References

Archer DC, Pinchbeck GL, French NP, Proudman CJ. Risk factors for epiploic foramen entrapment colic: an international study. Equine Vet J. 2008; 40:(3)224-230

Boy V, Duncan P. Time-budgets of Camargue horses I. Developmental changes in the time-budgets of foals. Behaviour. 1979; 71:(3–4)87-201

Briefer EF, Mandel R, Maigrot AL, Freymond SB, Bachmann I, Hillmann E. 2017. Perception of emotional valence in horse whinnies. Front Zool. 2017; 14:(1)1-12 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-017-0193-1

Bruschetta G, Fazio E, Cravana C, Ferlazzo AM. Effects of partial versus complete separation after weaning on plasma serotonin, tryptophan and pituitaryadrenal pattern of Anglo-Arabian foals. Livestock Sci. 2017; 198:157-161 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2017.02.025

Cameron EZ, Linklater WL, Stafford KJ, Minot EO. Maternal investment results in better foal condition through increased play behaviour in horses. Anim Behav. 2008; 76:(5)1511-1518

Christensen JW, Ladewig J, Søndergaard E, Malmkvist J. Effects of individual versus group stabling on social behaviour in domestic stallions. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2002; 75:(3)233-248

Crowell-Davis SL. Nursing behaviour and maternal aggression among Welsh ponies (Equus caballus). Appl Anim Behav Sci. 1985; 14:11-25 https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(85)90034-6

Duncan P, Harvey PH, Wells SM. On lactation and associated behaviour in a natural herd of horses. Animal Behaviour. 1984; 32:(1)255-263 https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/S0003-3472(84)80345-0

Erber R, Wulf M, Rose-Meierhöfer S Behavioral and physiological responses of young horses to different weaning protocols: a pilot study. Stress. 2012; 15:(2)184-194 https://doi.org/10.3109/10253890.2011.606855

Henry S, Sigurjónsdóttir H, Klapper A, Joubert J, Montier G, Hausberger M. Domestic foal weaning: need for re-thinking breeding practices?. Anim. 2020; 10:(2) https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fani10020361

Hewetson M, Venner M, Volquardsen J 2018 Diagnostic accuracy of blood sucrose as a screening test for equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) in weaning foals. Acta Vet Scand. 2018; 60 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-018-0377-5

Hoffman RM, Kronfeld DS, Herbein JH Dietary carbohydrates and fat influence milk composition and fatty acid profile of mare's milk. J Nutr. 1998; 128:2708S-2711S https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/128.12.2708s

King SRB, Asa C, Pluhacek J, Houpt K, Ransom JI. Behaviour of Horses, Zebras, and Asses. In: Ransome JI, Kaczensky P (eds). USA: John Hopkins University Press; 2016

Lansade L, Foury A, Reigner F 2018. Progressive habituation to separation alleviates the negative effects of weaning in the mother and foal. Psychoneuroen-docrinology. 2018; 97:59-68 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.005

Mach N, Foury A, Kittelmann S The effects of weaning methods on gut microbiota composition and horse physiology. Frontiers in physiology. 2017; 8

Markiewicz-Kęszycka M, Czyżak-Runowska G, Wójtowski J Influence of stage of lactation and year season on composition of mares' colostrum and milk and method and time of storage on vitamin C content in mares' milk. J Sci Food Agric. 2015; 95:(11)2279-2286

McGreevy P, Berger J, De Brauwere N Using the five domains model to assess the adverse impacts of husbandry, veterinary, and equitation interventions on horse welfare. Animals. 2018; 8:(3) https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8030041

Merkies K, DuBois C, Marshall K A two-stage method to approach weaning stress in horses using a physical barrier to prevent nursing. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2016; 183:68-76

Nicol CJ, Badnell-Waters AJ, Bice R, Kelland A, Wilson AD, Harris PA. 2005. The effects of diet and weaning method on the behaviour of young horses. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2005; 95:(3–4)205-221 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2005.05.004

Stanley CR, Shultz S. Mummy's boys: sex differential maternal—offspring bonds in semi-feral horses. Behaviour. 2012; 251-274

Tyler S. The behaviour and social organisation of the New Forest ponies. Animal Behaviour Monographs. 1972; 5:85-196 https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-3472(72)90003-6

Waters AJ, Nicol CJ, French NP. Factors influencing the development of stereotypic and redirected behaviours in young horses: findings of a 4-year prospective epidemiological study. Equine Vet J. 2002; 34:(6)572-579 https://doi.org/10.2746/042516402776180241

Wulf M, Beythien E, Ille N, Aurich J, Aurich C. The stress response of 6-month-old horses to abrupt weaning is influenced by their sex. J Vet Behav. 2018; 23:19-24 https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/j.jveb.2017.10.010

Żelazna R, Jezierski T. Behavioural reactions of horses (Equus caballus) to separation stress in conspecifics. A pilot study on emotional contagion in the horse. Anim Sci Pap Reports. 2018; 36:(3)

Veterinary
Breeding

The developmental behaviour of foals and its relevance to husbandry, part 2: weaning

02 September 2022
Clinical
10 mins read
02 September 2022
Volume 6 · Issue 5

Abstract

The veterinary team plays a key role in providing help and education to breeders. Weaning is a critical time in the foal's life and is likely to have a significant impact on their future behaviour and resilience to stress. This article is the second of two applying the research on foal behavioural development to good practice in the management and training of foals. This article examines the evidence surrounding weaning practices and provides a guide to best practice with the resources available to the veterinary team and the horse breeders they work with.

Vets are highly regarded sources of reliable, evidence-based information and advice, the aim of which should be to summarise findings and practical applications of the most up-to-date research. Artificial weaning differs from that of free ranging, naturally living horses. Finding a balance between meeting the needs of the breeding operation and working with the natural adaptations of horses to safeguard their welfare is best guided by the available evidence base.

Weaning has been repeatedly found to cause large increases in stress in the new weanling, with negative impacts on their welfare, and a large panel of equine scientists and vets have deemed it the single most stressful intervention in a horse's life (McGreevy et al, 2018). With increasing recognition that horses' experiences impact their welfare status, when and how foals are weaned is important in order to protect their welfare. It is increasingly considered that the balance of the horse's experience should be weighted towards the individual having positive experiences and being able to successfully predict and overcome negative experiences (McGreevy et al, 2018).

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting UK-VET Equine and reading some of our peer-reviewed content for veterinary professionals. To continue reading this article, please register today.

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

stud
foal
mare
behaviour