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| just wondering what is better for weight? I've read lots of threads and post and there really isn't any one or the other answer.
so, what adds weight the best?
i was told beet pulp gives one more energy that alfalfa cubes but i also read.. why feed your horse something that you can leave in the barn for years and rats won't even eat. i also read beet pulp isn't a fattener its a filler, that if you stop feeding it your horse will loose the weight that the beet pulp made it look like he's gained?
i know alfalfa is good protein and good for ulcers but again i need what best weight wise. but will put the weight on quick. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I tried beet pulp but didn't see any changes with the horses, but it did fill in a nervous show heifer's flanks. I get better results with the Omni cubes. With the show heifer, I eventually got her to gain weight when I feed her cooked oats and barley, if that helps at all. |
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| GLP - 2016-05-12 5:58 PM
I tried beet pulp but didn't see any changes with the horses, but it did fill in a nervous show heifer's flanks. I get better results with the Omni cubes. With the show heifer, I eventually got her to gain weight when I feed her cooked oats and barley, if that helps at all.
yes thats the same problem I'm having with a gelding, by no means is he under weight but his flanks aren't filled out at all. he has free choice hay and water 24-7 |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Barrelhorsehelp1 - 2016-05-12 6:48 PM
GLP - 2016-05-12 5:58 PM
I tried beet pulp but didn't see any changes with the horses, but it did fill in a nervous show heifer's flanks. I get better results with the Omni cubes. With the show heifer, I eventually got her to gain weight when I feed her cooked oats and barley, if that helps at all.
yes thats the same problem I'm having with a gelding, by no means is he under weight but his flanks aren't filled out at all. he has free choice hay and water 24-7
I have a young mare like that. I feed her Omni cubes, grass hay and Cur Ost Rejuvenate. The Cur Ost took care of the sucked up flanks. This mare has never been fat, but not ribby, just always sucked up in the flanks. |
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 Jr. Detective
 
Location: Beggs, OK | Barrelhorsehelp1 - 2016-05-12 6:48 PM GLP - 2016-05-12 5:58 PM I tried beet pulp but didn't see any changes with the horses, but it did fill in a nervous show heifer's flanks. I get better results with the Omni cubes. With the show heifer, I eventually got her to gain weight when I feed her cooked oats and barley, if that helps at all. yes thats the same problem I'm having with a gelding, by no means is he under weight but his flanks aren't filled out at all. he has free choice hay and water 24-7
You may be on the right track with what you're feeding...You just need to look at some digestive support. We've recently started using OE Align and even my horses that I thought couldn't look better have bloomed! |
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 Veteran
Posts: 262
| Have you had his teeth checked and floated? Almost every horse that I have had its teeth floated gained weight. I do my horses every spring. It's worth it. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | I agree with checking teeth but I suggest rice bran instead. Gave it to all three of my horses when I was in high school and they were all filled out and happy; one was a 20+ horse that had a rough life before she met me and in the four years I owned her four teeth fell out of her mouth and she did great with her weight on rice bran. |
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| Yes teeth have been done. And he isn't under weight by any means, just his flanks are sucked in and I want them filled out. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | either will be good but soak them .. and add more water.. I use both together |
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 Regular
Posts: 76
Location: North Carolina | I use both. 2/3 beet pulp, 1/3 alfalfa cubes/pellets. Make sure you soak it very thoroughly, I've had a few horses choke on it when it wasn't properly soaked. |
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| Whole oats and alfalfa is like eating spaghetti steaks .......... you got the calories, protein and bloom all at the same time .... and a well balanced feed program ..
Beet pulp is trash from human food processing for sugar and it makes the body hold fluids to make it look like horse is fat ... yuck
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | I feed both together. Soaked
Edited by hoofs_in_motion 2016-05-13 3:56 PM
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 Brains Behind the Operation...
Posts: 4543
Location: Arizona | Both have their benefits and can help put weight on one depending on the reason they're not gaining/maintaining to begin with. Beet pulp is a good source of fiber, and a significant portion of that fiber is in the form of pectin (the stuff they add to jelly to make it... well... gel.... lol). Pectin is considered a prebiotic, which means the beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract (probiotics) like to eat it. So if a horse is unthrifty because there is an issue with the gut flora, beet pulp might help them gain weight. Quality alfalfa is an excellent source of protein and provides a fairly complete amino acid profile. So if the horse is lacking in protein, alfalfa can help them gain weight. You'll usually notice an overall lack of muscle tone & meat on the topline if they need more protein. Then you have your fats; rice bran, flax, vegetable oil, etc. Fat supplementation can also help with topline weight, coat health and overall "bloom." Personally, I like to feed a mixture of all of them if I have one that needs a little extra: soaked beet pulp, alfalfa pellets, vegetable oil, & a scoop of mineral supplement (I use Purina 12:12 loose minerals). I have put a lot of weight on horses in 6-8 weeks with this blend. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | I think a good alfalfa cube is superior in every way to beet pulp. Much more cost effective as well (at least where I live). Alfalfa is a super food being high in almost all vitamins and minerals. Beet pulp is low in trace minerals, most vitamins, and selenium. It is also much worse in Ca:Ph than even alfalfa and is not long stem fiber. Combined with the dryness and extra time and effort to soak. I do not have any use for it in s feed program, because alfalfa is just so much better nutritionally.
Edited by Tdove 2016-05-16 9:41 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | BOTH, I add soaked beet pulp to my feed every am and pm and I give my hard keeper half a bucket of soaked alfalfa cubes, they are not only good for weight but my mare didn't drink a lot so I added a lot of water to the cubes so she was getting hydrated at the same time.
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 Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7616
Location: Dubach, LA | Only bad chokes I've ever had were with soaked beet pulp. Never again. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | CanCan - 2016-05-16 8:45 AM Only bad chokes I've ever had were with soaked beet pulp. Never again.
I always add extra water... never had any issue with it on any horses..
the reason I told her as well to add extra water was because sometimes when horses are dehydrated their flanks get sucked up... that or ulcers will do this as well.. |
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beet pulp vs alfalfa cubes