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Julie
Member
Username: julieh
Post Number: 109
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 - 3:23 pm: |   |
Hello everyone, I have a situation I have never been in before. We have a foal born March 26th. We have been offering grain for weeks now and he won't touch it. He has no interest whatsoever in it. We have tried to creep feed him, offered from our hand, everything, but he shows no interest. I have heard this is a sign of gastric ulcers. It is time to wean him but we don't want to until he is eating. Has anyone had any experience in this problem? |
freshman
Member
Username: freshman
Post Number: 89
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 12:12 am: | |
Does he graze or pick hay normally? |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 21195
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 6:18 am: | |
In a otherwise healthy foal with a normal history I don't look upon a lack of interest in grain as a sign of disease. I may just indicate the foal is getting adequate nutrition from alternative forms. Can you give us a bit more on what the foal is eating?
DrO |
Julie
Member
Username: julieh
Post Number: 110
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 8:46 am: | |
He is eating orchard grass fescue mix hay and seems to eat it normally. He grazes just as he should, looks healthy, acts healthy. He will be 5 months old on the 26th of August. Should we wean him anyway and hope he starts showing some interest after the milk is gone? My husband thinks he is just getting what he needs from the mare, but I just think he needs to be eating grain by now. |
Angie J.
Member
Username: ajudson1
Post Number: 1884
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 9:40 am: | |
When you say grain, do you mean just plain oats? Nowadays it seems most folks refer to any concentrate as "grain" but it can mean pellets, sweet feed, corn & oats, etc.
I wouldn't be too concerned either except I need to give a Selenium sup here, and that works best in a small amount of "grain" so if you try something with perhaps molasses he might like it. |
Ann
Member
Username: dres
Post Number: 1918
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 9:51 am: | |
I have never grained my young horses, even as working adults they do not get grain.. I do add their supplements in 4 pounds of a complete pelleted feed, there is no grain products in that..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.. |
Kathy Hayden
Member
Username: kshayden
Post Number: 28
Registered: 6-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 1:48 pm: | |
Julie,
I would think if he is on pasture grazing and also getting good hay, he only needs supplements. I use an old worming tube, mix wheat germ oil, a bit of syrup for flavor and his supplements and give that way. Works like a charm.
Ann,
Curious what pellet and supplement you are feeding. I am in Northern CA as well  .
Angie, what selenium sup are you feeding?
Thanks,
Kathy |
Angie J.
Member
Username: ajudson1
Post Number: 1888
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 2:27 pm: | |
Kathy,
Right now I am feeding whatever I grabbed locally. I find Selenium supplementing very confusing, so I am not much help there I am afraid. I bought a pelleted concentrate that says it has extra SE, but no idea how much concentrate to feed to get right amount. Then I bought a mineral supplement, and again, not sure if I need just that, or the extra one also!
Post that question under it's own heading, and maybe DrO can help us get is figured out. |
Ann
Member
Username: dres
Post Number: 1919
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 2:41 pm: | |
Kathy, I feed ELK GROVE MILLING CO the stable mix I mix in them joint supplements for the riding horses, loose minerals , vit E tabs from CostCo.. I try to make it simple .. My gelding will get his flavored Bute in the mix as well.. I only feed 4 pounds of it , along with a orchard/alfalfa mixed hay.. 70%/30%
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.. |
Diane E.
Member
Username: scooter
Post Number: 2640
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 5:01 pm: | |
When I had babies I fed mother and foal in a long bunk with the grain spread out. Baby just had to try what mom and the other horses were eating. Then after they got a liking for it...started feeding baby separately and cutting mom off of it before the weaning. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 21202
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 6:27 pm: | |
Julie,
If he is eating hay well then weaning should not be a problem. A way to balance the energy, protein, and calcium would be alfalfa hay. The article on feeding growing foals gives guidelines but start it slowly at about a lb a day for a week then double it weekly until you reach the recommended amount. The only supplementation you will need on such a feeding program will be minerals and the article gives guidelines on that too.
DrO |
