Weaning Approach Affects Foals

All foals must leave the comfort of their dams at some point in their lives, but most don’t complete this momentous transition without some measure of stress. Methods of weaning foals include abrupt, gradual, intermittent, and various combinations of these approaches. Which method is best in terms of minimizing the foal’s stress has yet to be determined.

In a recent study* that explored weaning stress, researchers from Kansas State University selected nine Quarter Horse mare and foal pairs maintained on pasture. Foals had access to their mare’s feed prior to weaning. At 120 days of age, foals were either weaned abruptly or gradually. In the abruptly weaned group, foals were removed from their dams and not allowed either visual or auditory contact. Gradually weaned foals had progressively less contact with their dams during the process. Researchers measured changes in fecal bacteria to assess the intestinal microbiome during weaning and to gauge indicators of stress, such as heart rate and cortisol levels.

The researchers found no change in foal fecal bacterial populations between gradually and abruptly weaned foals. They did, however, identify small changes in the composition of those bacteria in both groups following weaning.

“These results suggest that the lack of mare’s milk in the diet resulted in an alteration of each foal’s intestinal microbiome regardless of weaning protocol,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research. “In this study, all foals were introduced to solid feed prior to being weaned from a milk-based diet, which may have supported the delicate microbiome during weaning.”

Further, this study confirmed previous findings that weaning is stressful. Heart rates and blood cortisol levels were higher in abruptly weaned foals compared to gradually weaned ones during the separation process.

“To ease some of the potential damage caused by weaning, add Triacton to the diet shortly before weaning. Continuing this supplement throughout the weaning period may soothe the stressed digestive tract of the foal,” Crandell advised. The vitamins and minerals included in Triacton, particularly a marine-derived source of calcium, support the growing foal’s musculoskeletal system. “Triacton offers a valuable one-two punch in fighting the stresses of weaning.”

 *Jacquay, E.T., L.H. Zeglin, J.D. Lillich, et al. 2019. Composition of the foal fecal microbiota in response to gradual and abrupt weaning. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 76:39-40.