Beet Pulp for Your Horse

Beet pulp with its 10% crude protein and 18% crudeusually soaked in water before use as it expands
fiber places it as a borderline forage food. This forageconsiderably but it is not always necessary, unless
food results from the extraction of sugar from beetsyour horse has problems with choking or bad teeth, in
and the leftover product is a crude and highly digestiblewhich case you will want to soak the beet pulp before
fiber. Not only a good source of digestible fiber but ishand.
also low on the glycemic index and it has protein similarBeet pulp contains lots of ferment-able fiber and may
to that of a good grass hay.normalize fermentation in the large intestines of the
BP is low in phosphorus and is fairly high in calcium.horse, which results in over all digestive efficiency.
Because of the high calcium content in beet pulp youOwners with "hard keepers" generally substitute a
will not want to feed it to a horse that has kidneygood portion of their grain with beet pulp and this
disease or bladder stones. These are all factors youseems to maintain the horses all over body condition.
will want to consider when planning your horsesA good digestive tract makes for a healthier horse.
nutritional diet regime.You can also use beet pulp as a forage food because
BP is also a common additive in complete feeds andof its high digestible fiber and energy content but as
other products such as pet foods and the like.mentioned above you will need to give your horses
Some horse owners replace a portion of the horse'shay and/or pasture too as they need the long stem
diet(approx.15%-20%)with beet pulp.  BP is an additivefiber for hind-gut health and other nutritional needs.
and should not be used alone but used with a goodIf you decide to use beet pulp as a partial replacement
source of pasture and/or long stemmed hay for thefood or as a forage extender please remember to
overall health of your horse.add minerals and vitamin supplements to your horses
BP comes in shredded, pressed or pellet form and isoverall nutritional program.