________________________________
From: rivervalleyph <rivervalleyph@yahoo.com>
To: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, January 6, 2010 6:31:26 AM
Subject: [haflingerfriends] Re: Early foals, What to bed with and why..
Hello,
Corn stocks work fine for haflingers too. We use corn stocks here at times, depending on the price of corn stocks verses straw, I also bed and feed good quality oat hay at times too. Just remember that whatever you bed with, they may eat on some of it and if you are feeding or using corn stocks, be sure to ask if they had nitrates tested in the stocks before using it. Also- if they are not sure, ask if other cattle ranchers are using the same crop for bedding. If they are it is probibly OK. High nitrates can cause a mare to abort, not cycle properly, etc. However, in your area, there is not a big threat of high nitrates in feed. Nitates and other minerals are the reason we farmers switch corn crops with alfalfa crops! Corn sucks a lot of nitrates out of the ground while alfalfa replenishes it.
OK- well- I am sure many people might disagree, but I have used corn stocks successfully in the past for years. I really like it in the shed, but for in the barn- it is a pain in the rear to clean up!
If you use wood chips, be sure the chips are either very big, or you use saw dust, nothing in between as babies can and will try to eat it and shavings can cause them to impact, which leads to something nobody wants to talk about. Big wood chips they cannot eat well and saw dust seems to be more easily digested. I usually put sawdust down in the barn with hay or straw over the top of it. If you keep your stall clean as often as you can, this works great. If you don't or can't clean your stall but once a day, don't do this until your sure your mare is ready to foal as it can be hard to clean up once packed down into the sawdust.
OK, well, as far as low temps and foaling- don't worry. If mom can get out of the wind and out of snow or freezing rain, and you have someplace well bedded, she knows what to do! Just be sure to keep a place clean for her, if the bedding gets real dirty- replace it. I have had foals born in -33 degrees, and the foals are all grown up and doing fine now! Cold doesn't bother so much as wind, wet snow, rain, or even mud. Once the colt is up and dry and drinking, and mom is up and cleaned- and licking her new one, you will wonder what you were so concerned about! And- it should feel like christmas all over to see a new foal standing in front of you! Best of luck! I hope this helps. I tend to write too much.... Sorry!
Sincerely,
Dawn
--- In haflingerfriends@ yahoogroups. com, "moyra_d" <sk_4444@... > wrote:
>
> I live in Iowa and just found out my mares I bought may foal in Mar or Feb. Current temp here is 15 below without wind chill. Feb and Mar could bring the same temps. My husband suggested I bed them down when it's time in 14 inches of corn stock bedding. Cattle ranchers and lots of swine farmer's use it for bedding. Is it safe for haflingers or should I stick to straw and wood chips?
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
Community email addresses:
Post message: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: haflingerfriends-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: haflingerfriends-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: haflingerfriends-owner@yahoogroups.com
Shortcut URL to this page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/haflingerfriendsYahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/haflingerfriends/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/haflingerfriends/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
haflingerfriends-digest@yahoogroups.com
haflingerfriends-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
haflingerfriends-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
