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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
  
Location: Texas | So I've been feeding it(pellet form) for a week now, at first I was feeding it dry because I read that is was okay and he is only getting a small amount anyways. Then I read a forum on here from awhile ago and have started soaking it over night or for several hours. It expands a significant amount, about 5-7 handfuls expanded to fill half of a 5 gallon bucket.. is that too much? Should I buy the shreds instead? Will those expand less? I'm wanting my horse to gain some weight as he's about 50 pounds under where I think he should be. The barn owner said he was eating slower this morning and he hadn't drank a lot of water so im worried its the beet pulp. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
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Location: Kansas | How much per feeding are you wanting to give him? I've fed both pellets and shreds. I prefer shreds over pellets any day. They don't expand quite as much as a pellet would, and I can soak them 30 minutes before feeding. |
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Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | hoofs_in_motion - 2016-01-19 1:35 PM How much per feeding are you wanting to give him? I've fed both pellets and shreds. I prefer shreds over pellets any day. They don't expand quite as much as a pellet would, and I can soak them 30 minutes before feeding.
as little as I can while still making a difference, I really need to measure how much of everything im feeding in weight terms because idk any numbers, I just go by scoops. He gets 3/4 scoop of strategy healthy edge, 1/2 scoop alfalfa pellets and 1/4 scoop of the beet pulp but I was hoping to replace the alfalfa with beet as he gets several flakes of hay and turnout on a nice pasture and I figured the beet pulp would be a better source of energy and help him gain some weight. |
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| If you have to question what you are feeding ...
DON'T FEED IT !!
Especially anything made from leftover trash when they manufacture food for humans or ethanol ..
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Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | BARRELHORSE USA - 2016-01-19 2:09 PM If you have to question what you are feeding ... DON'T FEED IT !! Especially anything made from leftover trash when they manufacture food for humans or ethanol ..
WTF....where are you getting that beet pulp was made from trash?
You've got to be flipping kidding me....AGAIN!!!!!!!
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | When I feed beet pulp I soak it but not over night. Like I put it in the bucket and put water in it and let it sit for maybe 15 - 20 minutes and then feed it. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | outrundaizy - 2016-01-19 2:01 PM
hoofs_in_motion - 2016-01-19 1:35 PM How much per feeding are you wanting to give him? I've fed both pellets and shreds. I prefer shreds over pellets any day. They don't expand quite as much as a pellet would, and I can soak them 30 minutes before feeding.
as little as I can while still making a difference, I really need to measure how much of everything im feeding in weight terms because idk any numbers, I just go by scoops. He gets 3/4 scoop of strategy healthy edge, 1/2 scoop alfalfa pellets and 1/4 scoop of the beet pulp but I was hoping to replace the alfalfa with beet as he gets several flakes of hay and turnout on a nice pasture and I figured the beet pulp would be a better source of energy and help him gain some weight.
I would propose the question what makes you think it would be better? In many ways they are similar, both being a source of highly digestible fiber, but with alfalfa requiring no soaking and being actual forage, which is closer to what a horse is designed to eat (that may or may not be an important factor to you).
Personally, I am not a fan of beet pulp (not saying it is bad or crap, and it has a huge following). To me, it is overshadowed by alfalfa pellets or cubes and is usually more expensive. Finally, beet pulp is low in nutrients (poor source of trace minerals and contains low levels of antioxidant vitamins A and E), compared to alfalfa, which is somewhat a super food, loaded with high quality nutrients (naturally high in many essential vitamins and minerals, including A, D, E, K, and even the full family of B vitamins; biotin, calcium, folic acid, iron, magnesium, potassium and many others, as well as being very high in protein).
Edited by Tdove 2016-01-19 2:56 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Anytime you make a change in feed, including soaking, they may eat slower until they get used to it. He make drink less too if you are soaking because he got more water from the beet pulp and doesn't need to drink as much. Beet pulp is actually a great way to get some water into one that hasnt been drinking enough. They always drink less in winter anyway. Do you want to stick your nose down into freezing cold water?? Personally I prefer the shreds to pellet. When we feed it we soak just before (it can ferment if done the night before). And while alfalfa is certainly more nutritious sometimes when you want to feed a bulk forage to keep the gut moving beet pulp is better. Alfalfa is so nutrient and protein rich they are more likely to founder on it if overfed. You can feed more of the beet pulp without this risk. |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | One man's trash is another man's treasure. I have fed beet pulp for almost 10 years and it has never let me down. Its a great source of fiber and aids in sand removal. It's also a great forage source to feed to horses that are ulcery.
Because of where I live, I prefer to feed shreds in the winter, as they can be soaked and fed fairly quickly. In the summer, when I can leave the bucket sit for a bit, while I ride, I like feeding the pellets. I find them to be much cleaner than the shreds and I feel you get more bang for your buck because they do expand.
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Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | oija - 2016-01-19 2:51 PM Anytime you make a change in feed, including soaking, they may eat slower until they get used to it. He make drink less too if you are soaking because he got more water from the beet pulp and doesn't need to drink as much. Beet pulp is actually a great way to get some water into one that hasnt been drinking enough. They always drink less in winter anyway. Do you want to stick your nose down into freezing cold water?? Personally I prefer the shreds to pellet. When we feed it we soak just before (it can ferment if done the night before). And while alfalfa is certainly more nutritious sometimes when you want to feed a bulk forage to keep the gut moving beet pulp is better. Alfalfa is so nutrient and protein rich they are more likely to founder on it if overfed. You can feed more of the beet pulp without this risk.
Thats what I was thinking. He isnt use to having feed soaked so im sure he just probably wasn't thirsty. I really just want him to gain weight, but im thinking beet pulp isn't gonna be the answer for that one.. Is there anything better I can add to help him gain some weight? I could up his grain but he's on the amount he's suppose to be on for the weight he should be, not the weight he is. He was doing fine and then the vet he was staying at didn't feed him properly and we are trying to recover from this. |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | They will only take in so much water a day. So if you are giving him that much water with the beet pulp he is going to drink less. I have never added water to by beet pulp. You don't add it to your hay and it is just as dry. You guys way over think this water deal. Wild mustangs go all day without water and eating dry grass. |
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Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | outrundaizy - 2016-01-19 3:31 PM
oija - 2016-01-19 2:51 PM Anytime you make a change in feed, including soaking, they may eat slower until they get used to it. He make drink less too if you are soaking because he got more water from the beet pulp and doesn't need to drink as much. Beet pulp is actually a great way to get some water into one that hasnt been drinking enough. They always drink less in winter anyway. Do you want to stick your nose down into freezing cold water?? Personally I prefer the shreds to pellet. When we feed it we soak just before (it can ferment if done the night before). And while alfalfa is certainly more nutritious sometimes when you want to feed a bulk forage to keep the gut moving beet pulp is better. Alfalfa is so nutrient and protein rich they are more likely to founder on it if overfed. You can feed more of the beet pulp without this risk.
Thats what I was thinking. He isnt use to having feed soaked so im sure he just probably wasn't thirsty. I really just want him to gain weight, but im thinking beet pulp isn't gonna be the answer for that one.. Is there anything better I can add to help him gain some weight? I could up his grain but he's on the amount he's suppose to be on for the weight he should be, not the weight he is. He was doing fine and then the vet he was staying at didn't feed him properly and we are trying to recover from this.
Beet pulp is great to add bulk and forage affordably but won't put the weight on one as much. You need to add a high quality fat source, stabilized rice bran, flax seed, or oil, just not corn. It can make one a bit hyped but nothing puts weight on one faster than Ultium in my experience. Most commercial feeds have 3-6 percent fat. It is 10 percent. Anytime one is underweight too, usually a good idea to check teeth, worm and check or treat for ulcers. ETA: Ultium is a beet pulp based feed.
Edited by oija 2016-01-19 4:10 PM
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The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | oija - 2016-01-19 4:08 PM outrundaizy - 2016-01-19 3:31 PM oija - 2016-01-19 2:51 PM Anytime you make a change in feed, including soaking, they may eat slower until they get used to it. He make drink less too if you are soaking because he got more water from the beet pulp and doesn't need to drink as much. Beet pulp is actually a great way to get some water into one that hasnt been drinking enough. They always drink less in winter anyway. Do you want to stick your nose down into freezing cold water?? Personally I prefer the shreds to pellet. When we feed it we soak just before (it can ferment if done the night before). And while alfalfa is certainly more nutritious sometimes when you want to feed a bulk forage to keep the gut moving beet pulp is better. Alfalfa is so nutrient and protein rich they are more likely to founder on it if overfed. You can feed more of the beet pulp without this risk. Thats what I was thinking. He isnt use to having feed soaked so im sure he just probably wasn't thirsty. I really just want him to gain weight, but im thinking beet pulp isn't gonna be the answer for that one.. Is there anything better I can add to help him gain some weight? I could up his grain but he's on the amount he's suppose to be on for the weight he should be, not the weight he is. He was doing fine and then the vet he was staying at didn't feed him properly and we are trying to recover from this. Beet pulp is great to add bulk and forage affordably but won't put the weight on one as much. You need to add a high quality fat source, stabilized rice bran, flax seed, or oil, just not corn. It can make one a bit hyped but nothing puts weight on one faster than Ultium in my experience. Most commercial feeds have 3-6 percent fat. It is 10 percent. Anytime one is underweight too, usually a good idea to check teeth, worm and check or treat for ulcers. ETA: Ultium is a beet pulp based feed.
Ultium is a wonderful feed. I fed it along with Amplify and alfalfa to help my hard keeper gain weight.
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | For those of you that feed it what adjustments if any do you make for the high calcium in Beet Pulp? Beet pulp was the second thing I was told NOT to feed my mare when she was diagnosed with kidney stones, the first being alfalfa...the 3rd was getting a water filter for the hose to the tank because of our high mineral content in our water.
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | BS sHauler - 2016-01-19 5:03 PM They will only take in so much water a day. So if you are giving him that much water with the beet pulp he is going to drink less. I have never added water to by beet pulp. You don't add it to your hay and it is just as dry. You guys way over think this water deal. Wild mustangs go all day without water and eating dry grass. We soak it to prevent choke .. Cram a handful of crackers in your mouth and not drink.. ok... also when they eat beet pulp dry their saliva makes it moist and it expands.. Im not talking about mixing a lil with grain Im talking 1/4 scoop or more.. also hay isnt the texture nor does it expand with water.. I can not even believe someone compares the 2... with that said I like my horses to get extra fluid in their gut so always add water.. and that way its expanded as well.. with that said remember its fiber so horse may decrease water and hay intake..
Edited by Bibliafarm 2016-01-19 5:32 PM
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | outrundaizy - 2016-01-19 3:01 PM
hoofs_in_motion - 2016-01-19 1:35 PM How much per feeding are you wanting to give him? I've fed both pellets and shreds. I prefer shreds over pellets any day. They don't expand quite as much as a pellet would, and I can soak them 30 minutes before feeding.
as little as I can while still making a difference, I really need to measure how much of everything im feeding in weight terms because idk any numbers, I just go by scoops. He gets 3/4 scoop of strategy healthy edge, 1/2 scoop alfalfa pellets and 1/4 scoop of the beet pulp but I was hoping to replace the alfalfa with beet as he gets several flakes of hay and turnout on a nice pasture and I figured the beet pulp would be a better source of energy and help him gain some weight.
Light work 1000 lb horse your feed calls for 6.5 lbs.theres no way 3/4 scoop weighs 3 1/4 lbs You are not feeding enough unless your horse is smaller?? Your feed also contains beet pulp in it already.Do you have access to tribute feeds? |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | As far as weight, a 3 quart scoop holds between 3.2 -3.8 pounds of most brands of pelleted feed. As far as beet pulp, I had a horse with good teeth that didn't bolt his feed that bad choke twice on literally just a handful of beet pulp shreds. In winter, especially if it stays below freezing for any amount of time, horses are much more prone to colic from not drinking enough. I add water to their feed anyhow this time of year at least one time a day as a colic preventative. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | run n rate - 2016-01-19 5:38 PM For those of you that feed it what adjustments if any do you make for the high calcium in Beet Pulp? Beet pulp was the second thing I was told NOT to feed my mare when she was diagnosed with kidney stones, the first being alfalfa...the 3rd was getting a water filter for the hose to the tank because of our high mineral content in our water.
I think as with any thing there are certain conditions that have to steer clear of certain things.. my vet recommends beet pulp but mine have no kidney issues.. I do not feed large amounts of protein although their body flushes the excess, the kidneys have to work harder.. I feed a 12 -10 and 2 flakes alfalfa with the coastal or perineal peanut. and add soaked beet pulp.. |
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Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2016-01-19 4:32 PM oija - 2016-01-19 4:08 PM outrundaizy - 2016-01-19 3:31 PM oija - 2016-01-19 2:51 PM Anytime you make a change in feed, including soaking, they may eat slower until they get used to it. He make drink less too if you are soaking because he got more water from the beet pulp and doesn't need to drink as much. Beet pulp is actually a great way to get some water into one that hasnt been drinking enough. They always drink less in winter anyway. Do you want to stick your nose down into freezing cold water?? Personally I prefer the shreds to pellet. When we feed it we soak just before (it can ferment if done the night before). And while alfalfa is certainly more nutritious sometimes when you want to feed a bulk forage to keep the gut moving beet pulp is better. Alfalfa is so nutrient and protein rich they are more likely to founder on it if overfed. You can feed more of the beet pulp without this risk. Thats what I was thinking. He isnt use to having feed soaked so im sure he just probably wasn't thirsty. I really just want him to gain weight, but im thinking beet pulp isn't gonna be the answer for that one.. Is there anything better I can add to help him gain some weight? I could up his grain but he's on the amount he's suppose to be on for the weight he should be, not the weight he is. He was doing fine and then the vet he was staying at didn't feed him properly and we are trying to recover from this. Beet pulp is great to add bulk and forage affordably but won't put the weight on one as much. You need to add a high quality fat source, stabilized rice bran, flax seed, or oil, just not corn. It can make one a bit hyped but nothing puts weight on one faster than Ultium in my experience. Most commercial feeds have 3-6 percent fat. It is 10 percent. Anytime one is underweight too, usually a good idea to check teeth, worm and check or treat for ulcers. ETA: Ultium is a beet pulp based feed.
Hmm I think I'm gonna skip the beet pulp and try this.. I really like the amplify and the healthy edge already has it in there, do you feed ultium competition or ultium growth? |
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Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | outrundaizy - 2016-01-20 1:12 AM WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2016-01-19 4:32 PM oija - 2016-01-19 4:08 PM outrundaizy - 2016-01-19 3:31 PM oija - 2016-01-19 2:51 PM Anytime you make a change in feed, including soaking, they may eat slower until they get used to it. He make drink less too if you are soaking because he got more water from the beet pulp and doesn't need to drink as much. Beet pulp is actually a great way to get some water into one that hasnt been drinking enough. They always drink less in winter anyway. Do you want to stick your nose down into freezing cold water?? Personally I prefer the shreds to pellet. When we feed it we soak just before (it can ferment if done the night before). And while alfalfa is certainly more nutritious sometimes when you want to feed a bulk forage to keep the gut moving beet pulp is better. Alfalfa is so nutrient and protein rich they are more likely to founder on it if overfed. You can feed more of the beet pulp without this risk. Thats what I was thinking. He isnt use to having feed soaked so im sure he just probably wasn't thirsty. I really just want him to gain weight, but im thinking beet pulp isn't gonna be the answer for that one.. Is there anything better I can add to help him gain some weight? I could up his grain but he's on the amount he's suppose to be on for the weight he should be, not the weight he is. He was doing fine and then the vet he was staying at didn't feed him properly and we are trying to recover from this. Beet pulp is great to add bulk and forage affordably but won't put the weight on one as much. You need to add a high quality fat source, stabilized rice bran, flax seed, or oil, just not corn. It can make one a bit hyped but nothing puts weight on one faster than Ultium in my experience. Most commercial feeds have 3-6 percent fat. It is 10 percent. Anytime one is underweight too, usually a good idea to check teeth, worm and check or treat for ulcers. ETA: Ultium is a beet pulp based feed.
I looked and it says ultium also has the amplify in it, do you add extra amplify on top of that? |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | outrundaizy - 2016-01-20 1:17 AM
outrundaizy - 2016-01-20 1:12 AM WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2016-01-19 4:32 PM oija - 2016-01-19 4:08 PM outrundaizy - 2016-01-19 3:31 PM oija - 2016-01-19 2:51 PM Anytime you make a change in feed, including soaking, they may eat slower until they get used to it. He make drink less too if you are soaking because he got more water from the beet pulp and doesn't need to drink as much. Beet pulp is actually a great way to get some water into one that hasnt been drinking enough. They always drink less in winter anyway. Do you want to stick your nose down into freezing cold water?? Personally I prefer the shreds to pellet. When we feed it we soak just before (it can ferment if done the night before). And while alfalfa is certainly more nutritious sometimes when you want to feed a bulk forage to keep the gut moving beet pulp is better. Alfalfa is so nutrient and protein rich they are more likely to founder on it if overfed. You can feed more of the beet pulp without this risk. Thats what I was thinking. He isnt use to having feed soaked so im sure he just probably wasn't thirsty. I really just want him to gain weight, but im thinking beet pulp isn't gonna be the answer for that one.. Is there anything better I can add to help him gain some weight? I could up his grain but he's on the amount he's suppose to be on for the weight he should be, not the weight he is. He was doing fine and then the vet he was staying at didn't feed him properly and we are trying to recover from this. Beet pulp is great to add bulk and forage affordably but won't put the weight on one as much. You need to add a high quality fat source, stabilized rice bran, flax seed, or oil, just not corn. It can make one a bit hyped but nothing puts weight on one faster than Ultium in my experience. Most commercial feeds have 3-6 percent fat. It is 10 percent. Anytime one is underweight too, usually a good idea to check teeth, worm and check or treat for ulcers. ETA: Ultium is a beet pulp based feed.
When I was feeding my 37 year old the Purina Sr, I added Amplify on top of what was already in it. |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Add Forco to feed. If the gut flora ain't right not much will make a difference. I feed corn oats vitamin E and soy mix .They look like fat piggys |
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The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | outrundaizy - 2016-01-20 1:12 AM WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2016-01-19 4:32 PM oija - 2016-01-19 4:08 PM outrundaizy - 2016-01-19 3:31 PM oija - 2016-01-19 2:51 PM Anytime you make a change in feed, including soaking, they may eat slower until they get used to it. He make drink less too if you are soaking because he got more water from the beet pulp and doesn't need to drink as much. Beet pulp is actually a great way to get some water into one that hasnt been drinking enough. They always drink less in winter anyway. Do you want to stick your nose down into freezing cold water?? Personally I prefer the shreds to pellet. When we feed it we soak just before (it can ferment if done the night before). And while alfalfa is certainly more nutritious sometimes when you want to feed a bulk forage to keep the gut moving beet pulp is better. Alfalfa is so nutrient and protein rich they are more likely to founder on it if overfed. You can feed more of the beet pulp without this risk. Thats what I was thinking. He isnt use to having feed soaked so im sure he just probably wasn't thirsty. I really just want him to gain weight, but im thinking beet pulp isn't gonna be the answer for that one.. Is there anything better I can add to help him gain some weight? I could up his grain but he's on the amount he's suppose to be on for the weight he should be, not the weight he is. He was doing fine and then the vet he was staying at didn't feed him properly and we are trying to recover from this. Beet pulp is great to add bulk and forage affordably but won't put the weight on one as much. You need to add a high quality fat source, stabilized rice bran, flax seed, or oil, just not corn. It can make one a bit hyped but nothing puts weight on one faster than Ultium in my experience. Most commercial feeds have 3-6 percent fat. It is 10 percent. Anytime one is underweight too, usually a good idea to check teeth, worm and check or treat for ulcers. ETA: Ultium is a beet pulp based feed.
I fed and still feed Ultium competition.
During the weight gain stage I fed 3 lbs of Ultium, a pound of Amplify, 3 cups of pelleted beet pulp (3 cups dry then soaked), free choice brome grass hay, and about 2 flakes of alfalfa per day. Within 60 days he was looking like a million bucks and was feeling like it too.
His maintenance feed (when he is being ridden consistently) is about 2 cups of beet pulp, 1 pound of Ultium, and free choice native grass. I also started adding Platinum CJ this last summer and very much like the results.
His winter ration is 2 cups of beet pulp (dry then soaked), Platinum, free choice hay, and alfalfa. This winter he has held his weight great, so I haven't added the Ultium. I will wait until he starts getting exercised regularly to add that back in because it gives them A LOT of energy.
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | I used to feed the pellets because I got more for the money, but have switched to shreds because they are easier.
When I fed pellets, I soaked them for maybe 30 minutes or so (until they were "fluffy" and no longer in pellet form). Yes, they expand to take up at least double the space they do when dry. I would fill the bucket halfway with pellets, and then fill the water all the way to the top. They absorb A LOT of water.
With the shreds, I put them in the bucket, pour in the water (I fill the water to the top of the shreds, not the top of the bucket) and then immediately feed, I don't leave them soaking. Partly because I put them in my horse's bucket, then put his feed on top, so by the time he eats his feed, the shreds have had a chance to soak.
You can feed them dry, but it's not recommended because your horse can choke. If a horse eats dry beet pulp (shreds or pellets), it won't make their stomach explode when it expands, I don't know where that myth even came from. Honestly, choking is your biggest concern when feeding it dry, but lots of horses eat it dry with no problem.
I read somewhere once that you can replace up to 40% of a horse's forage with beet pulp, so you are definitely not feeding too much.
Edited by Gunner11 2016-01-20 9:06 AM
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | outrundaizy - 2016-01-19 3:31 PM
oija - 2016-01-19 2:51 PM Anytime you make a change in feed, including soaking, they may eat slower until they get used to it. He make drink less too if you are soaking because he got more water from the beet pulp and doesn't need to drink as much. Beet pulp is actually a great way to get some water into one that hasnt been drinking enough. They always drink less in winter anyway. Do you want to stick your nose down into freezing cold water?? Personally I prefer the shreds to pellet. When we feed it we soak just before (it can ferment if done the night before). And while alfalfa is certainly more nutritious sometimes when you want to feed a bulk forage to keep the gut moving beet pulp is better. Alfalfa is so nutrient and protein rich they are more likely to founder on it if overfed. You can feed more of the beet pulp without this risk.
Thats what I was thinking. He isnt use to having feed soaked so im sure he just probably wasn't thirsty. I really just want him to gain weight, but im thinking beet pulp isn't gonna be the answer for that one.. Is there anything better I can add to help him gain some weight? I could up his grain but he's on the amount he's suppose to be on for the weight he should be, not the weight he is. He was doing fine and then the vet he was staying at didn't feed him properly and we are trying to recover from this.
Senior feed. You can feed much larger amounts at one time than what you're feeding now. Splitting it into two or more feedings per day is ideal. |
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Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2016-01-20 8:59 AM
outrundaizy - 2016-01-20 1:12 AM WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2016-01-19 4:32 PM oija - 2016-01-19 4:08 PM outrundaizy - 2016-01-19 3:31 PM oija - 2016-01-19 2:51 PM Anytime you make a change in feed, including soaking, they may eat slower until they get used to it. He make drink less too if you are soaking because he got more water from the beet pulp and doesn't need to drink as much. Beet pulp is actually a great way to get some water into one that hasnt been drinking enough. They always drink less in winter anyway. Do you want to stick your nose down into freezing cold water?? Personally I prefer the shreds to pellet. When we feed it we soak just before (it can ferment if done the night before). And while alfalfa is certainly more nutritious sometimes when you want to feed a bulk forage to keep the gut moving beet pulp is better. Alfalfa is so nutrient and protein rich they are more likely to founder on it if overfed. You can feed more of the beet pulp without this risk. Thats what I was thinking. He isnt use to having feed soaked so im sure he just probably wasn't thirsty. I really just want him to gain weight, but im thinking beet pulp isn't gonna be the answer for that one.. Is there anything better I can add to help him gain some weight? I could up his grain but he's on the amount he's suppose to be on for the weight he should be, not the weight he is. He was doing fine and then the vet he was staying at didn't feed him properly and we are trying to recover from this. Beet pulp is great to add bulk and forage affordably but won't put the weight on one as much. You need to add a high quality fat source, stabilized rice bran, flax seed, or oil, just not corn. It can make one a bit hyped but nothing puts weight on one faster than Ultium in my experience. Most commercial feeds have 3-6 percent fat. It is 10 percent. Anytime one is underweight too, usually a good idea to check teeth, worm and check or treat for ulcers. ETA: Ultium is a beet pulp based feed.
During the weight gain stage I fed 3 lbs of Ultium, a pound of Amplify, 3 cups of pelleted beet pulp (3 cups dry then soaked), free choice brome grass hay, and about 2 flakes of alfalfa per day. Within 60 days he was looking like a million bucks and was feeling like it too.
His maintenance feed (when he is being ridden consistently) is about 2 cups of beet pulp, 1 pound of Ultium, and free choice native grass. I also started adding Platinum CJ this last summer and very much like the results.
His winter ration is 2 cups of beet pulp (dry then soaked), Platinum, free choice hay, and alfalfa. This winter he has held his weight great, so I haven't added the Ultium. I will wait until he starts getting exercised regularly to add that back in because it gives them A LOT of energy.
Yes Ultium competitions. Growth is only until they are 2 year olds.
I fed this stuff pretty heavy to get him to gain weight. I fed something like 12 lbs a day divided over two feedings with free choice coastal. He gained a tremendous amount of weight in like 45 days. Then I backed him down to more like 7 lbs and he maintained weight really well. We also wormed him and I do add Forco now to our horses getting grain to help them get everything out of their feed they can. |
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Beet pulp question