Sugar Beet Soaking Time?

[3Beasties]

I've just changed from Speedi beet to normal sugar beet (shredded form).

It's been so long since I fed it I always thought it was 12 hours but the bag tells me otherwise.....how long do you soak it for

 

[*hic*]

I normally set it out the night before I want to use it and make a couple of days supply at a time because that is what is convenient for me. When I forget to put the water on it experience gained over the past 40 years tells me that you can put plenty of boiling water on it to expand it fast and then cool it off with plenty of cold water and have it ready in well under an hour.

 

[moana]

I make a new lot when I feed the current lot, so 24 hours. Not sure it does need that long, but it could be twelve hours minimum.

 

[TelH]

What does it say on the bag? I only feed speedibeet atm but my BHS days (many years ago now) taught me for ordinary sugar beet 1 part sugar beet to 2.5 parts water soaked for 12hrs for shreds, and 1 part sugar beet to 4 parts water soaked for 24 hours for cubes.

 

[3Beasties]

The bag says 24 hours which seems excessive to me but I don't want to risk feeding it after less time if its going to do him any harm.

It makes it difficult as I feed him twice a day. This evening I have finished the soaked lot so have put more on for tomorrow but if the bag is correct it won't be ready to feed in his morning feed. I'd rather not have two lots on the go at once (one soaked and one soaking!).

 

[*hic*]

I'd say it's time to use a bit of experimentation then! Weigh out two identical amounts, and put them into the same amount of water. Strain one and weigh it after 12 hours, strain the other and weigh it after 24 hours. If the weights are drastically different then it didn't absorb as much water as it could have after 12 hours. Which would surprise me.

Then bear in mind that there are horse feeds which contain a small amount of dried sugar beet and are designed to be fed with no soaking . . .