by Alice Shoaf

Created on: July 22, 2009

Beet pulp is the fibrous material left after sugar is processed out of the beets. It is dried to discourage mold, and sold either shredded or as pellets for animal feed. It has great benefits as a horse feed in that it supplies a significant source of fiber, is fairly high in calcium, the ratio of calcium to phosphorous is excellent, and it is very palatable. Beet pulp is not a perfect feed, and it requires a little more care than hay. It is often a good option, though.

Hard Keepers

Horses that are hard keepers are often high-energy individuals who need a lot of groceries to keep them in good weight. If you watch them eat they are constantly moving, checking out the scenery, worrying about their neighbors, leaving and coming back. They burn through their feed practically before they get it chewed. They are also prone to bolting their food, and pass the nutrients before they can be absorbed. Aged horses also fall into this category, usually due to worn teeth, deteriorating digestion, and failing appetite.

Beet pulp can help. It is water soluble, and soaking it helps ensure the horse is getting enough water to aid digestion. It is a little higher in energy then alfalfa hay, but lower in protein so it is not a hot feed. Fermentable fiber normalizes the fermentation in the large colon, thus improving digestion. Hard keepers tend to colic more due to their eating habits. The fermentable fiber of beet pulp is beneficial here, eliminating the need to feed bran to balance the hay ration. Many use beet pulp incorporated in the diet of their hard keepers with great success.

Convalescence

Horses recovering from a serious illness, or for any reason extremely low in weight, often benefit from beet pulp. Many think this is because it contains more calories than other feeds. This is not true, as the sugar is removed during processing. But because it is high in both energy and ferment-able fiber, each bite delivers more fiber and nutrients to the system than a comparable bite of hay or many grains. That means digestion is easier and more complete, requiring less energy to absorb. Horses gain weight faster and maintain it better. Also, although it is higher in energy than hay, it is lower than grains. Grains tend to be 'hot', sometimes leading to digestive distress or colic, especially in malnourished horses. Beet pulp is a cool feed and does not cause these problems.

Respiratory Problems

Horses with respiratory ailments, like heaves, thrive on beet pulp fed alone or

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