders. Therefore, it is ideal that a high-quality diet, both hay and grain, be provided after weaning. Weanlings consume approximately 3% of their body weight in dry matter per day. Many factors add to the confusion of providing nutrition at this critical stage of growth. In horses, the genetic diversity within a breed is often as influential a factor as the genetics between breeds. Scientists believe exercise helps to regulate bone and muscle growth, so allow young horses ample turnout opportunities. Simply looking at the physical differences between halter horses and reining horses should point out the genetic differences and thus the need for different feeding programs.
For example, weanlings may have different commercial endpoints. Few topics in equine nutrition stir more controversy than feeding the weanling. One of the more complex management decisions that the breeder has to make is whether or not to creep feed foals. Scientists believe exercise helps to regulate bone and muscle growth, so allow young horses ample turnout opportunities. Weanlings that consume too much energy will grow too fast, while too little energy will slow their growth. The influence of genetics on nutrition is well understood in other farm animals where it is common to have a different feeding program based on the genetics of the animal. Feeding each young horse on an individual basis will not only allow you to keep your feeding costs as low as possible, but also create the best nutritional plan for each animal. Quarter Horse weanlings bred for halter classes have a far greater capacity for muscle growth and development than weanlings bred for performance classes. Here are five important points to consider when feeding a weanling. Research has shown that weanlings benefit from free exercise or turn out. However, under or over-supplementation must be avoided to prevent developmental orthopedic diseases. This stress is usually accompanied by a decrease in daily intake of food and slowed growth. Creep feeding prior to weaning will also help the transition period so that growth and development is not detrimentally affected. Research has shown that diets low in two essential amino acids, lysine and threonine, will slow growth rate and decrease feed efficiency in young, growing horses. Still other weanlings will be kept on the farm to be used as replacement horses or future performance horses. Nutritional Needs: From the time foals are weaned to the time they turn 1, the young horse is considered to be on the highest nutritional plane of its life. Another point of confusion rests with the breed of horse being fed.
