This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding » Beet Pulp »
  Discussion on Feeding beet pulp and oil
Author Message
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Friday, Jan 15, 2010 - 11:29 am:

Dr. O

In doing some research on beet pulp and oil I came across this article. In your article on beet pulp there is a link which took me to this site.
It sounds like it is saying the addition of oil is best for preventing a rise in sugar, so might be best for horses which are insulin resistant.
Is that right?
Also, while most articles I have found on beet pulp do list it as being high in calcium and low in phosphorus only your article recommends feeding bran to counter the imbalance. (It makes sense to me)
Are you aware of any studies or other research that suggests to add bran when beet pulp is fed?
Thank you for your help.

High-grain diets for the exercising horse were compared with diets which provided 15% of the total caloric intake from either vegetable oil or a highly fermentable fibre source (beet pulp). Six Thoroughbreds age 3 years were fed one of 3 diets or 5 weeks in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square. The CONTROL diet was 3.65 kg of sweet feed (SF), 0.9 kg of a protein/vitamin/mineral pellet and 5.45 kg of hay cubes. The FAT diet replaced 1.15 kg of SF with 0.45 kg of soybean oil and the FIBRE diet replaced 1.15 kg of SF with 1.36 kg of beet pulp. Horses were exercised 3 times per week on a high-speed treadmill. During the last week of each period, the horses performed a standardised exercise test (SET). A series of blood samples was drawn immediately before feeding and every 0.5 h for 3 h after feeding, throughout the exercise bout and 30 min post exercise. Plasma was analysed for lactate, glucose, cortisol, insulin, packed cell volume, total protein and triglycerides. Water intake was measured at regular intervals during SET day. Blood glucose was lower (P < 0.05) in the FAT-fed horses during the 3 h post feeding as compared to either CONTROL or FIBRE-fed horses. Insulin was lower (P < 0.05) in the FAT-fed both post feeding and throughout exercise. Cortisol was lower (P < 0.05) in the FAT than the CONTROL-fed during exercise. Following exercise, the FAT-fed drank more water (P < 0.01) than either CONTROL or FIBRE-fed. Substituting 15% of DE as vegetable oil had a greater effect on metabolic response to exercise than a 15% substitution of beet pulp.
Member:
mjq1

Posted on Friday, Jan 15, 2010 - 8:35 pm:

Lori, The Horse Journal also has articles on feeding beet pulp and wheat bran to balance the cal/phos. The formula is as follows: For ever lb of beet pulp dry weight, you add 1/4lb of wheat bran dry weight. That is the correct balance. You can purchase the articles on their website, but I have followed their 'recipe' for years.
I also always soak my mash in hot water for at least 1 hour before feeding to avoid choke.
Member:
ptownevt

Posted on Saturday, Jan 16, 2010 - 3:23 pm:

I don't know where you are, but in Vermont we can buy a flaked beet pulp with added soy oil. It is made by Poulin grains. It has no molasses or sugar in it and the horses love it. They do not like plain soaked beet pulp. The flaked stuff soaks in about 15 to 20 minutes. It's great stuff.
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Saturday, Jan 16, 2010 - 4:21 pm:

Monica, I will do a search and see if I can find Horse Journal. That is exactly what I was looking for.

Dr. O has very good articles on feeding, which principles I have adopted.
I have been looking for feeding principles similar to his.

thank you.
Member:
juliem

Posted on Sunday, Jan 17, 2010 - 12:04 am:

I wouldn't rely on Horse Journal for anything that needs to be scientific! Their conclusions are really just product endorsements based on subjective and anecdotal reports from miniscule studies--none of which meet any standard of peer review. Something as basic as adding bran to beet pulp is probably totally safe, but please don't rely on this publication for anything more serious. Better to rely on Dr. Oglesby and his articles. I'd like to hear his opinion on this publication??
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jan 17, 2010 - 11:52 am:

Hello Lori,
It does not take a scientific experiment to know that bran complements the beet pulp, each filling important nutritional voids of the other. It is not just Cal/Phos that is aided but the lowish amount of protein in the beet pulp is also boosted by the bran.

Julie, I was a founding subscriber of Michael Plumb's Horse Journal and enjoyed for years the discussions on training and tack he provided. It seemed around the time of Mr. Plumb's departure it began publishing anecdotal experiences and small studies that came to conclusions that struck me as.... unlikely and often I did not think the anecdote or experimental design tested well for the conclusions they came to. I discontinued my subscription largely because of this. That is not to say I have ever seen them publish anything harmful and I am sure there are Lot's of very horse knowledgeable folks there and the advice Monica writes about above is consistent with our recommendations, but we have questioned and advised against several of their medical recommendations over the years.
DrO
Member:
mrose

Posted on Sunday, Jan 17, 2010 - 12:24 pm:

Dr. O, you and me both re: the Horse Journal. I kept all my copies of it and still refer to them from time to time. I also feel it went "down hill" when it was sold and no longer suscribe. Also, there are more site on the web with good, reliable information, yours and thehorse.com being the best imo.
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Sunday, Jan 17, 2010 - 1:39 pm:

I didn't mean any disrespect. I do rely on HA for my info.
I guess I am not good at asking questions. Mu op was confusing, I mixed two topics.


It does seem pretty obvious to add bran to beet pulp after looking at thier respective contents however,
I have a friend who refuses to because in all the articles she has read on feeding beat pulp none of them mention adding bran.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jan 17, 2010 - 4:42 pm:

No disrespect taken Lori!
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC