Feeding Weanlings for Healthy Growth and Development

Research suggests a relationship between the glycaemic nature of feed and the incidence of skeletal disorders, such as osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), in young horses.

High-glycaemic feeds are those that produce a large blood glucose response after feeding, such as feeds based on predominately cereal grains. It appears that normal bone formation processes in young horses may be disrupted by elevated blood insulin (hyperinsulinaemia) concentrations following the consumption of diets rich in starch and sugars.

Weanlings have similar nutritional requirements to yearlings, but with a smaller appetite, meaning their feed needs to be more calorie-dense. However, this group of young horses is at a higher risk of OCD, so energy intake must be carefully monitored as part of an effective weanling horse nutrition programme.

Introducing a Hard Feed

Weaning can be a stressful time for young horses, potentially leading to reduced growth rates and an increasedrisk of digestive issues. To help minimise these challenges, introducing the foal to an appropriate creep feed prior to weaning can increase familiarity with hard feed.

This approach helps reduce stress during weaning by avoiding the sudden introduction of a bucket feed. As weanlings are likely to have a restricted appetite, it is important that the feed is highly palatable to ensure target intakes are achieved. Extra care should also be taken with meal size to avoid overwhelming the digestive tract.

LEVEL-GROW™

LEVEL-GROW™ Mix and Cubes have been formulated to be fed like a conventional stud feed and use carefully selected, low glycaemic ingredients, such as alfalfa, sugar beet and soya hulls, to reduce reliance on starch.

High levels of soluble carbohydrates have been replaced with fats and “Super-Fibres” as alternative energy sources. The quality protein sources support optimum bone, muscle and tissue development, helping to promote correct skeletal growth in weanlings and youngstock.

Stamm 30®

If you have a young, growing horse that is likely to gain excess weight when fed the recommended quantity ofa stud feed, a high-specification stud balancer may be a suitable option.

Feeding a stud balancer allows feed quantities to be reduced while ensuring micronutrient intakes are not compromised. Stamm 30® is a highly concentrated source of essential proteins, with patented vitamins, minerals and yeasts designed to supplement all classes of youngstock requiring additional nutritional support.

It can be fed alone when additional calories (energy) are not required or top-dressed onto a ration to enhance the overall nutrient specification.

Further Support for Weanling Digestive Health

Weanlings are known to be at an increased risk of developing gastric ulcers, with studies suggesting that between 30% and 94% of weanlings may be affected.

The range of Saracen stud feeds includes BMC® (Buffered Mineral Complex) to provide additional support for youngstock. BMC® is a natural mineral source that is rich in bioavailable minerals, including calcium, magnesium, boron, silicon, iodine, zinc and manganese. Research has shown that BMC® can significantly increase natural bone density while supporting the gastrointestinal health of young horses. Changes in hindgut pH can negatively affect the bacteria responsible for digestion. By helping to maintain the optimum pH for beneficial bacteria, BMC® supports digestive function and has been shown to increase the buffering capacity of the hindgut by 54%.