SlinkyMinxy
Well-Known Member
WBFSH are holding a webinar on foal weaning at 7pm tonight (Weds 26th July), if anyone is interested: https://www.wbfsh.com/news/webinar-on-weaning-of-foals
Weaning webinar tonight
- Thread starter SlinkyMinxy
- Start date
ihatework
Well-Known Member
Drat, I’m busy tonight - it’s something I’m interested in!
If anyone does attend key messages /current thinking and scientific evidence summary would be much appreciated
If anyone does attend key messages /current thinking and scientific evidence summary would be much appreciated
SlinkyMinxy
Well-Known Member
I wonder if you register for it you might be able to watch it back later?
Anyway, I am planning to attend, so can hopefully provide a summary.
Anyway, I am planning to attend, so can hopefully provide a summary.
SlinkyMinxy
Well-Known Member
The webinar was given by Prof Natalie Waran in conjunction with the FEI Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission
The main focus was the effect of stressful experiences such as weaning on the adult horse.
The webinar began with a discussion of social licence and the use of horses in competitive sport, where the aim should be to create a 'happy athlete'. However, how do we define quality of life for horses and what does 'happiness' look like for them? The most important factor is resilience, and how early life experiences help them to cope with later life.
No 'best method' for weaning was given, as the chosen method will depend on many factors, including facilities available, desired outcome (sale of foal, mare going back to stud/work).
Weaning appears to affect fillies more than colts in physiological terms; they show greater weight loss and higher cortisol levels. Individual horse temperament is also really important.
Much of the research is conflicting or includes too many factors to get a clear picture, but the following factors appear to reduce stress (in terms of cortisol level, gut acidity and biota, weight gain) during weaning:
Age: weaning at 5 months is more stressful than at 7 months
Abrupt weaning; progressive weaning exposes foal to low-level stress over a long period, which increases the likelihood that the stress response will become chronic. Although abrupt weaning is more stressful initially, foals seem to recover better from it.
Presence of 'nanny' mares
Leaving foal in familiar surroundings after removing dam
Access to pasture; barn-weaned foals are more stressed
Provision of creep feed, but given too early may sensitise the gut and lead to the development of oral stereotypies. Foals given high fat and fibre feeds were calmer than those fed a high sugar and starch feed
Company; both other equines and humans. Structured (leading, feet picking up) early handling helps to foster good horse/human relationships, but can also be done badly!
Other interesting points:
Foals who suckle or teat nuzzle more are more likely to develop vices after weaning, although this may be mitigated by access to grass
Imprinting the foal soon after birth probably has no effect on later stress levels and may harm the mare/foal bond if done to excess
Research in piglets has shown that providing an enriched environment leads to increased adaptability, less excitability and better learning
Research in lambs has shown that early stress results in a negative mood state and impacts the ability to cope with pain/stress in later life, and this may be relevant to the experience of castration.
Fear is a stable trait in horses: fearful foals grow up into fearful adults, but this can be mitigated by introducing scary objects before weaning, as long as dam is habituated to them. Horses that grow up in a restricted environment have a more 'pessimistic' view of the world.
The take-home message is that for the least stress at weaning, foals need Fibre, Freedom and Friends.
A recording of the webinar will be available on the WBFSH website. They are also planning a series of future webinars off the back of this one, as it raised so many interesting and thought-provoking points.
If anyone else attended and thinks I've got any of the above wrong, please feel free to correct!
The main focus was the effect of stressful experiences such as weaning on the adult horse.
The webinar began with a discussion of social licence and the use of horses in competitive sport, where the aim should be to create a 'happy athlete'. However, how do we define quality of life for horses and what does 'happiness' look like for them? The most important factor is resilience, and how early life experiences help them to cope with later life.
No 'best method' for weaning was given, as the chosen method will depend on many factors, including facilities available, desired outcome (sale of foal, mare going back to stud/work).
Weaning appears to affect fillies more than colts in physiological terms; they show greater weight loss and higher cortisol levels. Individual horse temperament is also really important.
Much of the research is conflicting or includes too many factors to get a clear picture, but the following factors appear to reduce stress (in terms of cortisol level, gut acidity and biota, weight gain) during weaning:
Age: weaning at 5 months is more stressful than at 7 months
Abrupt weaning; progressive weaning exposes foal to low-level stress over a long period, which increases the likelihood that the stress response will become chronic. Although abrupt weaning is more stressful initially, foals seem to recover better from it.
Presence of 'nanny' mares
Leaving foal in familiar surroundings after removing dam
Access to pasture; barn-weaned foals are more stressed
Provision of creep feed, but given too early may sensitise the gut and lead to the development of oral stereotypies. Foals given high fat and fibre feeds were calmer than those fed a high sugar and starch feed
Company; both other equines and humans. Structured (leading, feet picking up) early handling helps to foster good horse/human relationships, but can also be done badly!
Other interesting points:
Foals who suckle or teat nuzzle more are more likely to develop vices after weaning, although this may be mitigated by access to grass
Imprinting the foal soon after birth probably has no effect on later stress levels and may harm the mare/foal bond if done to excess
Research in piglets has shown that providing an enriched environment leads to increased adaptability, less excitability and better learning
Research in lambs has shown that early stress results in a negative mood state and impacts the ability to cope with pain/stress in later life, and this may be relevant to the experience of castration.
Fear is a stable trait in horses: fearful foals grow up into fearful adults, but this can be mitigated by introducing scary objects before weaning, as long as dam is habituated to them. Horses that grow up in a restricted environment have a more 'pessimistic' view of the world.
The take-home message is that for the least stress at weaning, foals need Fibre, Freedom and Friends.
A recording of the webinar will be available on the WBFSH website. They are also planning a series of future webinars off the back of this one, as it raised so many interesting and thought-provoking points.
If anyone else attended and thinks I've got any of the above wrong, please feel free to correct!
TheMule
Well-Known Member
An excellent summary- I did watch and you have got the main points across very succinctly
ihatework
Well-Known Member
Thank you so much SlinkyMinxy for taking the time to write this out. Appreciated. I’ll try and watch the webinar when it’s released
Blanche
Well-Known Member
Thank you for writing that all out SlinkyMinxy. Very interesting.