AQHA Magazine January / February 2019 Jan_Feb_2019_WEBSITE | Page 34

Benefits of Beet Pulp for Horses
Article kindly supplied by Kentucky Equine Research
Fibre fermentation in the hindgut provides the horse
with energy to grow, work, and play. The fiber fraction of
a horse’s 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. One
such forage alternative is beet pulp. According to Kath-
leen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist at Kentucky Equine
Research, “Beet pulp is an energy-rich source of digesti-
ble fiber that helps promote a healthy microbial popula-
tion in the hindgut.”
Beet pulp is a byproduct of the sugar beet industry. Sugar
beets are grown and harvested to make sucrose and sug-
ar, and beet pulp is the plant material left over once the
sugar has been removed. Because of the processing, beet
pulp contains minimal sugar.
“Dried beet pulp products are usually available with or
without added molasses. The sugar content of unmolas-
sed beet pulp shreds is less than 10%, making it a safe
feed for horses that need a low-sugar diet. Shreds with
added molasses contain, on average, less than 15% sug-
ar,” explained Crandell.
Beet pulp is considered a prebiotic, meaning it is bene-
ficial to the millions of microbes in the horse’s hindgut.
A robust, well-functioning microbiome contributes to
overall health. Despite its prebiotic benefit, beet pulp
should never be the sole fiber source of the diet. Beet pulp
is low in protein (typically 8-10% crude protein) and rich
in calcium but is devoid of vitamins and low in other min-
erals. 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.
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 ap-
proximately 0.5-0.6 pounds). Byproducts of microbial
fermentation of beet pulp in the hindgut include volatile
fatty acids, or VFAs, which are absorbed and turned into
energy. This energy does not cause a spike in glucose or
insulin and is released slowly for a more steady supply.
Beet pulp is a common ingredient in commercial grain
concentrates because of its energy density and benefit to
the microbiome.
Beet pulp can also be used as a top-dressed supplement.
Soaking is recommended because beet pulp holds mois-
ture, making it useful for adding water to the digestive
system*. Dry shreds will not swell in the throat or stom-
ach when fed appropriately. 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.
In summary, beet pulp is an option for adding energy
and promoting digestive health in horses. Contact a KER
nutrition advisor for advice on whether beet pulp is right
for your horse.
*Moore-Colyer, M.J.S., J.J. Hyslop, A.C. Longland, and D.
Cuddeford. 2002. The mobile bag technique as a method for
determining the degradation of four botanically diverse
fibrous feedstuffs in the small intestine and total digestive
tract of ponies. British Journal of Nutrition 88:729-740.
34 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • January • February • 2019