2 bottles (1/2 litre) for
approx. $75
It is always best for a Vet
to tube it down into the foals stomach but if no Vet,
then using a Lamb's nipple, give orally.
As always, needs to be given
in those first crucial 12 hours after birth.
Can be kept frozen for 1 to
2 years.
Thaw the same as Colostrum
at room temperature or in cold water, not warm water,
NO microwave. Do not refreeze.
At all times have a
Vet give you precise Instructions. This is a must!!!
(3) Many people out there
are still feeding orphans straight cows milk or
household milk, etc. without realizing that most Vet
Clinics and many Livestock Product stores, carry not
only calf but FOAL milk
replacer. Once again, this powder (due
to the high fat content) should be kept in the freezer
to prevent spoilage. Will last a year if container is
kept tightly closed and frozen. It contains antibiotics
to prevent Intestinal Upsets such as Diarrhea.
(4) You should know when
milking a mare with a healthy foal to save Colostrum for
future need: That it is far safer if you keep the foal
between yourself and the mare, positioned as if it is
nursing. A normal mare will never kick at or even
fidget much if she thinks that is her baby nursing.
(5) You need to know that a
Lamb's nipple is far preferable to a Calf nipple???
Especially since many orphans may be or soon will be
weakened at birth. They simply cannot suck the bigger,
heavier rubber calf nipple as easy as the smaller,
softer Lamb's nipple. Once an orphan is older, you can
switch to a bucket.
Too many foals are starving
and/or dying because the owner tries and tries but the
foal isn't able to drain the bottle with some
calf nipples. Or it quits trying before it gets the
necessary amount of milk replacer. I usually hear that
it was to weak to nurse and died? Or worse they enlarge
the hole to much and the foal ends up with milk in it's
lungs and gets Pneumonia. Lambs nipples fit easily onto
ordinary pop bottles. Feedings at first must be every
-2 hours maximum, in fact less than every 2 hours!!!
Yes, you will be tired and your friends and family who
are helping you will be tired but the reward of a
healthy baby is worth it!!!
(5) Cows Colostrum is not
sufficient. Sure, it maybe can't hurt but it is NON
viable in the antibodies department. It will not save
the foal.
(6) A lot of mares will not
happily take a strange foal after the loss of their
own. They are guided by Maternal Instinct
and have instantly bonded with their own foals smell at
birth. For those that won't, restraints and careful
supervision are a must to protect the foal from being
seriously injured. Vicks Vapor Rub smeared inside the
mares nostrils works wonders in such situations.
In extreme cases, if you have
access to the mares own maximum 4 day long, dead foal,
carefully skinning it (must include tail and anus),
tying the skin on the orphan foal works. (Looks just
like an ordinary horse blanket on the foal) I have never
had a mare, no matter how agitated refuse the orphan
then. In fact basically immediately she wants it as the
mare is so happy that her dead foal is now up and
nursing her. Skin can be discarded in 1 to 2 days. Until
fully bonded, close supervision is a must!!!
NOTE: This requires a
knowledgeable horse/country person, who knows how to do
it correctly.
