Foals that are reluctant to suck or accept bottle feedings may be fed through a tube inserted directly into their stomach. Under no circumstances pour or force-feed the colostrum. When actually feeding the foal, position the bottle and nipple so the foal is forced to suck the colostrum through the nipple. With stimulation, most foals will immediately cup their tongue and exhibit the characteristic sucking reflex. Stimulate the sucking reflex by gradually inserting your index finger into the foal’s mouth and lightly rubbing the roof of the mouth. The washing process will disinfect the teats, limit the possibility of introducing disease to the foal and have a massaging effect on the mare’s udder.īefore offering the foal its first meal, make certain it exhibits a sucking reflex. Thoroughly wash and rinse the mare’s teat area with soap and warm water before hand milking. Use either an infant’s milk bottle, with the top of the nipple notched approximately one-eighth inch, or a lamb’s feeder bottle. When hand feeding sucklings, use a sanitized plastic bottle and nipple. Foals that have not stood and nursed within two hours should be bottle fed colostrum. Under normal conditions, a newborn foal attempts to stand under its own power within 45 minutes following birth. To the contrary, the foal should be permitted to lie, rest and be nuzzled by the mare for at least 30 minutes after foaling. Foals should not be expected to hit the ground running. Unwarranted assistance at this time will result in a stressful situation and a tired foal. Unfortunately, many horsemen panic and attempt to over assist the newborn by forcing the foal to stand and nurse immediately following birth.

Ideally, the foal should stand and nurse within 30 minutes to one hour after birth. Foals failing to receive colostrum within this time limit will be more susceptible to infectious diseases. Researchers have reported a 15 percent reduction in antibody levels in the mare’s milk within four to eight hours after foaling.īecause of the decreased antibody absorption by the foal and decreased antibody presence in the milk, colostrum must be consumed within 15 hours after birth (Figure 1). In addition, the actual level of antibodies in the colostrum declines with time.

However, as early as 12 hours after birth, the permeability of the foal’s intestinal lining is starting to alter, decreasing in the foal’s ability to absorb antibodies.

The antibodies can be absorbed through the foal’s intestinal lining for approximately 18 hours following birth. Colostrum is nature’s way of allowing the dam to provide her foal with natural immunity. It contains extremely high levels of antibodies, which are large protein molecules capable of transmitting immunity against disease. Colostrum is the first milk secreted by the mare immediately before foaling and up to 24 hours after foaling.

Baby horae