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Post by lashlake on Sept 6, 2017 12:46:57 GMT
Hi - I am a first time breeder and need some help please!
For the past 3 days I have not seen my 4 month old suckle from my mare. He has attempted to but she has lifted a leg/pulled a face at him. She seems well, doesn't look sore and is eating well but is leaking some milk. He seems to have lost his appetite over the same 3 days; he usually has 2 small D&H foal creep pellet feeds a day and has done since he was 6 weeks and he usually eats these feeds well. I put a small amount of hay out this morning and they both tucked into it. He is her first foal. They are both turned out 24/7 and have plenty of grass so is he just full? Should I worry or is this just part of the weaning process? Thanks!
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Post by Philippa on Sept 6, 2017 14:53:51 GMT
I wouldn't worry as long as foal looks well. We've weaned strong colts at 4 months as they start to drag the mares down. It may be your mare is now fed up of her delinquent little boy who is probably mythering her to death and biting her udder when he drinks.
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Post by lashlake on Sept 6, 2017 15:28:26 GMT
Thanks Philippa - yes he is a delinquent! He has always been very confident even from a few minutes old and has recently been jumping up at her, nipping her and generally being a pain in the backside. I am hoping this is just part of her weaning him because she's getting fed up with him but he is definitely off his foal pellets too?
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Post by CarolineNelson on Sept 6, 2017 18:58:44 GMT
If he is doing well, then consider weaning him.
If he seriously won't eat 'foal weaning pellets' - then tempt him (separate from her) to some well soaked but not over-wet sugar beet shreds and any other 'sweet' tempters you come up with, such as well-chopped apples etc.
if she is really trying to tell you that she has had enough, then wean him. Five to six months is the norm, but, earlier if the mare is struggling to still provide milk.
Provide a companion, a quiet, mannerly (hornless) sheep or goat for example- or an older, pleasant pony (mare or gelding) would be ideal. Ensure that their food is compatible, particularly with the sheep/goat sort of companion. Their food is NOT compatible for either species. That is vital.
But, be warned - you will still have to wean him off that companion too, eventually. So, a multiple equine batch is best to begin with - and you may need to enlist a friend who is also weaning foals, to achieve this.
Consider castrating him, asap!!
Good luck.
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Post by gillwales on Sept 6, 2017 19:45:14 GMT
I would wean him and consider getting him gelded asap. I would also milk the mare for has long as you can, rather than use a bottle use a syringe and squirt it down his throat. I have had great success with this and I know of other friends with large studs who have taken up doing this when needed. Rug him so he does not get cold. It is a good idea to get together with other people , one has the babies and the other the Mums.
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Post by deucoch on Sept 9, 2017 13:26:48 GMT
If she is leaking milk then he hasn't suckled for a while or a reduced amount and her udder is filling up. I would get her checked for mastitis as it sounds like she is stopping him from drinking, but with him also being off his other feed, i'd say best to get him checked by a vet. There are often no grey areas with foals, they can go from being ok to not ok, very quickly. I know many foals are weaned at 4 months, but i'd rule out mastitis/check the foal's health first as ideally better to leave them in the mare longer.
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