[skysthelimit]

Ok, so I explained everything i had on horse nutrition and my reasoning behind switching to TC 30% supplement and he said he'd look over it and see, altho he isn't 'convinced'. He did, however, have some questions about the beet pulp. He said he didn't understand how it could be used for weight gain when it's 6% protien, 0.3% fat and way high in fiber (not sure on exact percentages, just work with me here). So I said I'd ask.

Also, this man goes by books that were written before Christ was born, I swear. What's a good, highly descriptive equine nutrition book that I can get him?

He also said he tlaked to his granddaughter who feeds a million horses at a working barn and she said that she feeds some commercial feed (didn't specify, wish he had) and that if one needs to gain weight she just adds oil. He really thinks it's this simple. I'm not saying it's incredibly hard- but what am I missing? What can I tell him?

HELP ME!?!?!?! Thanks~Brit

[Xiphias]

Beet pulp, adds extra fiber, just like hay, but much more consentrated, if I am wrong....Cathy

[Sue B]

When a horse needs to gain weight it needs 2 things....extra calories and extra nutrients. If it cannot maintain on the hay it is eating, then some consideration of fiber-based calories goes a long way. That is, while the hay may not be the "ticket" to weight gain in some horses......better quality, highly digestible fiber can make the difference. In general, hay will be 750-850 calories/lb....beet pulp will be 1000 cal/lb. That is enough increase with a couple of pounds to get weight gain on some horses. While you may be able to get the same weigth gain (in some horses) with 3-5lbs of hay instead of the beet pulp....you also most likely won't. The reason may have something to do with the amount of calories that it takes to concume and convert hay as opposed to beet pulp. In other words....feedsstuff is also assigned a value of how much energy it takes to digest it. The easier it is to consume (less chewing and breaking down time) and digest (easier to breakdown and extract nutrients from) the more calories will be derived from it in comparison to the calories it took to consume/digest it).

Going beyond the calories....
Beet pulp is also a sort of "prebiotic". That is, it is a digestive aid because it helps keep feedstuff in the stomach longer...thus allowing for better digestion of other feedstuff that goes with it...and ultimately better absorption down the line.

Beet pulp has a low glycemic index (the lowest on the scale). This means that unlike sweet feeds or any grain-based feed, it will not cause an energy spike that is short lived and is the type that is looked for in sprint sports. The average horse of today needs a long, slow buring energy that it can use over the period of an entire day. This type of energy keeps lesson, endurance, trail and show horses focused and with a sustainable energty to get them through a long day. When this energy is not being used or excess calories of this type are fed, it is converted into fat for weight gain.

As for nutrient values.....current values reported from average tests are: Protein 9-10% and Fat 2-3%....these values are similar to those of quality hay. Beet pulp also fools us with its low glycemic index. It is still high in NSC (sugars in particular). Reported averages are around 35%....similar to many pelleted grain-based feeds. However, the primary carb in beet pulp is pectin. Pectin is digested differenly in the horse than other sugars such as fructans (which are an underlying cause of grass founder). I don't think that much research has been done on how pectin is utilized by the horse...but my guess would be that it probably stores it in a way that allows for weigth gain.

As for books.....the problem is that there are few books that address may of the cutting edge things that we talk about here. But, there are four that I would recommend: Equine Supplements and Nutriceuticals (Kellon) - this has individual breakdowns on each nutrient, its use, source, and repective nutrients it interacts with; Beyond the Hay Days....a simpler guide to overall feeding, but with good info on each nutrient....both of those are on Amazon.com. Storeys' Guide to Feeding Horses (www.foxdenequine.com)...I haven't seen that one...just heard many people recommend it. The most comprehensive and scientific would be the new NRC Guide to Horse Nutrition....also comes with a program to develop feeding programs with.

Hope that helps....

[skysthelimit]

you are the equine nutrition goddess. *bows down* ~Brit

[Sue B]

You are easily fooled! LOL

[Dawn]

Sue pretty much covered it all! Great info there.

Also with the oil (which sue touched on) it adds calories, but no nutrients. Also many horses will refuse to eat it (dealing with one myself right now), it's difficult to feed, globs in the winter, goes rancid in the summer. It's a mess. And on top of that, BOSS is almost always cheaper both by the lb and by calories and much more nutritious.

My favourite nutrition book out that's easy to understand is Storey's Guide to Feeding Horses. Now there's a lot that it doesn't contain, but it's very simple to understand and touches on a lot of the important issues. It does not go very in depth on forage based diets is its only drawback. But it does provide you with the tools to set up a forage based diet. Oops! Just saw that was what Sue recommended as well.

Beet pulp is also a good feedstuff to have as it works for the ones that need weight and the ones that don't. It provides extra calories and nutrition to the underweight horse. And you can give a handful (which will literally weigh ounces) to the overweight horse for your daily feeding check and to mix in any supplements with. You can soak it to make them feel as if they're getting more than they really are.

[karenddub]

Sue B: Thank you for such a well written explanation regarding beet pulp. I am printing out your piece to help me with my nutrition decisions. That is the most understandable piece on how beet pulp works that I have read. Good job!!!
karen

[nixalba]

Oh, Thank you so much for that!

I used to feed beet pulp for the "extra" that my horse wasn't getting from hay(simply because they didn't feed enough of it). But I was constantly told everyday I was there, that it was a useless filler and that it is high in sugar and bad for horses. So I stopped buying it, cuz nobody would feed it.

I am bookmarking the thread and I have pasted your post into my Equine Nutrition "library".

[Shotgun93]

that it is high in sugar and bad for horses

I was always told that too. But, just because it is a by-product of sugar beet doesn't mean that it contains sugar. After some research about the extrusion process, I can safely say that beet pulp is not high in sugar at all.

[Arabians4ME]

I have to second the Storey's Guide that Dawn reccomended. She reccomended it to me and I love it! It stays in my travel bag and goes everywhere with me!