Dietary starch and sugar versus fat and fiber: Growth and development of foals

Abstract

Growth and development of foals were examined in terms of body weight and body condition score, wither and hip heights, lengths of body, forearm and cannon bones, girth and circumferences of the physis and fetlocks. The experimental plan included two dietary groups of mares with foals maintained on pasture and supplemented with either a corn and molasses based sweet feed (SS), or a corn oil and fiber supplement (FF). Body weight and body condition scores were similar for both groups from birth until the following March when both declined in the SS group; when later switched to the FF diet, the SS group compensated in weight and condition.