The Proper Weaning of Foals

It has been shown in studies that foals who suffer too much stress when being weaned can lose their appetites and lose weight... then when they recover have a growth spurt. This can cause developmental orthopedic disease (DOD), in which bones and joints begin to grow abnormally. Possible causes are:

• Contracted tendons
• Physitis
• Bone cysts in the joints

Foals which have little stress during weaning grow evenly with height and weight increasing in steady increments. This smoother growth pattern makes them less susceptible to DOD.

Other problems can occur when foals are weaned and under undue stress:

• Gastric ulcers
• Delayed reproductive function
• Strangles
• Influenza
• Equine herpes virus (aka rhinopneumonitis)
• Salmonella
• Increased levels of cortisol (a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex) which can weaken the immune system.
• Poor sleep
• Become panicky increasing the chance of injury

Before you wean put together a plan. It will take her a few days to "'dry up" , so she will be sore and grouchy. Don't milk her out since this encourages continued milk production. If she is in good condition physically you may try reducing her grain ration for a few days to help her out.