Bit pulp is a by-product of processing sugar beets used as animal feed for horses and other livestock. The pulp bit is the fibrous material that remains after the sugar is extracted from the sugar beet. It is provided either as dried flakes or as a compressed pellet, but when fed to a horse it is usually soaked in water first.
Video Beet pulp
Composition
Although it is a byproduct of processing sugar bits, the slurry itself is low in sugar and non-structural carbohydrates, but high in energy and fiber. Among other nutrients, it contains 10 percent protein, 0.8 percent calcium and 0.5 percent phosphorus. It does not have Vitamin A, so additional food or supplements are needed to provide complete nutrition.
8.5'-Diferulic Acid is the dominant diferulic acid in the beet sugar dregs.
Sometimes the molasses are added to improve the palatability.
Maps Beet pulp
Giving Feeding
Beet porridge is usually fed to horses other than straw, but sometimes it is a substitute for straw when fed to a very old horse that can no longer be chewed properly. The standard slurry ratio for horses is usually 2 to 5 pounds (0.9-2.3 kg) dry weight. Before feeding the horse, the beet porridge is usually immersed in water, with a ratio of one part of the pulp to about four parts water. The maximum amount of water is absorbed after three to four hours, but can be soaked only one to two hours, especially in hot weather when there is a risk of fermentation. Most commercial feeds designed for geriatric horses contain large amounts of beetroot and are fed directly from the bag without being soaked, and the manufacturer's instructions generally recommend such dry feeding unless the horse has teething problems that make it difficult to chew.
Porridge bits are usually not soaked before being fed to cattle or sheep.
Security issues
Some horse owners expressed two concerns about feeding dried beet porridge, not soaked, one of which is that it is associated with choking. Dry feed may cause choking, especially if the horse does not have free access to water, or if the horse has other risk factors associated with choking, such as the tendency to clog the food. However, while horses choked on the beetroot, university studies have not yet documented that bit pulp is a particular issue. It is believed that chokes associated with beetroot are associated with particle size and aggressive horse feeding behavior, rather than actual feed. However, the choking risk associated with dried feed, including beetroot, can be reduced by soaking rations before feeding.
Another concern expressed by horse owners is that the dried beet porridge will absorb water and swell in the horse's belly, causing digestive problems such as impaction or colic. However, a well-hydrated horse usually produces enough saliva to moisturize any foodstuff correctly, including the beetroot.
Thus, while research shows that soaking slurry bits is not necessary to prevent, there are other reasons to soak up the beet porridge. This can make the feed more chewable, especially for older horses with bad teeth. Immersion can enhance the taste, and may be a way to hide supplements or drugs. While horses usually drink enough of their own water, feeding wet beet porridge can increase fluid intake, especially in winter when horses may drink less water than they need.
See also
- Nutrition horse
- Hay
- Fodder
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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