FOLLOW US HOME ABOUT US PRODUCTS FEED ADVICE BREEDING RACING STOCKISTS FEEDS IN FOCUS CONTACT US You are here:BreedingThe Orphan or Rejected Foal BREEDING Baileys & Breeding British Breeding Futurity Scheme Stud Range Brochure Our Ingredients The Value of Minerals FEEDING STUD HORSES Fertility Prior to Covering During Pregnancy The Lactating Mare The Suckling The Orphan or Rejected Foal Growth Problems Growth Monitoring Breeding FAQs STUD PRODUCTS Stud Product Selector Mare's Milk Replacer Foal Assist Foal Creep Pellets Stud Balancer No. 3 Stud & Youngstock Cubes No.5 Yearling Cubes No.7 Stud & Youngstock Mix No.22 Prep-Ease Prep Mix THE ORPHAN OR REJECTED FOAL COLOSTRUM The foal must receive colostrum within the first 12 – 36 hours of life so the antibodies it contains can kick-start the immune system. If the mare dies during foaling, her colostrum can still be given to the foal but it may be prudent to keep an emergency supply. Failure to provide colostrum during this time can result in, at best, a weak, sickly foal or one requiring plasma infusion, and at worst, death. MILK The digestive system of young foals cannot easily cope with solid food, so milk must be provided either from a foster mare or a commercial milk replacer. During the first week of life, a foal can suckle 7-10 times an hour, decreasing to about 3 times an hour after this. Whilst bottle feeding may be the only option initially, if no foster mare is forthcoming, teaching the foal to drink from a bucket is the best alternative. Free access to milk replacer in a bucket has the advantage that the foal can drink when he chooses and is more likely to consume small quantities at frequent intervals as he would if suckling from the mare. This encourages even growth rates and a healthier gut, with reduced risk of gastric ulcers or other digestive upsets. The foal can also develop a more “normal” relationship with humans as they are not only seen as the direct source of food. FEEDING ADVICE Foal Creep Pellets can be introduced as soon as the foal is consuming all of the milk between feeding times and, from 6 weeks of age, the amount of pellets can be increased and the milk decreased. Foals should always have access to forage/grass. Although they will not be able to digest it initially, it is important to encourage this natural behaviour and stimulate the growth of fibre-digesting bacteria. ↑ BACK TO TOP BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS Four Elms Mills, Bardfield Saling, Braintree, Essex CM7 5EJ, UK +44 (0) 1371 850 247 info@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk ASK THE NUTRITION TEAM For tailored, friendly advice, contact one of our Nutrition Team directly: Ask the Experts form +44 (0) 1371 850 247 (option 2) nutrition@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk FOLLOW US RECRUITMENT CONTACT US PRIVACY & COOKIES web design by enigma interactive