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A byproduct of the sugar industry, beet pulp is the fibrous portion of the sugar beet that remains after the sugar has been extracted. This material is dehydrated and shredded before being sold as a livestock feed. Known as a “super-fiber” because it provides both fiber and a higher level of energy than most forages, it is easily digested by horses, somewhat more so than many types of hay. Plain beet pulp contains very little sugar, and therefore few calories, though beet pulp with molasses contains an appreciable amount of sugar.

Any horse can be given beet pulp as part of the diet, but it is especially suitable for horses with several specific conditions. For insulin-resistant horses, beet pulp is a good choice because it does not cause a significant glycemic response as it is being digested. Despite its low-carbohydrate status, it can help put weight on some thin horses through the energy that is released when it is fermented in the hindgut. If hay is in short supply, beet pulp can be used as an alternate fiber source to replace some dietary roughage.

Horses that don’t chew well because of dental problems can eat a slurry of soaked beet pulp, getting both fiber and liquid from the meal. Beet pulp has a positive effect on gastrointestinal health by maintaining digestive motility and helping to balance of microbes within the hindgut, especially when used with a probiotic for horses being treated with antibiotics.

Beet pulp is not a complete feed, being low in protein and some vitamins and minerals. For this reason, it should never be fed as the only ingredient in a horse’s diet. Before adding a lot of beet pulp to the horse’s ration, horse owners should check with an equine nutritionist to be sure the diet will be balanced and provide all necessary nutrients in the proper amounts and ratios.

To soak or not to soak? This frequently asked question has been answered in various ways, but the safest answer is that beet pulp should probably be soaked before feeding. As a dehydrated product, the pulp can absorb four or five times its own weight in water if it is soaked for several hours.

In well-hydrated horses that eat slowly and chew their food thoroughly, beet pulp can pick up a reasonable amount of fluid from saliva. But if the horse eats quickly, as many do, the beet pulp is often swallowed before it is thoroughly moistened, sometimes causing choke when the pulp does not move easily along the esophagus. Soaking beet pulp in water before it is fed assures that it will be moist and easy to swallow.

For horses that don’t need extra calories, soaking and draining will also remove some carbohydrates from beet pulp that has had molasses added to it. Keep in mind that soaked beet pulp can spoil quickly in hot weather, so only the amount that is to be fed in the next meal should be soaked, and leftover pulp should be discarded.

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