I picked some up

Ropin1 · 06-24-2008, 03:57 PM

Beet pulp shreds! I made my monthly trip to the feed store for the progressive run today and thought I might as well pick up some BP to give it a shot. Since I am trying to decrease and eventually remove oats and barley from his diet. Already got the corn out. I am just giving him a very small amount tonight of the BP (soaking right now) to see if he likes it. I have heard great things about the benefit of the BP (since I am not going with rice bran) Hopefully he will take to it.

Picked up some alfalfa pellets too to add in with his RB and envision, slowly decreasing the O.B. (oat, barley)

Imagine, my horse being grain free??!!

So, heres my "token" BP question.. how much should I give him at full serving? I am only giving him approx. 2 handfuls tonight to see. lol!
I know, not much.. But I get nervous when introducing new things to his diet.. just want to make sure!

Dawn · 06-24-2008, 03:59 PM

How much depends greatly on how much he needs. Very good to start slowly with beet pulp. Not because of digestability issues, but because the texture is so different from anything most horses have had. If you add too much too fast, they'll often times turn their nose up at it.

Ropin1 · 06-24-2008, 04:02 PM

Hes never been too picky..... the only thing he ever flat refused to eat was Safe n Sound.. go figure ehh?? lol!

Is it true that BP can replace a % of hay? I read that somewhere, can't remember where...

Boy, it sure is "ugly"

Dawn · 06-24-2008, 04:05 PM

Beet pulp is a source of long stem fiber so can be used as an alternative source of forage. The max amount to feed is 40% of the daily intake of forage.

CJ · 06-24-2008, 04:09 PM

Its good to start slow with BP and ramp up, lets them get used to it without a lot going to waste if they dont like it at first. I Started w/a double handful, soaked it, and ramped up to 2 cups dry/(makes) 2 qt soaked over @ 2 weeks. My 1000lb and the 800lb pony get 2c>soaked, and the arabs each get 1c>soaked, so like Dawn said, whats fed depends on whats needed, what youre trying to accomplish. Varies.

Ropin1 · 06-24-2008, 04:42 PM

Thanks for the replies. I am off to the barn to see if he will eat it.

PeggySue · 06-24-2008, 05:01 PM

I couldnt' get my mareto eat over 2lbs at a time LOL she didn't like it real well she would eat it grudingly LOL and it did wonders at helping to pick her weight up when she lost on me

BriLeigh · 06-24-2008, 05:06 PM

I tried giving my mare beet pulp a long time ago and she hated it. I decided to start feeding it again a while back and now she can eat it plain. I feed the pellets, but I feed 2 cups in the morning and 2 cups at night (2 cups dry..I have no idea how much it is when it is soaked! it's a lot!!) lol

Ropin1 · 06-24-2008, 06:15 PM

Well, my horse LOVED it! He didn't even hesitate diving right into his feeder. I put a handful of alfalfa pellets in with it, I came back from the feed room and his dish was licked clean! every little morsel was gone.

He was giving me that look, like "0k, wheres the rest of it??"

I was planning on giving it to him once a day for now. In the evenings, since I board. Just until I get him eating it "dry". I feel bad asking the feed people to soak it,etc.. I go there everyday to ride him or sometimes just to check him out. So I am storing it here at my house for the time being. I can wet it here, by the time I get there & finish up riding it should be nice and soaked up.

Dawn · 06-24-2008, 06:25 PM

Some horses like it wet and some like it dry. They can even throw water on it just before giving it to him rather than having to deal with the time involved in letting it soak if he prefers it wet.

Also, if you start the horse off on soaked beet pulp (or any feed for that matter), and then suddenly switch to dry, that makes their risk of choke higher.

(Think of someone on a completely liquid diet. Then one day you give them a plate full of crackers to eat. They have to employ a completely different manner of chewing and swallowing. The horse can not reason through that and is likely to continue to try to eat it in the manner he would if it was wet.)

06-24-2008, 03:57 PM	#1
Ropin1 Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas - yee-haw Posts: 251 Images: 12	I picked some up Beet pulp shreds! I made my monthly trip to the feed store for the progressive run today and thought I might as well pick up some BP to give it a shot. Since I am trying to decrease and eventually remove oats and barley from his diet. Already got the corn out. I am just giving him a very small amount tonight of the BP (soaking right now) to see if he likes it. I have heard great things about the benefit of the BP (since I am not going with rice bran) Hopefully he will take to it. Picked up some alfalfa pellets too to add in with his RB and envision, slowly decreasing the O.B. (oat, barley) Imagine, my horse being grain free??!! So, heres my "token" BP question.. how much should I give him at full serving? I am only giving him approx. 2 handfuls tonight to see. lol! I know, not much.. But I get nervous when introducing new things to his diet.. just want to make sure!

06-24-2008, 04:09 PM	#5
CJ Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 5,735 Images: 48	Its good to start slow with BP and ramp up, lets them get used to it without a lot going to waste if they dont like it at first. I Started w/a double handful, soaked it, and ramped up to 2 cups dry/(makes) 2 qt soaked over @ 2 weeks. My 1000lb and the 800lb pony get 2c>soaked, and the arabs each get 1c>soaked, so like Dawn said, whats fed depends on whats needed, what youre trying to accomplish. Varies. __________________ One Mare Can Make a Difference Pinky Ribbon

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06-24-2008, 03:59 PM	#2
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,265 Images: 1386	How much depends greatly on how much he needs. Very good to start slowly with beet pulp. Not because of digestability issues, but because the texture is so different from anything most horses have had. If you add too much too fast, they'll often times turn their nose up at it.

06-24-2008, 04:02 PM	#3
Ropin1 Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas - yee-haw Posts: 251 Images: 12	Hes never been too picky..... the only thing he ever flat refused to eat was Safe n Sound.. go figure ehh?? lol! Is it true that BP can replace a % of hay? I read that somewhere, can't remember where... Boy, it sure is "ugly"

06-24-2008, 04:05 PM	#4
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,265 Images: 1386	Beet pulp is a source of long stem fiber so can be used as an alternative source of forage. The max amount to feed is 40% of the daily intake of forage.

06-24-2008, 04:42 PM	#6
Ropin1 Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas - yee-haw Posts: 251 Images: 12	Thanks for the replies. I am off to the barn to see if he will eat it.

06-24-2008, 05:06 PM	#8
BriLeigh Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 441 Images: 21	I tried giving my mare beet pulp a long time ago and she hated it. I decided to start feeding it again a while back and now she can eat it plain. I feed the pellets, but I feed 2 cups in the morning and 2 cups at night (2 cups dry..I have no idea how much it is when it is soaked! it's a lot!!) lol

06-24-2008, 06:15 PM	#9
Ropin1 Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas - yee-haw Posts: 251 Images: 12	Well, my horse LOVED it! He didn't even hesitate diving right into his feeder. I put a handful of alfalfa pellets in with it, I came back from the feed room and his dish was licked clean! every little morsel was gone. He was giving me that look, like "0k, wheres the rest of it??" I was planning on giving it to him once a day for now. In the evenings, since I board. Just until I get him eating it "dry". I feel bad asking the feed people to soak it,etc.. I go there everyday to ride him or sometimes just to check him out. So I am storing it here at my house for the time being. I can wet it here, by the time I get there & finish up riding it should be nice and soaked up.

06-24-2008, 06:25 PM	#10
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,265 Images: 1386	Some horses like it wet and some like it dry. They can even throw water on it just before giving it to him rather than having to deal with the time involved in letting it soak if he prefers it wet. Also, if you start the horse off on soaked beet pulp (or any feed for that matter), and then suddenly switch to dry, that makes their risk of choke higher. (Think of someone on a completely liquid diet. Then one day you give them a plate full of crackers to eat. They have to employ a completely different manner of chewing and swallowing. The horse can not reason through that and is likely to continue to try to eat it in the manner he would if it was wet.)