lillie07
Well-Known Member
The fact that my mare coliced quite badly as others on here have would suggest we are not that behind the times and it really can't be that good. I also do not see the benefits?!
Feeding unsoaked sugar beet? *URGENT*
- Thread starter Boodle
- Start date
Tia
Well-Known Member
Firstly - absolutely wonderful to hear that you will be looking after the horses again. I'm so pleased for you.
Secondly; the only real risk with feeding sugar beet dry is the threat of choke, due to the waxy residue left on the pellets.
Many, many vet studies have been conducted on the use of feeding dry sugar beet pellets over the past decade - it's a complete myth and fallacy that feeding it dry can cause colic. If the horse develops colic then generally the cause is feeding a new feed without introducing it gradually and as with any new feed, has the capacity to shock the system.
So long as the horse doesn't choke during the swallowing of it or develop laminitis due to the high sugar content, then he will be absolutely fine, colic-wise, if this has been a usual feed stuff for him over the past few days.
Don't worry - and terrific news.
Secondly; the only real risk with feeding sugar beet dry is the threat of choke, due to the waxy residue left on the pellets.
Many, many vet studies have been conducted on the use of feeding dry sugar beet pellets over the past decade - it's a complete myth and fallacy that feeding it dry can cause colic. If the horse develops colic then generally the cause is feeding a new feed without introducing it gradually and as with any new feed, has the capacity to shock the system.
So long as the horse doesn't choke during the swallowing of it or develop laminitis due to the high sugar content, then he will be absolutely fine, colic-wise, if this has been a usual feed stuff for him over the past few days.
Don't worry - and terrific news.
ISHmad
Well-Known Member
Well the dead horse who I practically fell over was certainly killed as a result of being fed dried sugarbeet nuts. So call me old fashioned but you will never get me feeding it anything other than soaked, double soaked and soaked again...
TGM
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
In a study referred to in Lon Lewis' "Feeding and Care of the Horse, 2nd ed.", ponies were fed dehydrated beet pulp, up to a level of 45 percent of their total diet, with no ill effects whatsoever. Not only did they not explode, but they also suffered no signs of colic, nor did the water content in their manure change. However, most people prefer to soak beet pulpit's more palatable that way and less likely to cause choke.
It's on this site
[/ QUOTE ] Have read that before - doesn't really make it clear what form the beet pulp was fed in. Was it in shreds or in nut form? I presume that the nuts are much more compressed than the shreds. Therefore, if the study was based on feeding shreds, then the results may not be the same if you feed compressed beet nuts.
In a study referred to in Lon Lewis' "Feeding and Care of the Horse, 2nd ed.", ponies were fed dehydrated beet pulp, up to a level of 45 percent of their total diet, with no ill effects whatsoever. Not only did they not explode, but they also suffered no signs of colic, nor did the water content in their manure change. However, most people prefer to soak beet pulpit's more palatable that way and less likely to cause choke.
It's on this site
[/ QUOTE ] Have read that before - doesn't really make it clear what form the beet pulp was fed in. Was it in shreds or in nut form? I presume that the nuts are much more compressed than the shreds. Therefore, if the study was based on feeding shreds, then the results may not be the same if you feed compressed beet nuts.
harvgj19
Well-Known Member
Glad you are back with your boys, and glad to see Pally is ok. I'm sure he is certainly thrilled to see you!
Lol at the huge bed with banks and as much hay as you could fit!!
What about Billy boy? Is he ok?
Lol at the huge bed with banks and as much hay as you could fit!!
What about Billy boy? Is he ok?
brighteyes
Pooh-Bah
It's great to hear you are back in charge again. It's choke you have to watch out for and if it hasn't happened yet, they'll be fine. They chew the nuts and pellets to dust and any dangerous swelling up happens in the gullet - hence the likelihood of choke in greedy horses not chewing properly. This applies to any feedstuff not properly mashed up by the teeth!
I was drilled about the dangers of unsoaked sugarbeet but time has moved on and studies have indeed shown that feeding the unsoaked product is safe. They don't appear to soak it in America. Many years ago, my friend's horse Kate, ate a third of a bag of dry shreds (I love the smell of those!) and depite my initial horror, she suffered no ill-effects at all!
Keep us updated and perhaps tell us how you got to be in the driving seat again? They don't know how bl00dy lucky they are..........
I was drilled about the dangers of unsoaked sugarbeet but time has moved on and studies have indeed shown that feeding the unsoaked product is safe. They don't appear to soak it in America. Many years ago, my friend's horse Kate, ate a third of a bag of dry shreds (I love the smell of those!) and depite my initial horror, she suffered no ill-effects at all!
Keep us updated and perhaps tell us how you got to be in the driving seat again? They don't know how bl00dy lucky they are..........