Soaked beet pellets ... numpty question!!

G

Greylegs

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 December 2011
Messages
3,257
Visit site
Having just moved my boy to a new yard, I am now much more in control of what he eats and am thinking of introducing some form of soaked beet, to up the fibre content and bulk of his feeds a bit. He's a highland, a very good doer and unshod, so he's on Happy Hoof, with a measure of Baileys Lo Cal Balancer added. The soaked beet will also damp the feed down a bit.

So ... numpty question ... once the dry beet pellets are soaked, how long will the soaked mash last for before going off or being otherwise not good to feed? Do I need to soak a measure fresh every day, or can i do a bucket full every few days/week?

Thanks all.
 
It depends on the outside temperature really it would be ok for a few days at the moment. You would be better to use one of the non molassed flaked versions anyway (I'm not aware of any non molassed pellets) which soak in about 15 min anyway.
 
ester said:
It depends on the outside temperature really it would be ok for a few days at the moment. You would be better to use one of the non molassed flaked versions anyway (I'm not aware of any non molassed pellets) which soak in about 15 min anyway.
Click to expand...

Equibeet is unmollassed pellets, and only just over half the price of the quick soak version. Not easy to find in our area which is the reason I got an account with a wholesaler. If anyone is close enough to collect (Market Drayton area) I can get you some.
Back to the question - if you keep it cool, maybe a couple of days, but my old fussy mare won't eat stale if it is more than 12 hours old!
 
In warmer weather, no more than a couple of days. But once the colder weather arrives, mine is made up and used over a period of a few days. I use 24 hour soak beet so only use it when it's really cold.
 
I feed speedibeet and in summer only soak the amount for that feed (if having any) - it ferments very quickly. I actually keep my soaking bucket in a polystyrene box with lid to retain cool in summer and stop freezing in winter. In winter I make enough for 3 or 4 feeds ie 24 hours only - again cos it goes sour.
 
You can smell it if it is fermenting, a yeasty smell. Obviously keeps better overnight. If it is going to take some time to properly soak, do enough for 24 hours last thing in the evening and keep covered.
 
I use the Equibeet it says soak for 24 hours but I have used it after about 12 and its fine, and once soaked it seems ok for a few days maybe not so long in hot weather.
 
I soak it in a bucket, use for two days then on the third day use the remainder in the soaking bucket as the base for that day's feed. That way you don't end up stretching it longer than a few days, no excuse to lose track of the days plus you get the added benefit of having the bucket nearly clean at the end of it - scrubbing out sugarbeet buckets is a bit like breakfast cereal bowls where you left them till tea time to wash!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top