FREE ESSAY ON FOALS: THE FIRST YEAR

FOALS: THE FIRST YEAR

Foals: The First Year
RUSTY MILLER
STATEMENT DESCRIBING CAREER GOALS AND RESEARCH INTERESTS
MASTERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 
AUGUST 1, 2000
?RESEARCH INTERESTS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Introduction: The following is a report on my research information on foal's nutritional
need through there first year of life. This report will also show a research project that
I would like to do for my Masters degree
I. Nutrition
A. Nutritional Requirement
1. Details of general nutrition
2. Requirements
B. Other items required for good nutrition
1. Water
2. Energy, Maintenance, & Growth
II. Creep Feeding
A. Reason for creep feeding foals
1. Why creep feed
2. When to creep feed
B. Nutritional advantage for creep feeding
1. The foal's nutrition needs
2. Foal feeding guidelines
3. The end results
III. Research and personal information
A. Research project using a group of new born foals
1. Setting up the research project
2. Details of what I'm hoping to prove
B. Personal information
1. Background information
2. Detail of work history and professional background
Conclusion: 
?Rusty Miller
Research project for Masters in Animal Science 
August 1, 2000 
FOALS: THE FIRST YEAR
.
Feeding should be based on both practical experience and scientific research. Horses are
kept for a much longer time than most farm animals and feeding programs must support the
development of sound feet and legs to sustain along and athletic life.
Nutritional Requirement
Although horses obviously utilize hay and other roughage more efficiently then of other
non-ruminants such as poultry or pigs. The anatomy of the equine G I tract limits this
ability as compared with ruminant. The site of fermentation in horses is the cecum and
large intestine, where large number of microorganisms digest hemicelluloses and cellulose
utilize protein and non-protein nitrogen and synthesize certain vitamins. Some of the
products of fermentation such as volatile fatty acids and use microbial protein
synthesized from nitrogen entering the cecum and calm under foes only limited proteolysis
and the supply of essential amino acids from an unbalanced dietary nitrogen source is not
satisfactorily balanced by microbial ammo acids for optimal growth. Horses therefore
depend more on the quality of the diet than do ruminants.
Water
Water requirements depend largely on environment amount of work being performed nature of
the food and physiological states of the horse. Daily consumption by an adult horse
typically is 5 to 12 gals. Clean, fresh water should be provided ad lib for all horses.
As physical activity increases water consumption increases. If a horse is hot following
exercise, it should be allowed to cool before given unlimited access to water.
Energy
Energy requirement may be classified into these needed for maintenance, growth,
pregnancy, lactation, and work. The need for energy differs considerably among
individuals some horses and "easy keepers", while others require prodigious amounts of
feed. Thus, these formulas provide only a sound basis for estimating energy needs not the
energy needs of any individual horses.
Maintenance
To maintain body weight and support normal activity, the daily digestible energy
requirement of the non working horse weighing 440 - 1322 lb is 1.4 + (0.03 x body wt. in
kg) for horses weighing *600kg, daily requirement are 1.82 + (0.0383 x body wt) 
Growth
The DE requirements for growth (to be added to that for maintenance) are estimated from
the following equation in which x equal's age in months and Average Daily Growth equals
average daily fain in kg. DE growth (meal/ day = (4.81 + 1.17 x 0.023 x Average Daily
Growth
Pregnancy
Maintenance energy intakes are adequate until the last 90 days of gestation, when most of
the fetal tissue growth occurs. During gestation months 9 to 11, D E requirement are
estimated by multiplying maintenance requirement by 1-11, 1-13, and 1-20, respectively.
Voluntary intake of roughage decreases as the fetus gets larger and it may be necessary
to increase the energy density of the diet by using some concentrate.
Lactation
The It has been estimated that 792 Keal of DE/Kg of milk produced per day should be added
to maintenance needs to support lactation. Maintenance needs to support lactation. This
level of energy intake has produced increased body weight gain in lactating mares,
indicating that it may exceed the minimum requirement for lactation. Some data on average
milk production of mares are listed below. Condition of the mare determines desirability
of increasing gain.
Average Milk Production
Months after Foaling Mares Production
0 - 1 13.9
1 - 2 14.7
2 - 3 16.9
3 - 4 15.1
4 - 5 10.9
Protein and Amino Acids
Although some amino acid synthesis occurs in the cecum and large intestine, it is not
sufficient to meet the amino acid needs of growing, working horses and foals: therefore
the protein quality of the feed is important. Weanlings require 2.1g and yearlings 1.9g
of lysine meal DE per day.
Growing horses have a considerably greater need for protein than mature horses. Also, the
protein requirements of growing babies of the heavier breeds are higher at the same body
weight than those of the lighter breeds. Fetal growth during the last fourth of pregnancy
increases protein requirements some what, while lactation increases requirements still
further. Work apparently does not increase the protein requirement, provided that the
ratio of crude protein to digestible energy in the diet remains constant and the
increased energy requirements are met. However, if the energy requirement is not met,
body fat and then muscle is metabolized which results in a net nitrogen loss.
Minerals
Because the skeleton is of such fundamental importance to performance of the horse
mineral requirements deserve careful attention. Excessive intakes of certain minerals may
be as harmful as deficiencies: there fore, mineral supplement should be based on
composition of the basic feed in the diet.
Calcium and phosphorus: The need during growth is much greater than for maintenance of
the mature animal.
Sodium: Salt requirement is markedly influenced by perspiration loss. 50 to 60 grams of
salt may be lost daily in the sweat and 35 grams in the urine of a horse at moderate
work.
Magnesium: The daily magnesium requirement for maintenance has been estimated at
6.8-mg/lb-body weight. For the growing foal, Magnesium at0.57 g/lb body wt. gain must be
added to the maintenance requirement.
Potassium: Foals require up to 1% potassium in a purified diet while mature horse require
0.4% potassium in a natural diet (27 mg/lb body weight). Most roughages contain * 1.5%
potassium. A diet containing * 35% roughage provides sufficient potassium.
Iron: The dietary maintenance requirement for iron is estimated to be 40ppm. For rapidly
growing foals and pregnant and lactating mares, the requirement is estimated to be 50ppm

CREEP FEEDING
Why Creep Feed
This can be best explained by looking at the relationship between the nutrient
requirements of the suckling foal and the nutrients provided to the via the mare's milk.
During the first few weeks after parturition, the mare provides adequate energy for the
foal. During this time, onecan observe the foal nursing, playing, and sleeping on some
schedule, perhaps 45 to 60 minutes per cycle. By 2.0 to 2.5 months of age, a sizable
difference between the foal's energy needs and the mare's production is evident. This is
verified by the foal's interest in consuming other feed stuffs, including the mare's
grain ration, pasture and/or hay. Similar relationships exist for the other nutrients as
well. Therefore, the foal restricted to only its mother's milk would be deficient in not
only energy, but also protein.
When to Creep Feed
Although most foals will start to explore edible materials, and some that are not edible,
in its environment within a few days after birth, significant feed intake does not occur
for most foals until they are in their second month. At this time, a feeding system that
allows the foal to consume its feed and prevents the mare from eating the creep feed is
desirable. This is typically a creep feed is desirable. The is typically a creep feeder
located in the pasture.
Nutritional Advantage for Creep Feeding
The Foal's Nutrition Needs
The creep feed should be formulated to provide a high-quality source of nutrients.
Undermost circumstances, the foal should be fed the same concentrate that will be used as
a weanling feed. This will avoid a ration change at weaning. A 16% to 18% protein
concentrate with at least 0.80% lysine, 1.0% calcium, 0.75 phosphorus, and appropriate
concentrations of other minerals and partially supplied by milk when it is nursing and it
requirements, as percentage of the total diet, decrease as growth rate slows following
weaning.
Foal Feeding Guidelines
As the foal's dietary requirements shift from milk to feed and forage, your role in
providing the proper nutrition gains in importance. Here are some guidelines to help meet
the young horse's needs: 
1 . Provide high quality roughage (hay or pasture) free choice.
2 . Supplement with grain or concentrates beginning at about 4 
Weeks of age.
3 . Start by feeding 1% of a foal's body weight per day. ( 1 
Pound of feed for each 100 pounds of body weight)
4 . Weigh and adjust the feed ration based on growth and
Fitness. A weight tape can help approximate a foal's size
5 . Foals have small stomachs so divide the daily ration into 
2 to 3 feedings.
6 . Make sure feeds contain the proper balance of vitamins, 
minerals, energy and protein
7 . Use a creep feeder or feed the foal separate from the mare 
so it can eat its own ration 
8 . Remove uneaten portions between feedings
9 . Do not overfeed. Overweight foals are more prone to
developmental orthopedic disease (DOD)
10. Provide unlimited fresh, clean water
The End Results 
Creep feeding is good management. Don't restrict a foal to an inadequate diet while it is
most capable of using those nutrients to build a sound body. Creep feeding bridges the
gap between the nutrient composition of mare's milk and foal nutrient needs
Research and Personal Information
Setting up the research project
The project I would like to do is to take a group of foals and divide them into 3 groups.
Group A would be taken forms their mothers between 3 and 4 months. The foals would be put
into the barn and fed on a program giving them everything they need as far a feed source.
These foals also are put on a conditioning program of free and force work. These foals
would receive all health care needed, which includes shots and worming program. These
foals will be treated as if they are being prepared for the show ring.
Group B would be left on their mothers until 5 to 6 months. These Foals would be started
on a creep feed program as soon as they are noticed to start to nibble on other food
sources. They would only have free exercise in the field with their mothers. They would
receive all the vet work including shots and worming program.
Group C would also be left on their mothers until 5 to 6 months. These foals would not
get any extra feed as in being creep feed. They will get only what they get from their
mother feedings mothers milk and grass. These foals would be put on a vet program
including shots and a worming program. The foals will be treated like most of the "back
yard" foals are treated.
All foals will be weighted and measured to have a record on a starting point and
reweighed and measured every 2 weeks. All foals selected for this study will be cheeked
by a vet to be should all foals are sound and healthy to have an equal playing field.
At the end of the 6-month when all foals are off their mothers they all will be weighted
and measured for the last time. The top foal from each group will then be pulled into the
barn and be put on the same program as the foals from group A. Weighting and measuring
will continue on these 3 foals. The 3 foals will be taking to a show in Nov or Dec. 
End Results
This project is to study which group of foals has the best growth, and which group of
foals turned out the best at 6 mouths. We will also take a look at the 3 remaining foal
at a year old to see if the best foal had any kind of advantage to what program he was
in. This study will show if the entire extra work and feed sources made a difference in
which foal is the best.