beet pulp

[deborah ann]

I like to feed my horse beet pulp because of all the reputed benefits, but the kind that is sold here locally appears to always have some gross dark dusty silica or something in it. Now I fill up the container and slosh it about, then pour off the water one or two times. All the gunk floats to the top and pours away. Then just fill it up and let it soak like normal. When its ready to use it looks so much more wholesome.

[lamprellsarah]

thats strange mine does'nt why does it have that in!!??

[deborah ann]

I live in the s.e. United States and have only seen this one brand for sale, it comes from the other side of the country. I blame penny pinching on the part of the producer and seller of it. Its not much, but theres even minute bits of sand in it at times. It would probly go unnoticed, but I live in a tropical zone and let it soak in a bowl in the refrigerator so that it doesn't ferment. Anyway thats how I noticed it. It comes in a shredded form and some are quite minute at that so I pour alot of it off in the water when I rinse it, but what is left is nice and clean. I figure my guys find it a refreshing treat being chilled.

[virtuallyhorses]

This is most likely a little mud or sand left over from the washing process when the sugar is extracted from the beets, it could also be lime (which is used in the sugar extraction process) or even some ash which can be used to help form the pellets (or result from the drying process) none of these things is harmful to the horse and you may even be removing elements that you are later paying good money for as supplements

[KarinUS]

That is weird. My bag of beet pulp shreds says it's from california. It doesn't have any particles in it.
It's got some molasses in it that turns the water brown but I am guessing that's not what you are refering to, is it?
The molasses used to bother me because I didn't want extra sugar until I learned that 10 pounds of molassed beet pulp only have as much sugar as 3 apples. Onviously I don't feed anywhere near that amount!

Whatever it is glad your system works for you if it's something bothersome. You could always call the 800 number on the bag and ask what it is?

[artemis]

I have a pony with cushings & feed him unmollassed beet. It still has 5% sugar in it so I think that the 3 apples theory is untrue. The bag should say how much sugar is in it.Anything with "ose" on the end is sugar.

[KarinUS]

Originally Posted by artemis

I have a pony with cushings & feed him unmollassed beet. It still has 5% sugar in it so I think that the 3 apples theory is untrue. The bag should say how much sugar is in it.Anything with "ose" on the end is sugar.

5% is correct.

Beet pulp is the by-product resulting from the extraction of simple sugars in the manufacture of table sugar. Extraction processes being as efficient as they are, the remaining pulp has little or no sucrose (table sugar) left in it and in fact, many feed manufacturers will add varying amounts of molasses to increase the palatability and reduce pulp dust. Although many horse owners are concerned about feeding "too much sugar" in the form of molasses, 5% in ten pounds of beet pulp is equivalent to only 86 grams of simple sugars-about the same as that contained in a few apples.

That's from Susan Garlinghouse, DVM. She is an endurance rider, vet and professor at California Polytech teaching Equine Nutrition. I am feeling pretty comfortable relying on her as a source. Of course I have no idea about Cushings. Perhaps even tiny amounts would be having a negative impact so not feeding any molassed beet pulp, grass, carrots or apples is probably very wise.

[artemis]

Yes it would have a negative impact on a horse with cushings. I have to feed him low sugar hay as well.