Iron deficiency in stabled Dutch warmblood foals.

This research study investigates iron deficiency in different groups of Dutch Warmblood foals, showing that foals kept in a stable appear to have lower levels of iron compared to those left to graze in pastures.

Research Overview

In the research study, forty-three Dutch Warmblood foals were randomly divided into three groups following birth:

• A box-rest group
• A box-rest with exercise group
• A pasture group

The foals in the box-rest and exercise groups were given freshly cut grass harvested from the same pastures the pasture group was grazing on. The researchers conducted monthly blood analyses to monitor CBC and biochemical factors.

Initial Findings

Between one and three months of age, the researchers observed that the stabled foals (box-rest and exercise groups) were less active and appeared listless in comparison to the pasture group.
Statistically significant lower quantities of:

• Mean hemoglobin
• PCVs
• Blood iron concentrations
• Saturation of total iron binding capacity

were reported in the box-rest and exercise groups compared to the pasture group.

Iron Supplementation Effects

To address the observed iron deficiency, all foals were given oral iron supplementation. They noted that the stabled foals (box-rest and exercise groups) showed significant increases in hemoglobin, PCVs, blood iron concentrations, and saturation of total iron binding capacity at 4 to 5 months. The activity levels of these groups also leveled with the pasture group. Nevertheless, there were no significant changes in the pasture group.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that management practices have a significant effect on the iron state of young foals, especially from 1 to 3 months old. Evidently, an absolute deficit of body iron, although not being a common cause of anemia in horses, could occur in foals that are stabled and fed freshly cut grass. This implies that suitable feeding and rearing approaches need to be considered for young stable-kept foals.