Question

Is there ever a reason to completely remove a concentrate from a foal’s diet in order to avoid growth problems? My three-month-old Quarter Horse filly has the enlarged ankles that often forewarn of joint problems. My veterinarian suggested a diet of mid- to low-quality hay until the swelling subsides, but that seems like old-fashioned advice to me. What do you think?

Answer

You didn’t mention if your three-month-old filly is currently with her dam or has already been weaned. Suckling foals like your three-month-old will often have their energy and nutrient requirements met by their dams’ milk and generally don’t require supplemental concentrate. Unfortunately, there isn’t any way to regulate intake or “turn off the faucet” (the udder), so if your filly is currently with her dam and not receiving any concentrate while exhibiting enlarged ankles, it might be time to consider weaning her in order to monitor caloric intake. The ultimate goal is slow, steady growth.

One way to avoid concentrate intake is to feed the mare in such a way that the foal doesn’t have access. Depending on the size of the foal, this could be as simple as placing the feed tub out of the foal’s reach, or it may involve a separation of some sort, such as feeding the mare and foal in adjacent stalls (not far enough away from one another to cause anxiety, though).

If your filly has been weaned and has developed enlarged ankles while consuming her forage and concentrate diet, it may be necessary to limit her caloric intake while ensuring that her nutrient requirements are met. Quarter Horses are often easy keepers, and your filly might be better suited to a balancer pellet, designed to be fed at a pound or two per day (0.5 to 1kg) to meet her nutrient requirements without additional calories. In order to meet her nutritional requirements with a traditional sweet feed, you would have to feed an amount clearly in excess of her calorie needs. Instead, opting for a low-calorie balancer pellet will ensure her needs are met.

I would caution against low-quality hay alone, as it is not likely to be a source of sufficient protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals your filly needs for proper growth. Your best bet is to feed quality forage, grass or grass-mixed preferably, coupled with an appropriate concentrate, in this case a balancer pellet.