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Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
 
| HHMMMM this was kind of an interesting article. I do feed beet pulp. What are peoples opinions on this?
http://holisticequine.blogspot.com/2013/06/is-beet-pulp-toxic-to-ho... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
| HERE IS THE ARTICLE instead of just the link...
Is Beet Pulp Toxic to Horses
As a holistic practitioner for more than 12 years, I have assisted more than 100 horse owners with equine diets and nutrition. I have studied and gained quite a bit of experience with equine veterinarian, Dr. Lee Miller, for fifteen years. It is my intention to share my personal experiences, both educational and in the field, regarding what I have learned about feeding beet pulp.
Nutrition and digestive processes affect performance and overall condition. Different feeds break down differently based on the horse. Some of these effects include lameness, arthritis, colic, and other health-related illnesses.
Many times feed companies and veterinarians will recommend beet pulp for COPD horses for added fiber, or as an alternate hay and grass source. Although beet pulp may present no problems in the short-term, there are no significant studies on the long-term effects. Please note that alot of horse owners feed beet pulp with no apparent problems, while other horse owners will have exhausted all treatment protocols and still not know why their horse has loose stools, stifles issues, hip problems.
Not looking at what they are feeding: so let's see what the expert vet in his field says and clear up the beet pulp issue once and for all:
Lon Leiws DVM-Feeding and Nutrition care of the Horse 1982 states quoted :
Excess amounts of oxalates ( form of salt) may be present in these plants-halogeteon, greasewood, BEETS, dock , rhubarb-(Beets =product beet pulp) - If the horse consistently eats theses plants over a LONG extendend period of time, calcium deficency will result. Insoulble oxalate crystals will deposit in the kidneys resulting in kidney damage - Could be the reason for the water molecules trying to flush the kidneys?
Beet pulp originates from sugar industry. It is an insoluble fiber, meaning that it does not interact with the body. It rushes through the intestines taking with it whatever supplements have been given. Simply put, it cannot be digested. It takes four molecules of water for the body to process beet pulp-adding water weight, and making the horse appear heavier. Once beet pulp is removed from the diet, the horse loses weight quickly, leading the owner to believe that the horse needs the beet pulp.
Dr. Joyce Harman of the Harmany Equine Clinic www.harmanyequine.com states that not all sugar can be eliminated from soaking the beets, therefore some remains in the pulp. Sugar contributes to insulin-resistance, and a condition known as Cushing's syndrome.
Like many other crops, sugar beets are treated with an extensive array of herbicides to limit weeds and grasses in the fields. The herbicides are absorbed by the beets. Nothing removes the chemicals from the pulp. In addition, growers top the beet plants with a chemical defoliant to kill back the tops before harvest. These chemicals also end up by-product beet pulp.
Dr. Eleanor Kellon, DMV, says that beet pulp is safe; it is washed with water to remove the solvents. However, the water only removes what is on the outside. The soaking process removes the sugar from the outside, but not the chemicals. Toxins are stored in the pulp not the juice.
Often, if the horse is unable to digest the beet pulp. Their hind-ends "shut down" and become weak. The common complaint being, "my horse has a weak hind-end."
Case in Kentucky - A lady emailed me about her paint that had been seen by vets, chiropractors, etc. to no avail her paint was weak from behind, bad stifles? He was 4yrs old they said arthritis, I said what are you feeding? Turns out she was feeding a product that was mostly beet pulp and rice bran. She took the paint off the feed, then sent a email stating her horse was moving much better and was able to ride him again.
A reputable event trainer, Katie Worley from Rock Solid Training Center, asked me to check her horses. I found was they were all weak in the hind-end, and Katie agreed. After looking at a tag from her feed, we found beet pulp listed as the third ingredient. After Katie took her horses off the beet pulp feed, she called to say they were using their hind-ends, and were much stronger.
Another owner, M.D. Kerns, wrote in to tell me about his horse which had been on beet pulp for nine months. "Although I was very skeptical at the onset, I am now prepared to admit that Bodhi is looking much different and much fit than he did when he was on the other feed. His coat looks good as ever and his waist (loss of all the water trapped in the hind-gut by the beet pulp fiber) is nearly back to its former Thoroughbred elegance and slimness, he is without a doubt the most handsome horse at the farm."
What does this all mean? Ask yourself these questions:
o Does my horse feel weak in the hind end?
o Are his hooves brittle?
o Does it seem like his stifles are weak?
o Does my horse appear to be lacking energy?
o What about the coat? Is it dull?
o Does my horse have loose stools? Are his stools loose or hard?
If you horse has any of these symptoms then:
Try the following for three months. Take your horse off beet pulp, and use good quality hay pellets, or grass hay, remembering to soak in water., for COPD horses- Make sure that your horse has access to free-choice minerals. In addition, read your feed labels. Most of them list "roughage by-products" which can actually contain beet pulp. Take a before and after picture, and really look at the hind-end. Notice how your horse moves after three months. I don't intend to offend anyone with this article if your horse is fine on beet pulp great, but if you are having any of theses symptoms you may take a look at what you are feeding.
Wouldn't you agree that prevention is far cheaper than the cost of treating health problems? We are our horse's caregivers. We owe it to them to be as knowledgeable and informed about what we put into them.
Lorrie Bracaloni is a certified holistic practitioner helping horse owners. Lorrie has received certifications in the following areas of equine health and preventative care: equine lameness and nutrition, acupressure massage and herbology, homeopathics, essential oils, and nutritional reflexology, energy body balancing, equine chiropractic techniques, and muscle injuries and trigger point stress relief therapy. She is currently the holistic consultant for Horsenet Rescue in Mt. Airy, Maryland, helping neglected and abused horses recover to optimal health. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
 
| I feed beet pulp too. Definitley something to reseach. I have fed it for over 3 years and I get compliments on how well my horses look and asked what my feed program is. I don't feed grain with it but a ration balancer. I am defintely not a feed guru but some of her dislikes is what I like about wet molasses free beet pulp, the high fiber and that it moves through them. My horses do not have any of the negative signs that she said to look for. In the summer months they do not get very much at all with all the grazing mine have.
Edited by rodeomom3 2014-03-06 8:14 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| If you feed too much of any one thing, it can then result in a toxicity of sorts.
Do your own research, contact a state extension agent in your local area to help you balance your rations to avoid toxicity. I have fed beet pulp with no bad side issues - but I made sure that my ration was balanced and the horse was getting everything it required.
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 Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | I didn't read the article, but beet pulp, like a lot of by-products, is way out of balance in the calcium/phos ratio. It's possible to get a big deficiency, to the point of being fatal. Much more common in cattle being fed distillers products or other by-products, but the possibility exists in horses. Supplemental Phos is important when feeding higher rates of beet pulp. If it's used as a supplement to a grain ration, the grains usually can balance it fairly well.
**Reread what I wrote...edited to correct my statement.
Edited by RockinGR 2014-03-06 12:39 PM
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | lindseylou2290 - 2014-03-06 8:37 AM If you feed too much of any one thing, it can then result in a toxicity of sorts. Do your own research, contact a state extension agent in your local area to help you balance your rations to avoid toxicity. I have fed beet pulp with no bad side issues - but I made sure that my ration was balanced and the horse was getting everything it required. I know for a fact our local county extension agent for agriculture knows less about feeding horses than I do. When someone calls him with a question, he calls me.  
Edited by Three 4 Luck 2014-03-06 9:34 AM
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Blessed 
Location: Here | no |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| I wouldnt put too much merit on a "holistic" blogger. No real research in the article to support this claim imo. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Most of the evidence is anecdotal, which by itself is okay, but should be backed up by some numbers or a study.
I prefer beet pulp based feeds. When my horses are NOT on it, they are weak in the back end, dull and listless, with bad coats. |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I thought the oxilates were in the green parts of the plant. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Lorrie Bracaloni is a certified holistic practitioner helping horse owners. Lorrie has received certifications in the following areas of equine health and preventative care: equine lameness and nutrition, acupressure massage and herbology, homeopathics, essential oils, and nutritional reflexology, energy body balancing, equine chiropractic techniques, and muscle injuries and trigger point stress relief therapy. She is currently the holistic consultant for Horsenet Rescue in Mt. Airy, Maryland, helping neglected and abused horses recover to optimal health.
reasoning being................^^^^^^^
Im all for holistic and natural but...........
we all have "opinions" and mine is differant then hers..
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | 1982 states quoted :
I think maybe things have advanced/researched more since 1982. That being said, I know that my old horse with muscle dystrophy from EPM has never done better in the winter. This year was the first that I fed him soaked beet pulp and the difference has been very noticeable. I am going to keep feeding it.
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | This article is not science
that lady has no credentials
Don't believe everything you read on the internet. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | Triple Crown posted this on their Facebook account the other day.
We love beet pulp! Do you? Listed below are a few reasons why. Can you add any more to the list?
1. Forage extender during hay shortages
2. Highly digestible- "super fiber!"
3. Low NSC product- (average: 12% NSC)
4. Great fiber source for horses with poor teeth
5. DE (digestible energy) higher than hay and equal to oats with much lower NSC!
6. Provides additional H20 when soaked! |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Beet Pulp is a great addition to the horses diet.. and if soaked or watered down.. adds fluids to the horses gut as well as helps push sand out..and many more reasons to feed it..
people have opinions and blogs.. its just their right to do so... but id not give it ANY merit. |
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 Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Water can be toxic if you drink too much. |
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Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | LRQHS - 2014-03-06 11:33 AM Water can be toxic if you drink too much.
What about Vodka? |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | So she quotes something from the 80s
She has had 100 clients in 12 YEARS? SERIOUSLY? I'm pretty sure this lady has to have a day job unless she gets like 5-10 G's per client each year
Then all the evidence is theory and anecdote
I could be like "I put this rock in my horse's stall and no bears have attacked him. The rock must be keeping them away, ermageherd" and that would be just as scientific as her conclusions
Alison out |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | 3canstorun - 2014-03-06 10:36 AM LRQHS - 2014-03-06 11:33 AM Water can be toxic if you drink too much. What about Vodka?
Vodka too and, most definitely, NyQuil......there's a limit to everything sadly lol. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | barrelracr131 - 2014-03-06 10:37 AM So she quotes something from the 80s She has had 100 clients in 12 YEARS? SERIOUSLY? I'm pretty sure this lady has to have a day job unless she gets like 5-10 G's per client each year Then all the evidence is theory and anecdote I could be like "I put this rock in my horse's stall and no bears have attacked him. The rock must be keeping them away, ermageherd" and that would be just as scientific as her conclusions Alison out
That's all I needed to hear! The Scientist has spoken.
Jennifer out. |
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Folks on-line