Behind the Bit

Beet pulp: When to feed, how to feed, Part 2

Posted: 07 Jan 2010 01:21 PM PST

Okay, so my last post gave some of the basics about what beet pulp is and its nutritional content. Here's some additional info about which horses will benefit, which ones won't, and of course the list of resources.

When to feed beet pulp...

For horses that need to fatten up but get too "hot" on grain products.
For horses that have metabloic issues such as polysaccharide storage myopathy
For horses prone to laminitis
For horses who have difficulty chewing hay, beet pulp can replace up to 25% of hay on a pound-per-pound basis
For horses with respiratory issues, beet pulp is a dust-free forage replacement
To increase water intake in horses who do not drink enough in winter months

Contraindications <-----I love this word (or, When not to feed it)

Nutritionists warn against using beet pulp as a complete replacement for hay, unless a special diet is needed for medical reasons. The best, most natural forage for horses is hay.
Feeding large quantities of beet pulp could cause a calcium/phosphorus imbalance. No more than 25% of your horse's total diet fed as beet pulp.
Beet pulp won't be much help in the diet of a horse that ties up (see Horsechannel article).
Due to beet pulp's relatively high calcium and low phosphorus levels, it could interfere with normal bone development in young horses. In older horses, the excess calcium could cause kidney stones (renal calculi) or intestinal stones (enteroliths).

Feeding tips

Use warm water. Hot water will cook the beet pulp and destroy most of the nutrients in it.
While sources indicate it can be fed dry, soak to plump it up (at least 30 minutes) to reduce the risk of choke.
In the summer, soaked beet pulp should be fed within 24 hours (48 hours in the winter)
If you can only find beet pulp with molasses, drain off the water to (or rinse and drain) to remove the lion's share of the added sugars.