27/10/2026
Did you know these 6 things about the first 6 months of a foal's life? The mare's milk is essential for the foal in their first weeks, providing a foundation for their growth and development.
She needs plenty of nutritional support for milk production, it takes a lot of work. Her energy and her protein requirements double! In addition to quality forage, she needs to be getting a concentrated, nutrient-dense feed suitable for breeding.
Foals will generally start to nibble and share with their mother's feed quite early on, and by 2-3 months of age, milk may not be providing enough for them anymore. By 6 months, milk may offer less than 30% of their nutritional needs, so providing a suitable concentrate is vital to keep up with their growth rates and development.
Setting them up so the are grazing, eating a quality feed and forage is really important prior to weaning, as the period between weaning and 1 year of age is the highest risk time for issues with skeletal development.
The quick tip? Get mares onto a high-quality concentrated breeding feed prior to foaling, adjust rates for lactation and allow for foals to be increasing their consumption as they get close to weaning.
Elite Breeder Cubes and Horse Grower Weaner Pellets have been formulated to meet the needs of mares and foals, so you only need one feed, all the way through to maturity.
