title: Relationship between nutrient intake, growth and body composition of the nursing foal.
abstract: The milk and nutrient intakes of 21 nursing foals of heavy breeds (adult weight: 800 kg) were determined at 1, 4 and 8 weeks of age. Lactose intake increased (P is less than 0.01) from 1 300 g/day at 1 week of age to 1 800 g/d at 8 weeks; fat decreased (P is less than 0.01) from 400 g/d to 300 g/d and protein did not vary (600 g/d). Energy and nitrogen intakes did not depend on the source of energy in the mother's diet. Milk, energy and nitrogen intakes were well related (r = 0.74 to 0.81) with foal growth between 1 and 4 weeks, but not between 4 and 8 weeks. The composition of weight gain showed a greater deposition of protein than of lipids until 8 weeks. Lipid and protein contents in empty body weight were 5.3 and 19.2%, respectively, at 1 week and 9.0 and 19.9% at 8 weeks.
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D006736:Horses / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins