Equis ISSN 2398-2977
Nutrition: neonate
Contributor(s): Derek Cuddeford, Zoe Davies, David Frape, Deborah Lucas, Wendy E Vaala, Katie Williams (nee Lugsden)
Introduction
- 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.
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references fromPubMedpublished during the last 12 months.
- Ousey J C, Prandi S, Zimmer J, Holdstock N & Rossdale P D (1997)Effects of various feeding regimens on the energy balance of equine neonates. Am J Vet Res58(11), 1243-1251PubMed.
- Hintz H F (1992)Clinical nutrition. Vet Clin North Am6, (2).
Other sources of information
- Frape D (2004)Equine Nutrition and Feeding.3rd edn. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Oxford, England. ISBN: 1405105984.
- Durham A (2004)How to Use Parenteral Nutrition in Equine Practice.In: Proc 43rd BEVA Congress. Equine Vet J Ltd, Newmarket. pp 237.
- Vaala W W (1992)Nutritional management of the critically ill neonate.In: Current Therapy in Equine Medicine. Ed: N E Robinson. Philadelphia PA. W B Saunders Co. pp 741-751.