Manejo de potros órfãos revisão de literatura

Abstract

Several complications can condition that a foal is raised without the presence of its mother. Called orphan, this foal will generally require specific attention and care, in addition to adequate nutritional and sanitary management for this condition. Therefore, management failures during the period from birth to weaning can contribute to increase the mortality rate in orphan foals, which are often animals of high commercial and/or affective value. The most appropriate approach is to adopt the foal by another mare, although this process takes time and can be traumatic for the foal. Manual feeding is also an alternative, however, excessive contact with humans can lead to the development of unwanted behavioral patterns, weakening the colts' social relationships. Although basic care with nutrition and health aspects are important, aspects related to the instinctive behavioral development of foals need the same attention. The knowledge and adoption of proper practices can produce orphaned foals as healthy and with a temperament equivalent to those raised by their own mothers. This review work, therefore, has the objective of compiling the main events that occur after the birth of the foals, emphasizing the ways of identifying eventual health alterations, and the main management alternatives for the ideal rearing of an orphan foal.