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| Author |
Message |
    
Sabine B. Marino
| | Posted on Sunday, Oct 24, 1999 - 8:59 pm: |   |
I have been feeding beet pulp soaked along with my horses grain ration because I was told that it was not only a good feed to stimulate weight gain and safeguard colic, but it also has a favorable calcium/phosphorus ratio.
I would like a discussion about beet pulp as a horse feed and gather experiences readers have gained by feeding beet pulp.
Unfortunately, I had a case of serious choke recently as a result of feeding it in dry pellet form, mixed with their sweet feed, so I will not support widepread belief that it is safe to feed out of the bag without soaking it.
Sabine |
The Advisor Vet, RN Oglesby DVM
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 25, 1999 - 6:17 am: | |
Hello Sabine,
With respect to calcium / phosphorus the calcium is about right but it is deficient in phosphorus from a percentage and ratio standpoint. See the article: Nutrient Content of Feedstuffs in this section for particulars.
DrO |
Merrily A. Quincoces (Merrily)
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 30, 2002 - 6:06 pm: | |
How much is to much?? What is the best ratio to feed beet pulp?
I am concerned that I am feeding too much weight (although I realize it is mostly water). |
Dennis A. Johnson (Dennisaj)
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 30, 2002 - 10:59 pm: | |
Beet pulp cannot not be fed as the sole source of nutrition as it is deficient in Phosphorus and Vitamins. It is best understood as a feed that falls between grass hays and grain. It has the high fiber and protein like grass, high calcium like alfalfa and Digestible Energy similar to grain. It is highly palatable and can be fed wet or dry (we feed 2 lbs/day dry to our 1300+ lb 16.3 hh Saddlebred) mixed with his grain. We could safely feed 13 lbs per day but more than that and he might not be eating enough hay as most horses will eat beet pulp first and hay last and we don't regard beet pulp as an acceptable hay substitute. (though for the aged horse who has a hard time chewing soaked beet pulp can be fed in place of hay but should be supplemented for vitamins, minerals--esp. Phosphorus).
The are other VERY GOOD posts on Beet Pulp here in the Advisor and I could refer you to several online articles if you wish. Email me if you would like to learn more.
Dennis |
Julie
Member
Username: Mcjules
Post Number: 9
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 4:15 pm: | |
I'm wondering how much beet pulp to feed my 28 year old pony - she's 750 lbs and it was recommended that I try beet pulp as a way to get some weight across her rear end (as opposed to giving her oil - like canola or corn). Do I need to soak it first? Her teeth are great. Or, can I just add the pellets to her grain? Again, how much is the recommended daily amount to feed? Thanks! |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 8490
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 11:18 am: | |
Julie, the pros and cons of feeding beet pulp including recommemded amounts are at, Care for Horses » Nutrition » Roughage and Forage for Horses, an Overview.
DrO |
Lauren Bonner
Member
Username: Lauren
Post Number: 4
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 8:23 pm: | |
My vet recently advised me to start feeding beet pulp to my 21 year old mare who is obese and has chronic laminitis. I needed to give her something besides just hay so that I can give her supplements. We're trying to avoid sugar, and I noticed that the beet pulp contains molasses. Should I avoid this? Do they make beet pulp w/o molasses? Do you have any suggestions for feeding a horse who needs to avoid starch and sugar? |
Holly Wood
Member
Username: Hwood
Post Number: 971
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 8:55 pm: | |
Wouldn't soaked hay cubes be good? |
Shirley A. Johnson
Member
Username: Shirl
Post Number: 311
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 10:05 pm: | |
Lauren, If you have beet pulp with molasses, you should rinse them, soak and then rinse again to get rid of the sugar/molasses. Especially if your horse has chronic laminitis and is over weight. The less sugar/carb the better. I'd not feed beet pulp dry anyway. Again, go to the Nutrition file in the list.
Good Luck, Shirley |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 1121
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 11:06 pm: | |
In most areas you can get a beet pulp pellet that has no molasses in it. We soak it before we feed it, and the horses who are on it seem to love it. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14697
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Sunday, Feb 5, 2006 - 8:28 am: | |
Beet pulp with its relatively dense energy profile would not have been my choice either Lauren. Check out Care for Horses » Nutrition » Fat or Obese Horse Nutrition for our recommendations.
DrO |
Pattie Bartell
New Member
Username: pattie88
Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 - 12:25 pm: | |
I have a 22 year old Welsh pony that started losing weight last February then completed stopped eating his hay around July. When I first noticed the weight loss I started him on @1 to 2 pounds soaked beet pulp. He maintained his weight until he stopped eating his hay, I then contacted the vet against the advice of my barn manager that he was "just getting old and to expect some weight loss".
What the vet suggested was to double the beet pulp and add with another feed. So I upped the amounts.
when he had his teeth floated in late July we found that he had a badly broken tooth! We have since had the offending thing removed. The vet said to keep giving him the same amount of feed until his weight is back up.
Well I have been giving him once a day @1 1/2 pounds beet pulp mixed with equal parts of Southern States Senior Feed all mixed with warm water ( we call it his hot chocolate) since August and now I have to reduce the amount I give him he is getting too fat.
I have also been giving our new 6 year old pony who is a little thin the same thing, except that I use Southern States low starch instead of the senior feed. This has worked great, he is gaining weight and we don't have the problems of him getting upset when the others are getting grain. The low starch is great and better than grain, he doesn't get as fresh on it due to lower sugar. |
