DESIGN AND USE OF CREEP FEEDERS FOR FOALS

A creep feeder is a facility consisting of a perimeter fence with a feed trough located internally. It is used to provide a balanced, high quality concentrate to young nursing foals prior to being weaned. The practice of creep feeding serves to supply nutrients beyond what a foal receives from the milk. Secondly, creep feeding minimizes the intake of broodmare feed that can sometimes lack the amounts of protein and minerals needed by foals relative to the energy density. Many broodmares feeds contain between 10 and 14% crude protein. Although balanced for a mare, some of these feeds are rich in energy and the protein: calorie or mineral: calorie ratios are inadequate for growing foals. Creep feeders also decrease the chances for injury to a foal when competing for feed from the mare's trough. And lastly, creep feeders allow foals to become accustomed to eating concentrates before weaning time.

Research has shown that young foals will nurse as much as seventy times daily, indicating that foals have limited ability to store feed and prefer many small meals. A properly designed creep feeder will let foals enter, eat and leave with ease and safety, while keeping mares out. Foals will show an interest in eating soon after birth, often consuming very small amounts of feed along with the mares. This is a good sign that creep feeding should begin and usually occurs by the time foals are two months old. Milk-energy from mares accounts for less than 30% of energy needed by a four-month-old weanling. Consequently, there is some implied need for supplemental feeding of foals prior to weaning.

The type of creep feeder that should be built or used, its size and the cost, all depend on the facilities in which mares and foals are kept and the number of foals that will be fed. In situations where mares and foals are kept in a dry lot, corral or small paddock, perhaps the simplest design is a corner feeder. The most economical corner creep feeder can be constructed by using one post, two boards (2" x 6") and a feed trough. The perimeter fence should let foals in and keep mares out by at least restricting the height of the opening. The best overall approach is to also regulate entrances and exits by width, which further discourages mares from trying to enter the creep feeder. The size of the openings into the feeder depends on the age and size of the foals and should be built so that adjustments can be made. For typical stock-type and thoroughbred foals from mares weighing between 1,000 and 1,300 pounds, the height should be approximately 4 feet. This is the distance from the ground up to the bottom of the board or pipe which is fixed horizontally. Width restrictions should usually range from 22 to 26 inches, with two feet serving as an average. A creep feeder restricted only by height with a horizontal board or pipe at about 4 feet will offer entrance and exit anywhere along the length of that structure. For creep feeders accommodating more than one foal and being restricted by width, there should be at least one more opening than the total number of foals using the creep feeder. For example, a creep feeder for three foals should have at least four openings where foals can enter/exit.

Where a mare and foal are being stalled, there is usually inadequate room for erecting a creep feeder, per se. One solution is to purchase a foal feeder (trough) with adjustable bars over the top of the trough. These bars can be regulated in width so that the foal can reach feed in the trough, but the mare cannot. These feeders should be securely mounted low enough on the stall wall that they can be reached easily by foals, but where mares cannot kick or rub them down. Careful daily checks are required to ensure the bars are properly affixed and the feed is fresh.

Contact your local County Extension Office for more detailed information on feeding young growing horses.