Weaning stress is affected by nutrition and weaning methods

Abstract

The objectives of these studies were to compare effects of diet and weaning method on stress responses in Thoroughbreds raised on pasture. Ethograms showed that foals weaned abruptly were more stressed than foals weaned gradually, and foals supplemented with the fat-and-fiber diet were less stressed. Cortisol levels in foals supplemented with a corn-based diet were higher before and after weaning compared to foals fed a fat-and-fiber supplement. These studies indicate that foals weaned gradually were less stressed and that diet may affect a foals' ability to handle the stress of weaning.