The sugar beet/bran calcium:phosphorous ratio debunk?

VioletStripe

VioletStripe

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Happy Sunday folks!

So, I'm thinking about adding some unmolassed sugar beet into my horse's diet. He's currently on ad-lib hay, Hifi and a vits and mins supplement, but as his work is increasing, I'm looking to add something a little extra... anyway, my question is this -

I know that with bran, you're supposed to add sugarbeet to balance out the calcium to phosphorous ratio. But, does this then have to work vice versa - ie, if you feed sugar beet, you should also add some bran?

I know this seems like a super novicey question - I'd never done it before, as I haven't usually fed anything more than hay and chaff, but it just occurred to me last night.
I've also heard that recently, people have stopped feeding sugar beet with bran anyway... and to be honest, I never really feed a bran mash unless my horse is unwell and will refuse to eat anything else!

So, thoughts? Could someone clear this up for me?
 
Many, many years ago we used to feed bran daily almost like chaff is used today and then on a Monday the horses would have a bran mash. I haven't fed bran for decades though. I use unmollased sugar beet in winter and never thought of adding bran.

I'm not sure if sugar beet would be my first port of call for adding a little extra.
 
eggs said:
Many, many years ago we used to feed bran daily almost like chaff is used today and then on a Monday the horses would have a bran mash. I haven't fed bran for decades though. I use unmollased sugar beet in winter and never thought of adding bran.

I'm not sure if sugar beet would be my first port of call for adding a little extra.
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At my old yard the horses would get bran once a week every Sunday! Not my personal preference, but it was a yard rule as such.


What would you recommend then? I'd thought about grass nuts... My horse is a relatively good doer, never had a problem with him being overweight, though - he's always had plenty of work. He's also had problems with ulcers in the past, though, (thanks to yard mentioned above^) so I'm very wary about adding in any cereals etc.
 
Sugar beet is one of a number of ways of adding calcium to offset the heavy phosphorous load in bran if fed regularly. (Limestone flour is better). But there is no need to add anything to sugar beet.
 
I have one who has three largebran mashes a day until last week he was getting six .( it's the that recently broke his rib it's a long story ) and I add some speedibeet to every feed .
But I would not add bran to speedibeet there's no need .
 
The supposedly high level of phosphorous in Bran is rather a red herring. Oh yes its in there alright ,but research has shown that most of it is unavailable as it is bound up with phytins.
 
I would try just try speedibeet if it fits in and see if it helps your horse .
Grass nuts are also a good choice .
The high calcium in alfalfa make it a good choice for ulcer prone horses needing more energy .
 
Count Oggy said:
No need at all. Phosphorus inhibits the absorption of calcium which is why the addition of beet or limestone flour is recommended.
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But sadly , this is all complete cock because the basic science of the availability of phosphorous in bran is that it it is non available.
 
Mike007 said:
But sadly , this is all complete cock because the basic science of the availability of phosphorous in bran is that it it is non available.
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Sorry should have said that traditional thinking is that phosphorous inhibits absorption of calcium. But op does not need to add bran to beet to balance out which is what she was asking. BTW. Do you have a link to this new way of thinking. Could be a good lesson for older pony campers who've always been taught that bran needs calcium.
 
Sadly its not a new way of thinking , I got taught it way back in the 70 ,s at university . sadly and typically, the vested interests in the equine world ignore anything that stands between them and a fast buck.For heaven sakes dont just believe me , search ! The truth is out there agent Molder!
 
Mike007 said:
Sadly its not a new way of thinking , I got taught it way back in the 70 ,s at university . sadly and typically, the vested interests in the equine world ignore anything that stands between them and a fast buck.For heaven sakes dont just believe me , search ! The truth is out there agent Molder!
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Ha ha ha. I'll check it out. I thought this was new research. Sadly I was being taught the traditional way as late as the early 2000's and the BHS still examine this way as far as I know. Thankfully I'm out of that world now.
 
Not on my watch they dont.I teach this subject at BHS stage four and try to give my students a broader perspective. I want my students to be confident enough to stare an examiner in the eye and tell them there are more than one opinions.
 
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