All too often we take for granted that our foals will receive an adequate supply of colostrum, but not all foals are born lucky. For those less fortunate, their dependency on colostrum relies upon breeders collecting, freezing, and storing this valuable commodity.
Unfortunately, these breeders are very few and are unable to keep up with demand. There are no annual statistics available as to how many foals require colostrum, but if there were, perhaps the collecting and storing of it would become more frequent, says Peter Hurst, manager of Clayborne Farm in Calgary, AB.
“It was out of the frustration of not being able to locate colostrum or nurse mares, that I first created the Alberta Nurse Mare and Colostrum Registry,” says Hurst.
“This encouraged me to take regular colostrum collections for myself and others,” he adds. “The registry was later replaced in 2005 by my Internet service of Cyberfoal.com where requests for colostrum and nurse mares receive international support.”
The website Cyberfoal.com is a Canadian and international resource for colostrum and, although it receives greater support from US breeders, Canadian breeders are beginning to accept the advantages this site has to offer.
At Cyberfoal.com breeders can post where colostrum is available and where it is needed. The site also accommodates the need for nurse mares having lost their foals due to unfortunate circumstances.
Individuals can submit their own information, which is then immediately posted to the appropriate pages for all to view.
This year, Cyberfoal celebrates ten years of voluntary service to the breeding industry and plans to continue for as long as the need presents itself. The service also accommodates horse owners requiring assistance for their horses during disaster evacuation, which also receives much support.
“If I am on a mission it is to have no foal denied colostrum, and that colostrum collection become a standard practice by all that choose to breed horses,” says Hurst.
“Cyberfoal.com has been well-received throughout North America and I am proud to have it originate here in Alberta, where my work with the Riddell family horses continues on a daily basis.
“I thank all those that support, promote, and contribute to this voluntary service where foals less fortunate than most are given the opportunity to enjoy their youth and, we, the friendship and support of each other.”
Please take a few minutes to collect colostrum for the foal that nature forgot!
