Horses also itch and rub irritated areas creating bald spots. Beet pulp can be incorporated in the diets of horses with many different needs. The condition is more common in women than in men. Beet pulp may not be the best choice to add to your horses feed during the following situations. A method of adding body condition to a hard keeper A digestive health aid for horses experiencing digestive upset Stressed? Beet pulp can also be used as a top-dressed supplement. There is a persistent myth that beet pulp is bad for horses. timothy, bromegrass, etc.). Horses are often reluctant to drink plain water in winter. It consists of an oral medication (Pergolide) in the form of a tablet given once daily. Soaked beet pulp can help slow a horse down that bolts his food. Alfalfa Pellets vs. Cubes: Whats Better for Your Horses? Laminitis can be a devastating disease. This is a boon for older horses or those with dental issues, Soaking it creates a good consistency for the addition of supplements or medications. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Gastrogard vs. Generic Omeprazole: Not Worth the Risk. Why is this, and does beet pulp have any other benefits that make it stand out in a horses diet? 2020 Equine Veterinary Associates of Olive Branch. As I said, beet pulp is similar in nutritional value to alfalfa hay but with one significant difference, protein levels. The fiber in beet pulp is very digestible, which is why some horses wont stop eating it. One such forage alternative is beet pulp. This fibrous byproduct of the sugar beet is dehydrated and sold in pellets or shredded in bags. This morning kicked off with a remedial sweet itch summer clip with a creative spin for this pretty lady! All Rights Reserved. Beet pulp has good and bad points for horses; the good: it helps digestion and puts weight on horses because it's high in fiber and energy and low in sugar. According to Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist at Kentucky Equine Research, Beet pulp is an energy-rich source of digestible fiber that helps promote a healthy microbial population in the hindgut.. The dense leg hair can encourage mites and other skin biting insects, which in turn lead to various skin infections. How to prepare your garden to protect against wind? Although horses can be fed grain, they still need a forage substitute that provides the +20% fiber content that good pasture or hay provides. Many feed companies include beet pulp in many grain formulations that do not require soaking prior to consumption. There is a long standing myth that beet pulp must be soaked prior to feeding to prevent choke. You may run across horses that dont find beet pulp palatable, but most horses quickly transition to it. 2016 by Sandstein. Should I feed my horse beet pulp? - Equine Veterinary Associates When horses take in more phosphorous than calcium, they are at risk of developing bone and muscle disorders. If the temperature is cold, fermentation takes longer, and also; shredded beet pulp soaks up moisture more efficiently than pellets or cubes. Although anecdotal stories about individual horses may have lead to these myths or old wives' tales about beet pulp as feed, research and experience have largely discounted them and supplied information that horse owners can take to heart. Often horses benefit from all year round clipping and sweet itch sufferers are no exception! Adding molasses to dried beet pulp shreds increases the palatability and helps to stimulate saliva production when the horse consumes it. While beet pulp is an effective and highly recommended part of your horse's diet, it doesn't contain enough vitamin A or selenium for proper nutrition, and should be supplemented with other sources of forage and energy. Cyproheptadine is less effective, but is also less expensive, at about $35 per month. So. Horse clipping will prevent your horse from catching a chill and it will also cut down on grooming time. However, the inside of a horse's stomach is filled with acid, not water. Is it because horse owners prefer to stay with the tried and true when it comes to their horse feed? I researched beet pulp and learned there is confusion surrounding its potential benefits and drawbacks. Horse Feeds for those that maintain a healthy weight: If a horse has untreated Cushings Disease, it is more likely to develop laminitis and the laminitis will be more difficult to control. Generally, you should periodically check the soaked beet pulp to ensure it isnt giving off an unpleasant odor. Many horses prefer it soaked to a mash-like consistency, It's easier to chew. Beet pulp can be treated as any other forage ingredient. Pellets may be easier for you to scoop and store, but they have the same nutritional value as cubes. Horses are individuals; some may do better eating cubes than pellets and vice versa. Equine Cushings disease occurs when a tumor called a pituitary adenoma develops in the pituitary gland. The microbes in the horses hindgut can easily ferment and use it for energy production. Alfalfa is safe to feed a Cushings horse. Theres a good chance that a springtime clip will help him regulate his body temperature a bit more as spring warms up. If your horse is a picky eater, you can soak his beet pulp or mix it dry with his grain or with a small amount of oil. On average, adult horses, even those that dont participate in strenuous exercise, need at least 12 13% protein in their feed, so beet pulp alone doesnt give most horses enough protein. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. But what is this stuff, and does your horse need it? Depending on how quickly your horses coat grows will depend on how often you will need to clip. Examples of foods to focus on eating include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fish. If feeding beet pulp pellets, soaking is required because of the hardness of the pellet and the significant change in volume once pellets are wet. How do I grow tomatoes without a tomato cage? When this happens, the texture and odor are harsh, and you should discard them. It promotes bacteria fermentation in the hindgut and releases fatty acids, which are converted into energy. horseracingsense.com. How do you treat cushing's in horses - Rainbow Run Farm While research reported in Nutrient Requirements of Horses, published by the National Research Council, showed that a diet consisting of 45-55% beet pulp had no negative effects on the horses consuming it, beet pulp alone will not provide sufficient nutrients, noted Crandell. However, beet pulp with added molasses is still lower in sugar than most other components of the horse's diet. Beet pulp with molasses is slightly higher in sugar, containing about 16% of non-structural carbohydrates. Its essential to know the correct nutritional value of anything you feed your horses. The instant beet pulp reaches the stomach, the process of breaking it down begins so nutrients and fiber can go to work and it passes safely through the horse's digestive system. Because of its high fiber content, it can be used as 25-40% of the ration for horses who have difficulty chewing, but it should be supplemented with a balanced vitamin/mineral supplement and perhaps protein. Beet pulp is a product of the refining and making of table sugar. The sugar content of unmolassed beet pulp shreds is less than 10%, making it a safe feed for horses that need a low-sugar diet. The moisture helps buffer the acidity of the stomach. Soaking the beet pulp and adding more water to rinse it can further reduce the sugar content. Horses will shed their hair seasonally as a result of changes in the length of daylight. Sometimes the water can take up to two hours to get absorbed. Cushing syndrome can lead to high blood glucose, so try to limit foods that can cause a rise in blood sugar. Myth 4: Beet pulp is not a good substitute for hay. The fiber fraction of a horses diet typically comes from pasture or hay, but there are forage alternatives that can help supplement energy, benefit the digestive system, and provide fiber for horses that have trouble chewing traditional forage. Nutritionally, beet pulp is a natural source of concentrated energy. Beet pulp is often referred to as a "super fiber" due to its high digestibility and ease of fermentation. You see fellow boarders at the barn scooping it into buckets for soaking. Its also remarkably low in potassium, so its good for horses with a restricted potassium intake in their diet. Since it is an excellent source of digestible fiber and has a calorie content similar to oats, but with fewer starches and sugars which can cause problems if they reach the hindgut undigested, beet pulp is usually an excellent choice as part of a horse's diet. If an equine has any of the clinical signs suggestive of Cushings, a blood sample can be taken to check ACTH levels in the blood. The sugar beet industry takes the sugar out of the sugar beets and leaves everything else. lets find out about beet pulp. It is good for the microbes in the hindgut and improves a horses digestive abilities. Traditionally, the raw form is soaked in water for 1-12 hr before feeding. But, good quality forage is naturally low in carbohydrates. If a horse has metabolic problems including insulin resistance from metabolic syndrome or Cushing's disease, rinsing the beet pulp is especially important to reduce any sugar content left by the extraction process. I have bought, sold, and broke racehorse yearlings. The main thing is to take off the hair thats making him sweat. Shreds with added molasses contain, on average, less than 15% sugar, explained Crandell. User Agreement and Privacy Policy. In addition to the raw form, many commercial horse feed producers use it as an additive in "complete" concentrate feeds. Required fields are marked *. It is extremely painful and debilitating for the horse. What is the Best Horse Fencing: Wood Board or Woven Wire? Is it because of anecdotal stories about individual horses that at one time had an issue because of eating beet pulp. Since beet pulp is low in sugar, sellers often add molasses to it to make the feed more appetizing. A downside of this can be an imbalance of proteins or sugar in their bodies which can cause all sorts of health issues. Equus Health Agnus Castus 1kg (Equine). Pergolide is typically most effective. Beet pulp also has an unfair reputation for causing choke in horses. 2. In cold temperatures, horses are tempted to eat more food to generate more heat and keep their bodies hot. The dose may need to be increased or decreased depending on the individual horses response. Beet pulp is also good for horses that cant chew their food properly or need to avoid dusty feeds because they have respiratory issues. Feeding a pound or two (dry weight) of beet pulp will help maintain weight and 3 to 4 pounds or more will help with weight gain without increasing starch levels as grain, but it should be supplemented with a balanced vitamin/mineral supplement and perhaps protein. And sure enough, beet pulp works almost as well as alfalfa in putting pounds on your horse. As this tumor slowly grows, it sends inappropriate signals to the rest of the body to secrete excessive hormones primarily a stress hormone called cortisol. HYPP horses: high levels of potassium if it contains molasses Beet pulp is often sold in its "raw" form, which looks somewhat like ground-up old shoe leather, or in pellets. It is also best to soak it if more than 1-2 pounds are fed in a meal. During a hot summer spell, the heavier types of horses, need all the help they can get to keep cool, and clipping them out completely can often make them more comfortable, work better and make it much quicker and easier to wash off sweat and dirt. It is an excellent food source for horses that have difficulty putting on and keeping weight on without supplementing their diet with traditional concentrates. The recommended ratio is approximately 2:1. Treatment is fairly simple. Furthermore, its often recommended to soak beet pulp before feeding it to your horse. However, its worth mentioning again that a diet consisting of purely beet pulp is not healthy. However, other show horses are clipped all year round. I always like to watch my horses protein intake when feeding it supplements like beet pulp. Evitex is very palatable and along with a healthy diet, will help promote long-term health. choke: increased risk when fed dry and in large amounts It has as many calories as oats without the propensity for insulin production found with starch - Dr. Juliet Getty, Horse Nutritionist. For these horses, beet pulp is a good forage choice. So, beet pulp soaked in water can provide an easy way to keep your horse hydrated in the winter. Benefits of Beet Pulp for Horses - Kentucky Equine Research So lets look at how much protein is in beet pulp. However, soaking beet pulp can reduce this risk; we discuss the benefits of feeding wet beet pulp in more detail later in this article. Contact a KER nutrition advisor for advice on whether beet pulp is right for your horse. To counter the effects of diarrhea, you need a feed that is high in fiber and dry content. Also known as Monks Pepper and Chaste Berry, helps to balance hormones in both females and males, supporting the endocrine system. Its really up to you and your horse. Beet pulp can be used to help underweight horses gain weight, as it provides approximately 1,000 kcals per pound (one quart of dry beet pulp shreds weighs approximately 0.5-0.6 pounds). Along with its fiber content, beet pulp has as many calories as oats without the propensity for insulin production found with starch in grain. The way you feed it depends on your horse and its needs. When horses have chronically elevated levels of potassium, they can develop muscle tremors or paralysis. Molasses content may be a decisive factor in choosing the form of beet pulp to feed, especially with horses needing low sugar or low potassium diets. A hydrated horse is also happy to go riding on winter and snowy days. Also, beet pulp isnt delicious; adding water can enhance its flavor, and horses eat it better. These qualities make it an excellent addition to a horse's diet, but horse owners often need to skip beet pulp with added molasses, which can be detrimental to the horse's digestive system. Triple Crown Senior (http://www.triplecrownfeed.com/products/feeds/senior-horse-feed- formula-seniorhorsefeed) is a beet pulp-based, textured feed recommended for Cushings horses that have a hard time maintaining weight and need a little extra fat, without the extra carbohydrates. EquiMed and Horse Health Matters are registered trademarks of EquiMed, LLC. When mixed with other feeds, beet pulp shouldnt take up more than half of the total diet. The recommended ratio is three to four parts water to one part beet pulp. Check out my other article on how to treat or prevent diarrhea in horses. Eric Haydt, RAS, Senior Vice President of Triple Crown Feed. Dont soak beet pulp too long because it ferments and is unfit to feed. Beet pulp's nutritional qualities compare to good-quality grass hay and it's an easily digestible supplement to your horse's roughage intake.2. nutrient imbalances: when feeding large amounts of plain beet pulp without adjusting the rest of the diet accordingly. Clinical signs include increased coat length and delayed shedding of the winter coat, laminitis, lethargy, increased sweating, weight loss and excessive drinking and urinating. All Rights Reserved. Each horse should shed on a consistent schedule each year; even though that timeframe may be different for each horse. For the average horse the ideal time to clip is October, once their winter coat has come through. A robust, well-functioning microbiome contributes to overall health. This way, the excess liquid in the stomach that causes diarrhea becomes concentrated. Beet pulp has an unfair reputation for causing choke in horses. Beet pulp can be fed dry, soaked, steamed, separately, mixed with other forage, or mixed with grain. Feed 15g per day in the horses normal feed, Maintenance Feeding Rate (average size animal), Weight gain and fatty tissue deposits, particularly around the midsection and upper back, in the face (moon face), and between the shoulders (buffalo hump). Horse Clipping minimises sweating and will enable him to dry and cool off more effectively. In fact, most feed companies add a small amount of molasses to beet pulp to make it more palatable to horses and to reduce dust due to the lack of sugar. So, when consumed heavily, beet pulp is rich in energy but doesnt include harmful amounts of sugars that can cause laminitis in horses. Feeding Beet Pulp To Horses: The Good And The Bad - Horse Racing Sense Draining or rinsing the excess water from beet pulp after soaking it for at least one hour before feeding will significantly reduce the amount of any left-over sugar. Esophageal obstruction can occur when a horse eats dry beet pulp, but is generally a problem that starts with a horse's eating behaviors, such as bolting his food. What I found out surprised me in many ways; beet pulp is similar to alfalfa which is recommended for horses with ulcers. What's in Those Feed Products You Give Your , Debunking 4 Popular Myths about Beet Pulp for Horses, Soaking increases palatability. Currently the only FDA approved treatment for Cushings Disease in horses is Prascend containing the active ingredient pergolide. Does a Horse Need Grain: Oats, Barley, Both or None. How do you treat cushing's in horses. There is no cure for Cushings but with careful management, appropriate nutrition and veterinary treatment, horses can have comfortable active lives for several years with the condition. Recognizing the early signs of laminitis is important to increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome. Ongoing research shows the many benefits of chasteberry for healthy pituitary function, balancing hormone levels and supporting glucose metabolism in horses and dogs. harmful amounts of sugars that can cause laminitis in horses, how to treat or prevent diarrhea in horses. Since laminitis and founder are more common in horses with Cushings disease, pasture grazing should be severely limited or totally avoided.