Minimizing weaning stress in foals
05.05.10
Minimizing weaning stress in foals
Mare and foal at the Jensen Ranch, Tekamah, Nebraska
By Jason L. Turner, PhD, New Mexico State University Extension Horse Specialist
Once again it’s time to wean foals. This brings to mind foals constantly running the fence, whinnying, and getting cuts and scrapes. However, there are some things you can do ahead of time to minimize stress associated with weaning. This article identifies important factors regarding pre-weaning management and weaning methods.
At four months of age, mare’s milk alone no longer meets the foal’s nutritional requirements. Therefore, weaning at four to six months of age is common to the industry. A change in diet is only one of the many stressors that a foal may experience at weaning. Depending on the management program, other stressors may include: hoof trimming, branding, castration, change in environment or housing and (most importantly) isolation from other horses.
Signs of behavioral stress observed in weanling foals include increased activity (running the fence, etc.) and vocalization at the onset of weaning followed by depression and reduced appetite. The most common physiological response to stress is an increase in cortisol (an adrenal gland steroid) circulating in the blood. Several studies suggest that high levels of cortisol may suppress the normal function of the immune system and impair disease resistance in foals. Therefore, anything that minimizes weaning stress should also aid foals in resisting infection or disease.
At 30 to 45 days before weaning, there are specific factors to consider in pre-weaning management of foals. It is advisable to move mare-foal pairs to the area where weaning will occur. Of course this area should be clean and safe for the foal. Fences should be sturdy and in good repair, and the area should be free of any objects that may injure the foal. Also, providing a high-quality hay or pasture and creep feed to foals at this time will help foals better adjust to the change in diet that accompanies weaning. Any healthcare practices (deworming, vaccination, hoof trimming, etc.) should also be done prior to weaning. Adapting the foal to its new environment prior to weaning, and then removing the mare from this environment at weaning, will be less stressful for the foal.
There are several suggested methods for weaning, and with a little thought almost all of these methods can be modified to accommodate most management situations. Most weaning methods clearly fall into two basic categories:
abrupt and total isolation of the mare and foal, or gradual separation of the mare and foal. Several studies have shown that gradually weaned foals experience less stress than do abruptly weaned foals. However, more research is needed to determine if gradual weaning has advantages over abrupt weaning in terms of health of weanling foals. Still, gradual weaning is recommended if your management situation permits. Some different examples of weaning methods are:
Abrupt
This is suitable for weaning both small and large numbers of foals.
Typically, foals are placed in a pen or stall and totally isolated from mares on the day of weaning. It is important to move mares a sufficient distance to prevent any visual and/or audible contact between the mares and foals.
Gradual
Method 1: This method is best suited to weaning small numbers of foals. At seven to ten days prior to weaning, the mare and foal are placed into a box stall. On the day of weaning, place the mare in the stall adjacent to the foal’s stall. After seven days of restricted contact, totally remove the mare from the foal as described above.
Method 2: This works well when weaning large numbers of foals in a pen or pasture setting. Begin by removing the mares and placing them in a pen adjacent to the foals, but do not allow any physical contact. After three to four days, remove one mare per day from the pen until all mares are totally isolated from the foals.
In summary, minimizing stress in weaning foals requires more thought and preparation than just simply removing mares from foals at six months of age.
For those interested in more detailed information, please contact me at jlturner@nmsu.edu.
Hi Jason,
I like your philosophy about minimizing stress in weanling foals. My situation is a combination of abrupt and gradual and I would appreciate your input. My mare and filly (4 mos, Freisian/Dutch Warmblood cross) are pastured with another mare and foal (5 mos. Quarterhorse). The foal’s owner is planning to abruptly remove his mare,next week, leaving it as a pasture mate with my mare and filly. I won’t be weaning my filly for another 2 months or so. What are the pros and cons of this situation? Many thanks, Margaret
Margaret,
I apologize for this very delayed response. I was not notified of your question until 9/1/10. I expect that you have already answered your own question. In a brief response to the question you posed in May, I would say that with only two mares and foals in that situation and weaning at 4 and 5 months that you would encounter the neighbor’s abruptly weaned foal trying to nurse your mare. The mare most likely would reject this, and if the foal takes the rejection and avoids the nursing behavior then things could go well. However, if the foal continues trying to nurse, the mare could become agressive which could lead to situations that might result in injury to both foals.