Fast Fibre or Speedibeet?

[Orchardbeck]

I'm reading 'Feet First', which recommends us to be wary of flash dried forage and free flowing bagged chaff due to the number of chemicals used in their production.

I'm feeding top chop lite at the min along with top spec senior balancer and magnesium but I wondered if there would be any benefit in swapping to either fast fibre or speedibeet, (along with the balancer) and if there is any overiding benefit of of one over the other.

I'm mostly feding haylage so it would only be a small amount, my horse is barefoot and has been for years but I want to get her diet to be as good as it can be. I've noticed a massive difference since switching back to the balancer, she seems to have lost years!

 

[482739]

Funnily you mention the chemicals in chaffs etc, since mine was on box rest for a while with a odd abscess in the leg, she went off her chaff. She was also being fed graze on by the bucket to make sure she was eating, so I swapped to fast fibre & her balancer & she has always been girthy & grumpy, but since this fast fibre she hasn't so much as put her ears back at me! I'm at a loss as to why, but she seems very content at the minute.

 

[TGM]

Speedibeet is just micronised unmolassed beet and is relatively high in calories at 12.4 MJDE/kg.

Fast Fibre is a compound feed comprising beet pulp, straw and various other ingredients and it is supplemented with vit/mins. It is low in calories at about 8 MJDE/kg.

So Speedibeet is probably a better choice for poor and medium doers, whereas Fast Fibre might be a better option for a fatty.

 

[nic85]

Speedibeet is just micronised unmolassed beet and is relatively high in calories at 12.4 MJDE/kg.

Fast Fibre is a compound feed comprising beet pulp, straw and various other ingredients and it is supplemented with vit/mins. It is low in calories at about 8 MJDE/kg.

So Speedibeet is probably a better choice for poor and medium doers, whereas Fast Fibre might be a better option for a fatty.

This

I tried fast fibre on my mare but I found it a waste of Money. She isnt a particularly good doer, she is managing well on adlib hay and 2 feeds a day consisting of Baileys No 4, Hi fi Lite ( low sugar) and Speedi Beet (low sugar)

I think fastfibre is great for good doers prone to Lami though.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Speedibeet is just micronised unmolassed beet and is relatively high in calories at 12.4 MJDE/kg.

Fast Fibre is a compound feed comprising beet pulp, straw and various other ingredients and it is supplemented with vit/mins. It is low in calories at about 8 MJDE/kg.

So Speedibeet is probably a better choice for poor and medium doers, whereas Fast Fibre might be a better option for a fatty.

I agree. Fast fibre is more for bulking out feeds for fatties. I don't feed either now unless she has worked hard and I add some speedi beet in. I'd like to feed it for the calories but it makes her mad unless in hard work.

I feed cool stance copra, micronised linseed and adlib hay.

 

[amandap]

I've noticed a massive difference since switching back to the balancer, she seems to have lost years!

One of mine has responded this way since starting a good balancer. I would use the speedibeet as well. You can increase it if needed for more more energy with no need to introduce anything else unless energy needs become high aka heavy/hard work.

 

[Orchardbeck]

Decisions, decisions! Mine is normally a good doer, she lost a lot of weight over the winter through illness this year but is generally a fatty if not managed. She is currently looking a bit too well in my opinion, so i'm hoping to cut anything extra other than the balancer out, but I need something to mix the mag ox in with or she won't eat it. The fast fibre is looking good at the min, but there seems to be no point in giving her something that has additional vits and mins in.

I have used speedibeet in the past and it is cheaper, plus lasts a long time, especially in the quantities I will be feeding it.

Grr, I have a half bag of Calm and Condition that I used to build her up which i'm too scared to use now - she's starting to go a tiny bit cresty. Cushings test I think...