NUTRITIONAL-STATUS OF THE FOALS RELATED TO THE AGE AND TO MARES FEEDING

Two studies were carried out to investigate on the nutritional status of newborn foals also related to some mare milk characteristics. In th e first study 5 foals born from Franch Montagnes x Bardigiana mares we re muzzled and artificially reared in order to get more information on foals' nutritional status during the first weeks after birth. Mares' milk characteristics were also investigated. In a second study, the ef fects of fish oil supplementation, source of omega 3-PUFA, to five mar es' diet on some plasma metabolites and on growth rate of the foals we re evaluated according to a switch back design. Although the high vari ability between foals, remarkable changes in the blood chemistry and i n some metabolic profiles were observed in artificially reared or suck ling foals during the first weeks of extrauterine life.