Beets for horses
Sugar beets
Horses find sugar beets very tasty. However, sugar beets straight from the field are not suitable for horses. Sugar beet consists of around 20% sugar, which is too much for horses. Too much sugar can contribute to insulin resistance, and horses with insulin resistance are at higher risk of developing laminitis. Some horses also get gas colic from too much sugar.
When sugar is produced, the sugar is separated from the beet, leaving beet pulp and molasses (sugar syrup) as by-products.
Beet pulp can be given to horses as feed. Please note that horses should only be given soaked beet pulp to prevent choke.
Beet pulp
Beet pulp is a by-product of sugar beet. Horses usually find beet pulp very tasty because it still contains a little sugar.
The protein content in beet pulp is quite low and the calcium content is high. The special thing about beet pulp is that it contains pectin, a particular fibre. Pectin is a complex carbohydrate that cannot be digested by enzymes in the small intestine, but the bacteria in the hindgut can break it down quickly and easily. This type of fibre supports the growth of beneficial bacteria, which can make it a good addition to the ration.
Beet pulp has got a bad name with some people because it can cause problems in dried form. Dried beet pulp absorbs a lot of water in a short period of time. During chewing, the beet pulp swells and after swallowing, it can block the oesophagus. Choke must be resolved quickly and this is not always easy. Therefore, never feed dry beet pulp to horses.
You can feed beet pulp by soaking it in plenty of water, about 5 litres of water for every 1 kg of dry pulp. Do not let soaked beet pulp stand for more than 12 hours, to prevent it from spoiling and becoming unpalatable. A horse can be given 1-2 kg (dry weight) of beet pulp a day.
Feeding fodder beets
Horses can be fed fodder beets directly from the field. However, the sand must be removed from the beets to prevent sand colic.
Fodder beets contain mostly moisture and a little sugar. Due to the large amount of moisture, it is better not to feed too many beets a day, to prevent loose manure. 4 to 5 per day is a good amount. When the manure becomes too loose, it is wise to reduce the amount.
Beets can be given whole, so that horses are kept occupied for a while, as beets are difficult to chew.
