How to Put Weight on a Foal

A young foal's primary source of nourishment is its mother's milk. Foals are not normally weaned from their mother's milk until five to six months but a foal may show some interest in other food as early as 10 to 14 days old. Foals can gain up to three pounds per day but rapid growth can cause developmental issues such as contracted tendons or angular limb deformities. Carefully controlling feed will result in moderate growth and fewer developmental problems.

Things You'll Need

  • Hay and pasture
  • Grain or concentrates
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide high-quality hay and pasture starting at 10 to 14 days. The foal will soon learn to eat small quantities while its digestive system adjusts to the new feed.

    • 2

      Provide grain or concentrates starting at about four weeks of age. A good guideline is to feed the foal one percent of its body weight per day or 1 lb. of feed for each month of its age. The ratio of feed should be 30- to 40-percent grain or concentrates and 60- to 70-percent roughage by weight. Some feeds come as a combination of concentrates and roughage.

    • 3

      Divide the daily feed amount into two to three feedings because foals have small stomachs.

    • 4

      Provide a separate feed for the foal and its mother so you can control and monitor the amount each eats.

    • 5

      Remove any uneaten grain between feedings.

    • 6

      Provide unlimited fresh water at all times.