SPEEDI - BEET |
from Feeding MythsHorse Feeding Myths and Misconceptions (http://www.southernstates.com/articles/feeding-horse-myths.aspx )"Beet Pulp Must Be Soaked Before Feeding or Your Horse Will Explode"
by Dr. Martin Adams, PAS – Equine Nutritionist for Southern States
There have been persistent myths that if beet pulp is not soaked before feeding, it will swell and block the esophagus or rupture the horse's stomach,. Because beet pulp seems to "grow" or expand its volume greatly after water is added, the idea is that beet pulp could soak up enough saliva or gastric fluid so quickly that it could expand enough to occlude the esophagus or rupture the stomach. Beet pulp may soak up water like a sponge, but it can't soak up saliva quickly enough to cause a choke. Choke associated with beet pulp is usually associated with a rapid eating rate (bolting) and inadequate chewing, inadequate access to water, a raised feeder (not at ground level) with inadequate chewing, and particle size (pelleted and finely shredded beet pulp are the worst for causing a choke).
Dr. Martin Adams, PAS – Equine Nutritionist for Southern States
It is also not likely that dry beet pulp will rupture the horse's stomach. The horse's stomach hold 2 to 4 gallons, which has the capacity to hold 4.5 to 9.5 pounds of dry beet pulp, which is much more than most horse owners would feed in a single meal. And most food that travels into the stomach passes into the small intestine in 15 minutes or less, and it normally takes longer than that to thoroughly soak beet pulp for it to fully expand. The 40 to 50 gallon capacity of the horse's digestive system is more than sufficient to handle even a large meal of dry beet pulp. And the horse will voluntarily drink enough water to process any feedstuff that is low in moisture content, like hay or dry beet pulp, as well as adding water from additional salivary flow with more chewing required for fibrous feedstuffs. So you don't have to soak beet pulp prior to feeding. Research conducted at several universities fed rations with up to 50% dry beet pulp content of the diet to horses without choke or other problems. Also, many tons of shredded beet pulp are added to horse feeds and fed right out of the bag each year with few problems. If you don't soak beet pulp before feeding, make sure that you feed close to ground level to provide proper chewing action and provide the horse with as much fresh, clean water as desired.
Although soaking beet pulp before feeding is not necessary, there are some good reasons for soaking before you feed it. Soaking beet pulp makes it easier to chew, especially for older horses with missing or worn teeth. Soaked beet pulp is more palatable and provides a good medium to add supplements or medications. If your horse bolts his feed, doesn't have adequate access to water, or if your feeder is not close to ground level, soaking beet pulp before feeding will reduce the chance of choke. And any manufactured horse feed containing beet pulp or other added fiber that has been out of the bag for awhile will likely be dry as the water in any added molasses will evaporate over time, so add some water to it. This will improve its palatability and reduce the risk of choke.
by Dr. Martin Adams, PAS – Equine Nutritionist for Southern States
There have been persistent myths that if beet pulp is not soaked before feeding, it will swell and block the esophagus or rupture the horse's stomach,. Because beet pulp seems to "grow" or expand its volume greatly after water is added, the idea is that beet pulp could soak up enough saliva or gastric fluid so quickly that it could expand enough to occlude the esophagus or rupture the stomach. Beet pulp may soak up water like a sponge, but it can't soak up saliva quickly enough to cause a choke. Choke associated with beet pulp is usually associated with a rapid eating rate (bolting) and inadequate chewing, inadequate access to water, a raised feeder (not at ground level) with inadequate chewing, and particle size (pelleted and finely shredded beet pulp are the worst for causing a choke).
Dr. Martin Adams, PAS – Equine Nutritionist for Southern States
It is also not likely that dry beet pulp will rupture the horse's stomach. The horse's stomach hold 2 to 4 gallons, which has the capacity to hold 4.5 to 9.5 pounds of dry beet pulp, which is much more than most horse owners would feed in a single meal. And most food that travels into the stomach passes into the small intestine in 15 minutes or less, and it normally takes longer than that to thoroughly soak beet pulp for it to fully expand. The 40 to 50 gallon capacity of the horse's digestive system is more than sufficient to handle even a large meal of dry beet pulp. And the horse will voluntarily drink enough water to process any feedstuff that is low in moisture content, like hay or dry beet pulp, as well as adding water from additional salivary flow with more chewing required for fibrous feedstuffs. So you don't have to soak beet pulp prior to feeding. Research conducted at several universities fed rations with up to 50% dry beet pulp content of the diet to horses without choke or other problems. Also, many tons of shredded beet pulp are added to horse feeds and fed right out of the bag each year with few problems. If you don't soak beet pulp before feeding, make sure that you feed close to ground level to provide proper chewing action and provide the horse with as much fresh, clean water as desired.
Although soaking beet pulp before feeding is not necessary, there are some good reasons for soaking before you feed it. Soaking beet pulp makes it easier to chew, especially for older horses with missing or worn teeth. Soaked beet pulp is more palatable and provides a good medium to add supplements or medications. If your horse bolts his feed, doesn't have adequate access to water, or if your feeder is not close to ground level, soaking beet pulp before feeding will reduce the chance of choke. And any manufactured horse feed containing beet pulp or other added fiber that has been out of the bag for awhile will likely be dry as the water in any added molasses will evaporate over time, so add some water to it. This will improve its palatability and reduce the risk of choke.