Before and After

The implementation of a consistent feeding program is the key to raising large, healthy foals and yearlings.  One of the biggest challenges to any feeding program is consistency; can you ensure that a foal is eating the same quantity of feed the day after weaning as it was eating the day before weaning?  If your answer is “Yes, my foals eat no grain the day before they are weaned and no grain the day after they are weaned,” you are missing the point.  The goal is for foals to be consuming 1.0 to 1.5 pounds of grain for every 100 pounds of body weight before and after weaning.  The consequences of failure can be the following:

• Dehydration and sickness.
• Weight loss followed by rapid weight gain and irregular growth patterns, a precursor to DOD and OCD.
• Excessive stress on the immune system.

It is simple to maintain a consistent ration before and after a foal is weaned.  As early as possible, start your foal on feed or creep feeding.  Another option is to tie the mother at feeding times so the foal is able to eat its own feed.  Make sure that the foal’s feed is always fresh and provide consistent rations.  A 16% to 18% protein feed is optimal, though acceptable results can be achieved with a lower protein percentage as long as you meet the foal’s limiting amino acid needs. 

Pictured above is Dangerous Red Lady, a big, stout, 14-month-old Pennwoods Yearling.  She was consistently fed a ration of oats and Pennwoods 2 to 12.