The total amount of colostrum or milk replacer fed within 24 hours corresponded to 15% of body weight measured
directly after birth. Mares were milked every hour and to ensure that feeding of group COL foals was representative
of normal equine colostrum, volume was recorded, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) content determined by sugar refractometer [21] in each milking. Group COL foals
received 61.7 3.7 g of IgG over 24 hours. For adequate
immunoglobulin supply, all foals received 1 L of equine
hyperimmune plasma (Hypermune; Veterinary Immunogenics,
Penrith, UK). After 24 hours of life, foals were
allowed to suckle their dams without restriction.