Neonatal Care EQM 120 – Introduction to Commercial Breeding

Initial Foal Care Normal Health Parameters After Birth Stands within 1-2 hours Nurses within 2-3 hours Urinates within 9-10 hours Suckling reflex within 2-20 minutes Meconium (first feces) within 8-12 hours Temperature of 99 – 101.5°F in non-stressed births Heart rate of 60 bpm 1-5 minutes post foaling, 80-130 bpm at 6-60 minutes post foaling, 80-120 bpm 1 to 5 days post foaling 60-80 breaths per minute first 30 minutes, 30-40 1 to 12 hours after The Following Days Examination within 12-24 hours after birth Ophthalmic and respiratory exam, and visual checks for conformation abnormalities Foal’s antibody level in the serum should be tested for IgG antibodies (>800 mg/dl) A newborn foal will nurse 4-6 times per hour and will consume 21-25% of their body weight in milk daily (2.5 gallons/day for 100lbs foal) Fecal output of 2-5 piles per day

Importance of Nutrition The correct nutrition of foals, weanlings, and yearlings is essential for their productivity and longevity as racehorses The nutritional start a foal receives can have a profound effect on health and soundness for the rest of its life A careful balancing act to provide the foal the nutrients it needs for steady consistent growth Accelerating growth can lead to Developmental Orthopedic Disorders (DOD): Contracted tendons Epiphysitis Angular limb deformities Osteochondrosis The period between birth and 18 months is most critical to increases in height, weight, and quality of skeletal development. From birth to age two, a young horse can achieve 90% or more of its full adult size, sometimes putting on as many as 3 lbs/day

Using Nutrition to Minimize Unsoundness Maximum Growth vs. Optimum Growth The maximum risk for the development of skeletal abnormalities occurs when weight gain is high Maximum growth is not compatible with optimum skeletal development Excesses and deficiencies of nutrients during the first 12 months can cause abnormalities in bone growth High energy (28% over recommended levels) and combined high-energy protein (30% higher than recommended levels) have been shown to cause bone growth disturbances, cartilage damage, and a reduction in the calcium and phosphorus deposited in bone

The Nursing Foal Once the foal stands and nurses, it receives antibody-rich colostrum to help protect it from disease Need about 2 liters within the first 24 hours During the 1st weeks of life, the mare’s milk provides everything a rapidly growing foal needs for sustenance Keep an eye on the mare’s body condition During lactation she will produce an average of 2-3% of her body weight in milk a day Observe nursing habits of the foal Suckles for more than 30 minutes, the foal may not be receiving enough milk; supplemental feed or milk may be needed Peak lactation occurs during the 2nd and 3rd month of a foals life Mare will need almost 2x the amount of feed required during early pregnancy and needs to receive adequate protein, vitamins and minerals

Example of Mare Milk Composition Foal Digestible Energy (DE) Requirement vs. Milk DE Output Over Time

The Orphan Foal Occurs when the dam did not survive parturition or because she rejected the foal Foal needs immunological protection right away Provide colostrum, 2 to 3 liters as soon as possible after birth Best to tube-feed to ensure foals get as much as possible If colostrum is not available, veterinarian should administer IV transfer of plasma with high levels of IgG Farm managers should plan ahead for orphan foals and store 200-250 mL of quality colostrum from other broodmares in a freezer

Orphan Foal Milk Options Mare’s Milk Challenging because it is uncommon for other mares to adopt orphan foals and allow them to suckle alongside their own foal Nurse Mare (Ideal Option) Lease a lactating mare with the understanding she will raise the foal until weaning Provides foal with social education Is expensive, hard to find, some farms require the nurse mare to be bred back before being returned, is a biosecurity risk due to shipping in an outside horse Inducing Lactation Induce lactation in a barren mare through hormone treatments Can take up to 14 days for lactation to begin Can be difficult to have the mare accept the foal Mare’s Milk Substitutes Powdered products for young foals, pelleted products for older foals Similar nutrient and micronutrient levels as mare’s milk Done through bottle feeding or bucket feeding, every 90 minutes for the young foal (16x a day) decreasing to 5x a day by 15 days old

The Nutritional Gap In the 3rd month of lactation, the mare’s milk production drops The problem is that the foal’s nutritional needs keep increasing We can fill this gap through additional rations in the form of hay and concentrates 1. Provide high-quality roughage 2. Use of a creep feeder 3. Foals should be fed 1% of their body weight per day, adjust ration based on weight 4. Divide rations into multiple feedings 5. Provide unlimited fresh, clean water 6. Ability to exercise

Creep Feeding Many foals show interest in eating concentrate within weeks of birth and will start to pick at their dam’s feed Once the foal’s nutritional needs are not being meet by the dam’s milk, a concentrate will need to be introduced A creep feed is a concentrated ration designed specifically for foals to help build strong, correct bones and muscle Make sure the feeder is designed in a way that the mare cannot eat the foals grain and so the foal cannot get hurt Creep feed should be fed at a rate of 1% of the foal’s body weight per day Creep feed should contain 14-16% crude protein, 0.9% calcium, and 0.6% of phosphorus, along with high levels of trace minerals zinc and copper

Nursing Foal Nutritional Requirements at 3-5 months

Use the following password to access Quiz 7: EQM120Foal

Foal Care Management In addition to nutritional considerations, proper management and care techniques will aid in the developmental of a strong, healthy foal General practice for foal turnout dictates that the foal should be a minimum of 10 days old with a minimum temperature of 40 degrees before the foal should be turned out at night but it is important to ensure the foal receives as much turnout as soon as possible. Provide foals with ample exercise room, paddocks, and pastures Provide a clean, safe environment with shelter Make sure fencing is suitable for foals and does not have loose boards, nails, etc. Provide a regular deworming and vaccination schedule Should receive their first vaccinations at 6 to 9 months if mares were vaccinated the last 30 days of pregnancy, if not than at 3 to 4 months Core and Risk Vaccinations for foals as recommended by the American Association for Equine Practitioners