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Post by solitaire sr on Sept 18, 2014 22:43:11 GMT
Hi, Although ive owned horses for several years and youngsters,having a foal is all new to me...
My boy was weaned at 4 month as he wasn't over interested in mum and vice versa.. He was at good weight so the breeder thought it best for both to wean him as they were both ready..
He was already nibbling at mums hard feed, out at grass and haylage available...
He is now rising 5 months and seems to be growing well.. Although he isnt turned out for hours he has access to a paddo k for 1 to 2 hours daily.. He is on youngstock mix, chaff and oil, plus ad lib hay...
Someone has suggested putting him on milk pellets with him still being young but when ive enquired at the feed merchants to see if there in stock i was told there not necessary?? and there usually only fed upto 3 months and if the foal is poor?
He is a pure bred arab ...
I dont want to over feed but also aware that i dont want to under feed to..
Any advice greatly appreciated...
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Post by Philippa on Sept 19, 2014 5:47:18 GMT
Some people will say foals should stay on the mare til they are 6 months old. Thats a load of cods wallop. If the foal is strong and doing well and pulling the mare down its best around to wean at 4 months.
Regarding feeding. No he doesn't need milk pellets. There are lots of good young stock mixes about nowadays which will give him all the nutrients he needs. Give home 4 small feeds a day. We used to feed creep pellets to the TB foals. They are like tiny pony nuts similar to balancer pellets. Grass is the best thing for him. If you can get him out for longer and make the most of this mild weather do, and don't be frightened to get him out over winter either. Good hay/haylage and fresh water.
He will grow in stages and may appear to drop condition, he will be growing in other areas. All foals hit the ugly duckling stage where you look and think what the hell have I bought but rest assured, if they have it when they are born it will come back.
Enjoy your baby x
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Sept 19, 2014 7:19:45 GMT
I wean mine from 4 1/2 months to suit what is going on here, both with them, eg earlier if going to foal shows, and with me, left on longer if we're going away for instance. They've all been fine. I'm broadly in agreement with Philippa, but I having natives I prefer to separate the essential nutrient part of the diet from the calorie providing part, and wouldn't anyway feed more sugar or starch than I can help to anything. In practise this means I feed a balancer with fibre and oil for the calorie providers; youngstock mixes and possibly cubes/pellets can contain too much molasses and cereals for me - read the bag labels to find out! The white ones sewn into the bag seams give all the actual ingredients, which the manufacturers blurb doesn't always.
I have no experience of feeding Arabs, but balancers were developed in the first place as a solution for TBs growing too fast and putting their joints at risk of OC by enabling breeders to cut down on their calories while continuing to provide essential micronutrients.
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sarahp
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Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Sept 19, 2014 7:39:08 GMT
The critical point about time of weaning is when the digestive system stops being able to digest the mare's milk fully and is able to deal with the components of an adult diet, I think around 4 months - Philippa?
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Post by solitaire sr on Sept 19, 2014 8:35:51 GMT
Thankyou both taking the time to reply.....
Unfortunately our yard is not best designed for colts hence the reason he has limited turnout.. he will be gelded when possible... would ready grass be any good???
What stud mix do you recommend?? he is currently on baileys no 7.. was going to add suregrow as told this is like feeding a balancer...
He is doing fantastic.. He was weaned straight from his mum and to us and he has been no trouble...
LOL ive seen many foals go through that ugly stage.. He is out of beautiful parents so i will bear that in mind when he looks like an ugly duckling...
I do intend to get him out to foal shows but all depends on if he is ready xxx
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sarahp
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Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Sept 19, 2014 9:54:01 GMT
Limited turnout would be fine - they do need exercise in order for the bones to develop strongly but this is in the form of a good gallop round to put them under stress rather than mooching around quietly around a field all day. On limited TO I'm sure he'll do that bit OK!
As I said, I won't use any mixes, not my thing because of the sugar and starch. Without checking (please do rather than take my word for it) I think Suregrow is the vit/min version without the essential aminoacids, so if you have to reduce the level of the other feed below manufacturers recommended amount he could go short on them. Why not have a chat with the feed company concerned - is Suregrow D & H? All the companies have a helpline for customers to use for information and advice, the best ones won't just stick to their own products!
I assess my foals at a week old and try to forget what they look like from then until adult. My first stud stallion, bought as a lovely foal, looked like a gargoyle for years but as an adult grew in all the right places and is now beautiful.
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Post by Philippa on Sept 19, 2014 11:28:13 GMT
Out of interest SarahP what do you think of limestone flour??? Again something we used to feed all the youngsters for bone strength and density.
Regarding the time the gut develops Im not sure for dfinate but think you are right at about 4 months, again it may deviate slightly on maturity or lack of it.
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sarahp
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Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Sept 19, 2014 15:03:42 GMT
Used to supply calcium when using old fashioned straights diets including bran. I tend to feed alfalfa these days which is calcium-rich, it will then be in a form more easily digested.
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Post by solitaire sr on Sept 19, 2014 17:20:44 GMT
Thanks guys you have both been a huge help...
He seems to be growing well and is happy...
Xxx
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