Foal Weaning Management

Weaning can be a very stressful time in a young animal’s life. There are steps that can be taken before, during, and after weaning to help decrease the stress levels of the foal and mare. Having a plan for how and when to wean will aid in lessening the amount of stress they experience.

Pre-Weaning

Foals who are accustomed to eating grain generally will continue to eat during the weaning process. Creep feeding supplies a separate feed source for the nursing foal. Creep feeding can begin as early as two weeks after birth. During this time there will be little consumption; the foal will mainly nibble and play with the grain. As the foal gets older and its nutritional needs increase, it will increase its feed in-take. The amount of feed a foal will eat in a day can vary greatly, from one to five pounds. It is best to provide small amounts of feed throughout the day versus large single feedings. The grain the foal needs has a much higher nutrient content than what the mare needs. Because of this, it is important to restrict the mare from accessing this grain. Using a creep feeder is one way to accomplish this if there is a larger group of mares and foals. If there are only two or three mares with foals, tying the mare in a stall while she eats and feeding the foal in a separate feeder may be easiest. Creep feeders should be designed for easy and safe entry and exit by the foals. Creep feeders should be made to restrict the mares’ access and large enough to hold at least two to three foals. There should be multiple entry and exit points to reduce stress for the foals. Location is key, especially in larger pastures. The creep feeder should be put in an area that is frequented by the foals and mares, such as a loafing, feeding, or watering area. Most commercial creep feed rations will contain all the nutrients the foal needs in the correct amounts. The feed should be highly palatable. Using pelleted or extruded feed will decrease the amount of sorting of individual ingredients of a textured feed.

During this time, a deworming and vaccination program should be discussed with your veterinarian to ensure a healthy foal at weaning. Thirty to 45 days before you plan to wean, the mares and foals should be moved to the area where weaning will occur. This will allow the foal to become familiar with its environment and will help decrease stress levels.

Weaning

Most foals are weaned at four to six months of age. At four months the mare’s milk is no longer providing adequate nutrition, the foal should be eating grain and forages, and shouldn’t be as dependent on the mare for protection and emotional comfort. There are, however, certain circumstances where weaning would happen earlier or later.  If a mare has vices or temperament issues it may be beneficial to wean early so the foal does not learn that behavior. If the foal is in poor health around normal weaning time, it may be beneficial to wean later once the foal is healthy again. Your situation will dictate when will be the best time to wean.

There are a number of different weaning methods that can be used. Abrupt or complete weaning is when the mare and foal are completely separated from all contact (sight, sound, smell, touch). This method requires little labor and management, however is very stressful on the mare and foal. Incomplete or fence-line weaning separates the mare and foal with a common fence line. This method allows for visual and olfactory (smell) contact, but not physical contact (nursing). After several days to a week the mare and foal should be moved completely away from each other. Gradual separation is also an option, but requires more labor and management. With this system the mare and foal are separated for a certain amount of time each day, with the frequency and length of visits being shortened over five to ten days until finally the foal never returns.

No matter which system is used weaning multiple foals at the same time can help decrease stress. If there are no other foals to be weaned, using a companion animal like a goat can help provide comfort to the foal. During the weaning process, especially with in the first 12 to 24 hours, the foal should be monitored closely. They should be in an area that is free from protrusions to prevent possible injuries. Also keep in mind that any opening larger than the foal’s hoof has the potential to trap the whole leg.

Post-Weaning

Once the foal is weaned, it is important to keep it on a good nutrition, exercise, and health program and be handled regularly. Foals should be kept in a moderate body condition and should avoid extreme shifts in body weight and diet. This will allow the weanling to grow at a consistent rate and have less structural problems. Pasture turn-out with weanlings of similar ages has several advantages including exercise. Free access to regular exercise has been shown to be important for proper bone growth and strength and hoof development. How weanlings are handled will vary depending on the use of the weanlings. Weanlings should be taught how to accept their handlers and how to behave for routine experiences, like having their hooves trimmed and standing to be brushed. You should also talk with your veterinarian and come up with a health program, to include vaccinations and deworming.

Mare Care During Weaning

Weaning is also a stressful time for the mares. Most mares will calm down quicker than their foal, especially if they have had foals in the past. If a mare still has significant milk production at the time of weaning, you should decrease the amount of grain about five days before weaning. Increasing exercise can also help decrease the amount of milk production. If the udder becomes tight, a small amount of milk can be milked by hand. Repeated milking should be avoided because it will continue to stimulate milk production, and the goal of weaning is to stop milk production.

Weaning can be very stressful but by having a good weaning program in place, that stress can be minimized. Contact your County Extension Agent if you have more questions about foal weaning management.