Feeding Beet
Pulp
THE WAY OF HORSES
By Eleanor Blazer
Copyright @ 2018
High in digestible fiber.
Low glycemic index.
10% crude protein.
What is this miracle feed for horses?
Beet pulp!
After sugar is extracted from beets the left over pulp is a
form of highly digestible fiber suitable for horses. Beet pulp
contains 18.0% crude fiber, which puts it on the borderline
of being classified as forage.
The equine digestive system is designed to utilize fiber.
The cecum, which is part of the large intestine, contains
microbes. These microbes break down cellulose and fiber.
The fiber in beet pulp is broken down in the cecum and
produces energy for the horse to utilize, just like forage.
Another advantage of plain beet pulp
is the low glycemic index.
The glycemic index is a numerical number given to a food
or feed. This number represents the average increase in
blood glucose after a meal. For example, Anne Rodiek
of the Department of Animal Sciences, California State
University, Davis, published a study. In this study oats were
given the glycemic index value of 100, as the average.
Corn came in with a value of 117 and beet pulp (plain with
no added molasses) a value of one.
Maintaining a low blood glucose level helps keep some
horses calm. Feeds that contain high glycemic levels can
spike blood glucose which causes some horses to become
full of energy or “hot”.
Horses that suffer from the metabolic syndrome known as
Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (Cushing’s disease)
will also benefit from a diet that is beet pulp and forage
based. These horses do not produce insulin normally and
blood glucose is not regulated properly. The resulting high
levels of blood glucose can trigger a toxic situation resulting
in laminitis.
There are two basic forms of beet pulp: shredded and pelleted.
Many suppliers of beet pulp add molasses to make it
more palatable to the horse. If you are using beet pulp to
maintain a low glycemic index do not get the product with
the added molasses.
Though beet pulp is high in digestible fiber it does not contain
enough long stem fiber to be fed as the only source
of forage. Up to 25.0% of the horse’s total diet may be
replaced with beet pulp. Keep in mind that at least 5.0%
of the horse’s diet must be a source of long stem fiber, for
example; hay, pasture or alfalfa/timothy cubes. The long
stem fiber is needed to keep the hindgut working properly.
EQUINE Health
The fiber pieces should not be less than three quarters of an
inch long.
Here are two myths that persist about feeding
beet pulp to horses.
Myth number one: it will swell up and rupture the stomach.
The stomach of the horse has the ability to detect when
the maximum content level is approaching. A hormone
called motilin is released. This hormone causes the stomach
to empty - passing the contents into the small intestine and
in turn to the large intestine. There is plenty of room and the
beet pulp will be utilized very efficiently.
Myth number two: beet pulp needs to be soaked.
Numerous horses have been fed beet pulp dry with no
problems. Horses that tend to eat quickly or gulp their feed
should have the beet pulp soaked or they may choke.
Horses that choke on beet pulp may choke on other concentrated
feeds. These horses usually bolt their feed. A few
large rocks in the feeder will slow down their consumption
rate. Soaking may help…no matter what the feed is.
Some horses may eat it more readily if it is soaked. The pellet
form may also be very hard, so soaking will help break it
down.
The amount of time to soak beet pulp varies; many owners
will just soak for 15 minutes in hot tap water, while others will
soak it for an hour before feeding. Be sure to throw out any
soaked beet pulp that is not consumed in a reasonable
amount of time, as it will ferment.
Also, soaking helps get more fluids into a horse. Beet pulp
can help the horse that has trouble maintaining weight or
problems chewing. It can also be used as a hay extender if
hay supplies are running low.
There are many products on the market that have a beet
pulp base, for example senior feed. These products also
contain the needed minerals and vitamins to balance the
diet.
As always, when introducing a new feed make all changes
gradually to allow the microbes in the hindgut to adjust.
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