I have received conflicting information on when to start feeding a foal, in addition to what is best to feed a foal.
What and when do you begin to feed your foal?
What and when do you start feeding a foal?
Moderators: Roguelet, hpkingjr, WaveMaster, madelyn
- TrueColours
- Grade I Winner
- Posts: 1635
- Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 6:07 am
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Mine too
The mares are on Buckeye Growth, Alfa Grow N Win and Trifecta and babies are pushing mom out of the way to get their fair share very early on! Plus nibbling on hay and grass when their little nubs of teeth start coming through ...
The mares are on Buckeye Growth, Alfa Grow N Win and Trifecta and babies are pushing mom out of the way to get their fair share very early on! Plus nibbling on hay and grass when their little nubs of teeth start coming through ...
www.TrueColoursFarm.com
Breeders of unique coloured Thoroughbreds & Sport Horses - standing Guaranteed Gold - 16.1hh cremello TB stallion - CSHA and AQHA, APHA, ApHC listed
Breeders of unique coloured Thoroughbreds & Sport Horses - standing Guaranteed Gold - 16.1hh cremello TB stallion - CSHA and AQHA, APHA, ApHC listed
Start creep feeding by 2 weeks old.
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/pubs/asc111.pdf
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/pubs/asc111.pdf
The article in the link above recommends creep feeding between the ages of 8 to 12 weeks:
Copy and paste from the article:
Several aspects of creep feeding are very important:
• Start creep feeding when foals are about 8 to 12
weeks old. Make sure the feed is fresh daily and that
foals are consuming it adequately.
• Use a creep feeder designed so that mares cannot gain
access and so that foals will not be hurt. If you do not
want a field type feeder, you can tie the mare in her
stall, allowing the foal to eat.
• Put the creep feeder where mares gather frequently.
• Feed the creep feed at a rate of 1% of the foal’s body weight per day
(1 lb/100 lb of body weight). For most foals of light horse breeds,
this amount of feed is approximately 1 lb of feed per month of
age. Do not provide creep feed free choice because doing so could
increase the incidence of physitis and enterotoxemia among larger,
more rapidly growing foals. Nutrient concentrations needed in a
creep feed are shown in Table 1. See Table 5 for actual creep feed
rations.
Very informative article = thanks for posting.
Copy and paste from the article:
Several aspects of creep feeding are very important:
• Start creep feeding when foals are about 8 to 12
weeks old. Make sure the feed is fresh daily and that
foals are consuming it adequately.
• Use a creep feeder designed so that mares cannot gain
access and so that foals will not be hurt. If you do not
want a field type feeder, you can tie the mare in her
stall, allowing the foal to eat.
• Put the creep feeder where mares gather frequently.
• Feed the creep feed at a rate of 1% of the foal’s body weight per day
(1 lb/100 lb of body weight). For most foals of light horse breeds,
this amount of feed is approximately 1 lb of feed per month of
age. Do not provide creep feed free choice because doing so could
increase the incidence of physitis and enterotoxemia among larger,
more rapidly growing foals. Nutrient concentrations needed in a
creep feed are shown in Table 1. See Table 5 for actual creep feed
rations.
Very informative article = thanks for posting.