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Discussion on Beet pulp and alfalfa cubes vs pellets
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Member:
stek
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 - 11:55 am:
I feed free choice grass hay and a small amount of concentrate and alfalfa pellets (about a pound each per horse per day divided into two feedings). I have had two chokes in the last two weeks from the alfalfa pellets, so was thinking of soaking them, but when I tried it they turn into kind of a wet compact alfalfa powder .. very hard to scoop out of a bucket!
I add soaked beet pulp and rice bran for extra energy and moisture in the winter months and was thinking of combining the alfalfa pellets with the beet/bran soak since that has a nice oatmeally consistency. I was also thinking alfalfa cubes might soak better as they seem to be a coarser 'chopped' product rather than finely ground like the pellets.
Any opinions or suggestions?
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 - 5:01 pm:
Shannon I don't know if the brand makes a difference, but The cubes I tried were so hard they wouldn't completely "mush" down even after 24 hrs. they were still like bricks!
I switched to the pellets and they are Great!! Maybe you didn't use enough water or let them sit long enough? I feed mine the pellets twice a day, after I feed I water the next batch down right away, so they soak about 10hrs. min. For a cup of pellets I add about 2 cups of water and it turns into perfect "mush" about soaked beet pulp consistency. I use the Standlee Brand.
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 - 5:38 pm:
Hi Shannon, I make my horsey suppers in their own buckets so if it soaks a bit longer sometimes and gets mushy I don't have to scoop it out and the horses really don't seem to care what the consistency is as long as they get it.
During the winter I mix alfalfa and beet pulp for my hard keeper, I also add oil, bran and mineral to it.
She took a long time, several months, to get used to 'wet' food, her mom took about one mouthful to adjust.
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Member:
stek
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 - 7:07 pm:
Thanks for the input guys.
Maybe I will try adding more water, I was filling a bucket about half full with pellets and then filling water to double the volume, so about equal amounts of pellets and water, and letting it sit for 24 hours. I feed a somewhat local brand from Oregon, not sure of the name. I haven't had any problems for the last couple years feeding it but then two chokes in two weeks .. sigh, I guess like anything else it works till it doesn't.
When the weather is cool enough for things not to get 'fermenty' I like to mix up a big bucket of mash, enough for two or 3 feedings. Then when I feed I measure dry concentrate in the bottom of the bucket and top with the slop so it all comes out of the feed bucket into the feeder without sticking to the bottom. I used to pre-make the soaked feed in individual buckets but the more horses we have the more cumbersome that turned out to be.
Funny how each step in the daily horse routine is a specific ritual with a purpose behind it. No wonder my husband would rather not do chores for me 
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New Member:
kittycat
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 - 7:21 pm:
Hi-My barn manager mixes 1 scoop each beat pulp and alfalfa cubes and HOT water to cover. She insists that the water is HOT. It does seem to break down better with hot rather than cold water. If it is a little dry we will add more water.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 - 9:47 pm:
Hot water does seem to work better, but when leaving it sit for 12-24 hrs it seems to get an "off" smell. I have used hot water in a pinch when I forget to soak their next meal and don't have as much time.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 - 8:40 am:
For those feeding significant amounts of beet pulp, especially if you feed alfalfa also, you should review Horse Care » Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding » Beet Pulp to learn how to balance the Ca/Phos problem with beet pulp.
DrO
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