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Horses may be herd animals, but we can’t forget that the whole is other, not greater, than the sum of the parts. In other words, each individual member of the herd must be considered to maintain a functional herd. According to a recent study presented at this year’s Australasian Equine Science Symposium*, this theory holds true regarding weaning.

“Foals are generally weaned around 5 or 6 months of age, regardless of whether they are behaviorally or psychologically ready,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., an equine nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

To determine if preweaning behaviors could identify which foals were physically and psychologically prepared to handle the stress of weaning, a multinational research team observed 17 mare-foal pairs before, during, and after weaning using video surveillance. Key behaviors examined included aggression (head threat, biting, chasing, kicking); affiliation (mutual grooming, play, friendly contact); submission (head turning, avoidance, retreat); time spent nursing; and distance between the foal and its dam.

These behaviors were assigned a stress score from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating mild stress to 5 representing severe stress. Analysis of these scores revealed the following:

  • Submissive preweaning behavior correlated with submissive behavior at the time of weaning;
  • Affiliation prior to weaning correlated with aggression towards any individual at time of weaning;
  • Increased time spent nursing prior to weaning correlated with aggression during the weaning process; and
  • Foals that had greater independence from their dams prior to weaning surprisingly had higher stress scores than less independent foals.

Overall, the researchers concluded that preweaning behavior could predict their readiness for weaning and how they would respond during the weaning process. “Use of preweaning behavior could allow more careful management of individual foals at weaning with positive long-term outcomes,” they summarized.

Presently, an “ideal” method of weaning foals, particularly in production systems, has yet to be identified, but experts suggest taking some of the following suggestions into consideration:

  • Monitor foal weight before, during, and after weaning to ensure a smooth plane of growth with no slumps in weight gain or sudden growth bursts;
  • Offer foals a textured or pelleted feed prior to weaning so they are prepared for this type of diet;
  • Select a quality feed designed specifically for weanlings;
  • Offer a high-quality hay; and
  • Use a feed that is higher in fat and fiber rather than starch and sugars early in a foal’s life to facilitate stress-free weaning.

*Hilliere, C., S. Durand, M.P. Coyle, et al. 2016. Pre-weaning social interaction of foals and their subsequent behaviour at weaning. Proceedings of the Australasian Equine Science Symposium. Volume 16:17.

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