Salt Intake - Foals

May 17

5/17/21

“My new foal loves salt! Is it ok for babies to lick salt licks?”

Foals will begin investigative behavior and ingest new things within the first week of life.

With milk being the dominant source of nutrition for the first several months of life, sodium and chloride requirements will actually be met through mare's milk for the first 2-3 months.

So the question becomes, do they need extra salt in the diet?

For the first couple months, foals don't NEED it if the mare is receiving a properly balanced diet, free choice salt and lactating sufficiently.

Does that mean foals shouldn't have any extra and that you need to remove all salt blocks from your foal/mare stalls and pasture spaces?

Not necessarily...

A little salt intake for a foal won't hurt. However... it can become an issue if the baby is spending a lot of time at the salt lick and taking in significant amounts. Because foals are curious and may get bored in the stall or turnout, it is possible that they will go to the salt lick more than they should. This situation can result in loose manure / diarrhea if intake is excessive. Keep an eye on the salt blocks and if you have a baby that is licking it frequently or eating it like candy, remove it until the foal is 3 months of age.

If they are simply giving it a little attention every now and then, manure is good, they are milking consistently and growing as normal, I would not be concerned. Many babies don't pay salt a whole lot of attention. If you have one of these babies, carry on as normal.

Bottom line, a little salt intake here and there is certainly ok in a foal. While the requirement is met through mare's milk for the first few months of life, a little additional intake is ok. Just keep an eye on intake and respond accordingly. If you don't want to worry about with your babies, keep free choice salt at a level where the baby can't reach it but the mom still can. Yet make sure to lower it at 3 months of age so the baby can get their sodium/chloride requirement met.