Horses

do horses nurse


Do Horses Nurse?

When you think of nursing, mammals– specifically mammals of the human variety– come to mind. But did you know that horses can actually nurse their young?

Horses, like all mammals, feed their young by producing milk. Foals, or baby horses, are nourished by mother’s milk until they start to eat solid food. The role of the feeding mother is essential to the health and development of the foal.

How does it Work?

Unlike humans, horses produce milk throughout their pregnancies. This is important because the foals rely on the mother’s milk right after birth. During the first 24 hours of life, foals gather important proteins and antibodies from their mother’s milk.

Foals nurse continuously in the first weeks of life. Nursing habits vary among individuals, but in general, the foal nurses several times a day. After 4-6 weeks, the foal starts to drink water and nibble on grass. At this point, the mother’s milk production decreases and ultimately ceases.

Do all Horses Nurse?

Not all horses will nurse their young. Some mares don’t produce enough milk. In that case, the foals will need to be supplemented with a foal milk replacer specifically designed for horses. Other mares may reject their foals or be unwilling to nurse them.

In these situations, the foal must be removed from its mother and hand-raised. A thrush-yield feeding bottle can be used. Foal milk replacers can also be fed via nasogastric tube, which is placed through the foal’s nostril into the stomach.

Conclusion

In conclusion, horses do nurse their young. Foals rely on the first days and weeks of nourishment from the mother’s milk to start their development in life. While all horses don’t nurse their young, those that do provide an essential role to the foal’s health and development.

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