Equis ISSN 2398-2977

Nutrition: neonate

Significance

• Mare's colostrum is necessary as the sole feed during the first 24 h as a source of immunoglobulins and fluid. If unavailable, bovine colostrum is required.
• Neonates rely entirely on the mare's milk for their nutrient and fluid requirements - for optimal growth, function of the immune system, thermoregulation, etc.
• Foals which are ill, weak or orphaned require additional and/or alternative sources of nutrition.
• Alternatives include a donor mare, goat's milk, cow's milk (diluted after the first few days) and commercial mare's milk replacers.
• Parenteral nutrition (combined where possible with enteral feeding) can be used in severely debilitated foals or where the gastrointestinal tract is compromised and intolerant of nutrient intake.
• Enteral feeding should be the method of choice where possible as it is more physiologically normal and helps to promote gut development and maturation of brush border enzymes.
• See also nutrition for growing animals   Nutrition: growth  .

Print off the Owner factsheets on Feeding the young horse and Nutrition - keeping your horse on top form to give to your clients.

Requirements

Enteral feeding

Parenteral nutrition

Sequelae