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Agnote
411
No. J12
September 1997
Agdex No: 460/23
ISSN No: 0157-8243
Raising Orphan Foals
Part 2. Feeding
J. Coventry, Veterinary Officer, Alice Springs
If a foster mare is not available an orphan
foal may be bottle fed with a prepared
milk formula. Foals should suck naturally
when introduced to a feeding teat. If they
won't, initiate the sucking reflex by placing
a finger in the foal's mouth and moving it
slowly over the roof of the mouth and the
tongue. Warmed milk is preferable for
weak and newly orphaned foals.
A foal should be taught to bucket feed as
soon as possible generally in the second
week. Getting foals to bucket feed can be
difficult, however a technique that works
well is to get the foal to suck one or two
fingers and gently lower fingers into the
bucket.
Once the foal will readily drink milk from a bucket, caution is required to prevent the foal from
drinking too much at any one time. Overfeeding can be as detrimental as underfeeding. As a
rule, feed 10% of body weight in fluids (100 mL of fluid per kilogram of bodyweight) each day.
Mix up each milk feed when required and feed at body temperature. Feeds should be given in
evenly divided quantities 4 to 8 times a day.
Later, when the foal is used to regularly drinking small quantities of milk from a bucket, the
bucket can be hung on a hook at an appropriate height and left there for the foal to drink freely.
The bucket and contents need to be cleaned and changed at least twice daily depending on
temperature, flies etc.
2
MILK FORMULA
Compared to cows milk, mares milk contains more sugar, less protein and much less fat.
Therefore a substitute milk formula for foals must take this into account.
FEEDING SOLIDS
Stage 1 - Wean onto solids
The orphan foal should be introduced to solid feed with 16-20% protein as soon as possible.
Once it is bucket feeding satisfactorily another bucket filled with solid feed can be set up next to
the milk bucket. Examples of solid feedstuffs are:
• milk based stock feed pellets
eg. 'Denkavit Calf Pellets', Veanavite Calf Pellets'
• milk based concentrate mix
3 parts powdered milk ration (eg. 'Denkavit', 'Veanavite')
+ 2 parts feed concentrate (eg. 'Stablemate', 'Equus')
+ molasses (to make it palatable)
Starting solid feeding is quicker using a concentrate mix because compared to pellets, it is
easier for a foal to mouth. However regardless of the type of initial milk based solid feed,
provide to the foal ad lib until consumption reaches 1 kg per day and then gradually substitute
with 100% grain based pellets or concentrate mix.
Stage 2 - Increase grain and roughage intake
Supplement the grain based pellets or concentrate with good quality grain, cereal or lucerne
chaff/hay. Roughage such as chaff or hay is important since excessive intake of concentrate
and grain alone can result in enterotoxaemia (a form of blood poisoning).
Depending upon quality of available pasture onto which the foal is being weaned, feed
supplements may be required after the weaning period.
3
SOME MILK FORMULAS FOR FOALS
FORMULA #1 (Homemade)
300 mL of milk Reconstituted powdered milk or evaporated
milk is suitable.
+5 mL of lime water Made by adding water to hydrated lime,
shaking thoroughly to dissolve as much lime
as possible and allowing undissolved lime to
settle before pouring off the ‘lime water’.
Hydrated lime is available from chemists and
supermarkets.
+5 mL of Glucodin® + 300 mL of warm water Available from chemists and supermarkets.
FORMULA #2 (Commercial)
Denkavit®
• Available from stock and station agents.
• Mix as per directions.
• Contains half as much fat as cows milk so probably no need to dilute.
• Contains no additional sugar, so energy deficiency in the milk formula can be compensated
for by adding molasses to the weaner ration.
FORMULA #3 (Commercial)
Veanavite®
• Available from stock and station agents.
• Mix as per directions.
• Contains half as much fat as cows milk so probably no need to dilute.
• Contains additional sugar therefore no need to add molasses.
Notes:
1. A supply of homemade formula can be made and refrigerated for 2-3 days at a time.
2. If a foal develops diarrhoea on either of the commercial formulas; either dilute 1:1 with water
and add 10 g of Glucodin® per litre of formula, or add 10 mL of lime water per litre of
formula.
If diarrhoea still persists after 24 hours on modified formula, then additional treatment will be
required.
4
MILK FEEDING GUIDE
AGE OF LIQUID FEED TOTAL DAILY INTAKE COMMENT
FOAL (depending on demand)
Week 1 250-600 mL 5-6 litres The pot-belly appearance of ‘poddy’
every 2-3 hours foals may be the result of infrequent,
large feeds or a deficiency in feed
digestible protein.
Week 2 1,000-1,500 mL 6-9 litres Introduce to bucket feeding.
every 4 hours
Week 3, 4 2,000-3,000 mL 8-12 litres Introduce to solids and omit sugar
every 6 hours from milk feed
Week 5, 6 Reduce milk Wean as soon as possible while
feeding increasing solid feed content of diet.
These notes are intended as a basic guide to feeding orphan foals.
Further information on specific problems is available from:
• Animal Health Branch of DBIRD
• Your local Veterinarian
Products referred to by trade name in this publication may not be the only suitable materials
available. The mentioning of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by
DBIRD.
Please visit us on our website at www.primaryindustry.nt.gov.au
While all care has been taken to ensure that information contained in this Agnote is true and correct at the time
of publication, the Northern Territory of Australia gives no warranty or assurance, and makes no representation
as to the accuracy of any information or advice contained in this publication, or that it is suitable for your
intended use. No serious, business or investment decisions should be made in reliance on this information
without obtaining independent/or professional advice in relation to your particular situation.
