A249
Foaling - Early Foal Care and Orphan Foals

Introduction: Raising an orphaned foal is a difficult process, but it is entirely possible if critical elements are heeded. This section will detail methods of providing those needs.

1. Foals orphaned before the first 24 hours of life: Like all mammalian young, foals need colostrum immediately following birth. Colostrum is the antibody-laden milk mother mammals produce for only a few hours before and after birth. It protects the newborn from disease, IF the foal gets it within 12-24 hours of birth. After that time, the foal is no longer capable of absorbing antibodies through its intestine.
   
   Fortunate orphans will have had a chance to suckle their mothers before the mother's death or before they are separated from their mother. If this is not the case, stockpiled colostrum should be used.
   
   Stockpiled colostrum: A nursing mare can spare a pint of colostrum and still have plenty for its own foal. She must be milked within 12 hours of foaling to obtain any colostrum, which can then be frozen for up to a year before use. Freeze colostrum in one-half to 1-pint containers. This will allow just the desired amount to be thawed at a time. Do not thaw colostrum in a microwave. Doing so will denature antibodies. Thaw colostrum in warm water to a temperature that is comfortable to your own skin. A newborn foal needs 2-4 pints (1-2 liters) of colostrum, but even one pint is better than none. If possible get the foal to drink from a pan or bucket. This will make feeding easier as the foal grows. Any bottle with a nipple can also be used, including a human baby bottle for smaller foals.
   
   Not all colostrum is equal. A colostrometer can be used to determine the amount of antibodies it contains. If antibody levels are not sufficient, the colostrum may not be worth saving. Milk with enough colostrum is usually opaque. A serum test conducted by a veterinarian can determine if the foal has received enough antibodies. If antibody levels are too low in the foal, a plasma transfusion may be necessary. Plasma transfusions must be conducted by a veterinarian and do not have near the protective antibody levels of colostrum. But again, it is better to provide something than nothing.
   
   Note: A colostrum bank set up by The Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Manager's Club can be used by anyone, anywhere in the country. It costs $100/pint plus shipping and handling, unless a breeder or owner has made a donation to the bank. This person can then receive as much as he has donated for free. For more information, contact the Hagyard-Davidson Clinic in Lexington, Kentucky, at 606-255-8741.
    
2. Foals orphaned after the first 12-24 hours: These foals have often received colostrum, but should still be tested for passive transfer.
    
3. Nurse mares: The best way to raise an orphan is with a nurse mare. The foster mother provides not only nutrition, but a role model and companionship. Nurse mares are usually not difficult to find, as bereaved mares are more common than orphan foals. But finding her in time is important. The longer it has been since a nurse mare was suckled, the more difficult it will be to get her to accept a new foal, and the less likely it will be that she will have the milk necessary to feed it. For best results, find a mare whose foal has died within 48 hours of the time she is needed.
   
   
   1. Getting the nurse mare to accept a new foal: Most likely, mares will be suspicious and hostile towards the new foal at first. That hostility can also suddenly turn to adoration. Because a nurse mare can accept a new foal immediately, it is worth trying to merely put them in the same stall together. It is important, however, to have the mare haltered and under the control of one person capable of restraining her, while a second person rescues the foal if this procedure does not work.
       
      • Let the mare smell the foal and then let the foal locate the udder. If the mare squeals and lays her ears back when the foal suckles, she may just be in pain from a swollen udder. Try relieving the pressure by hand-milking before introducing the foal. A veterinarian may also recommend a sedative for the mare to increase the chances she will accept the foal.
         
      • If the foal is successful in suckling, drop the lead shank and move away. Be ready to grab the lead if the mare lashes out at the foal; but if she remains calm, slowly leave the stall. If the foal stops suckling and the mare nuzzles it or begins eating, the transfer is probably successful.
         
   2. When a nurse mare does not accept a new foal immediately: Some mares just need time to accept the new foal and others never will; however, there are ways for mares to continue fostering the foal despite their lack of acceptance for the foal.
      • Make a corner or side pen for the foal. The mare should be able to get her head over the pen so she can see and smell the foal without getting in where she can hurt it.
        
        Every 2-4 hours, let the foal out to nurse while someone holds onto, or restrains the mare. Give the mare a chance to show she's over her hostility before returning the foal to its pen. Generally, the mare will decide if she likes the foal within 24-48 hours. Sometimes attachment to the foal happens when the foal is taken from her sight. If she becomes agitated in the foal's absence, return the foal to the mare's stall, but remain ready to go to its rescue until it is obvious she has accepted the foal.
         
      • Another method is to pen the mare. Push a gate up against her so she has only enough room to stand. The gate should have enough space between the bars that the foal can get his head in and suckle. Occasionally, let the mare out to see if she will accept the foal. Do not worry about the foal accepting the mare. Anything that provides food is easily accepted by a hungry foal.
         
4. When a nurse mare is unavailable: Ideally, a foal gets food whenever he asks for it, which can be several times an hour. This is unrealistic for the owner of an orphaned foal. A healthy foal can be fed every 4 hours during the day and every 6 hours at night (feed it more during the day to make up for the missed feeding at night). After 2 to 3 weeks, the foal can be feed as infrequently as 4 times a day. Usually, the foal can be weaned of milk in 60 days.
    
   1. Goat's milk: If mare's milk is not available, the next best choice is goat's milk. Foals accept it more readily than milk replacer, and they gain weight better. They also have fewer problems with colic, diarrhea and constipation than foals fed milk replacer. However, milk replacer is an acceptable solution and does not seem to cause an excessive amount of problems for the foal.
       
   2. Milk replacer: This is made by two companies: Foal Lac Powder and Pellets from Pet Ag Inc. (page H240) and Land O'Lakes Mare's Match. It is available at many feed stores, or the manufacturers may be contacted directly for additional information. Follow manufacturer's instructions for mixing and dosing instructions.
       
   3. How much to feed: Foals can be fed by a bottle, but the sooner an orphan learns to eat from a bucket, the easier it is on the owner. Just remember to keep all feeding supplies meticulously clean. A foal should drink between 10 percent and 20 percent of its body weight per day. For example, a 70-pound foal should drink between 7 pounds (3.5 quarts) and 14 pounds (7 quarts) a day. Divide that total amount by the number of feedings for the amount of milk to feed the foal at each feeding. For example, 14 pounds divided by 6 feedings per day equals 2.3 pounds (1.1 quart) per feeding.
      
      During the first two months of life, owners should not worry much about overfeeding, but should observe the foal’s general well-being. Colic or diarrhea can result from too much food at one time. The foal may want to eat less food per feeding, but more times per day. A foal may not drink much one feeding and then drink a lot the next. It may not drink the entire amount that an owner thinks it should. As long as it is alert, passing manure and gaining weight, it is probably doing just fine.
   
    
   4. Creep feeding: As soon as possible, make high-quality alfalfa hay and a high-protein, high energy dry feed available to the foal. Although the foal may not eat or digest much of it, the sooner he starts eating small amounts, the better. Milk pellets, such as the Foal Lac pellets listed above, make a good supplement to the dry feed. The foal should have access to clean drinking water from the beginning. (For additional information on creep feeding, see above.)
       
5. Navel and physical examination: See A247.
    
6. Growth: Ideally, the foal will gain between 1 and 3 pounds a day, but progress can be slow for orphaned foals. Do not worry if it goes 2 or 3 days without gaining weight.
    
7. Socialization: Orphan foals should associate with older horses as soon as possible and as much as possible. Bottle-fed babies can begin to think they are human, making them unmanageable when they are adults. When handling orphaned foals, do so in such a manner that they learn respect for humans. For example, do not allow them to walk on people or nibble clothing. Do not make pets of them. Begin halter-breaking early and teach them to lead.