Beet Pulp?

[minihorsecwgrl]

I have a yearling that hit a growth spurt and he is looking a little thin. He is getting double of his usual grain ( 2.5 cups twice a day) with hay, but he still isn't filling out like I would like. I have asked many people what they do and most said beet pulp, but I have read so many articles on how you shouldn't ever feed miniatures beet pulp. what should I do to make him fill out a little more?

 

[disneyhorse]

You've read "so many" articles that say you shouldn't feed minis beet pulp??? Where are all these articles?

Beet pulp is a fairly safe feed to feed to any horse regardless of size and age. The benefits, however, vary. It is more like a forage than a concentrate.

 

[minihorsecwgrl]

Apparently it can cause kidney stones. I'm fine with feeding it I just don't know how much I should give.

 

[chandab]

How big is your yearling? Weight? Height? And, exactly what are you feeding? Brand of grain? [And, what does the bag recommend?] 2.5 cups is not much for a growing horse, and whether or not its enough depends on what you are feeding. What type of hay? How much hay?

I have 3 yearling B-size colts, they are currently getting over a quart of pellets each daily (they were actually on even more than that over the winter), mixed hay at night and grazing all day.

 

[ohmt]

Beet pulp is very high in calcium and has low protein content (about 9%), but is excellent for the hind gut, helping the horse to utilize more of the other feed it's getting. Keeping in mind the calcium and protein, you can adjust the rest of your feeding program to accomodate. I would bet your colt needs more protein in his diet. I would add a ration balancer to get that level up for him. How big is your yearling? I am feeding my refined, 28.5" yearling alfalfa/grass hay (1 lb 2x daily), and then I have a small coffee can that I use to give him 2 cans of soaked beet pulp with 2 cans of a 14% feed also 2x daily (I weigh everything, but can't remember exacts). I would guess the coffee can is at least 2-3 measuring cups. He looks really good, but has been pretty dormant. Once I start free lunging, I will be increse those quantities.

 

[ohmt]

On my phone so can't edit-that should say 1.5 lbs of hay (the hay is 14% protein), but he only eats about 1lb each feeding. Wasteful, but since I'm gone so long I want him to have access to food if he's hungry

 

[minihorsecwgrl]

Thanks for comments

he is 31 inches and probably about 150 ibs,I feed him 5 cups total every day of Purina mini and pony food, he is grazing most of the day and also gets about 2-3 flakes of mixed grass hay throughout the day he is definitely all legs

 

[JMS Miniatures]

I am a anti Purina gal, especially when it comes to the mini feed, my mini ended up getting bad results with that feed.

I only give beet pulp if I feel they absoutely need it. Right now I'm currently giving one some beet pulp because he started to get skinny on me. He is getting 1lb of SeniorGLO and 6lbs of Alfalfa/grass hay and 30 oz of beet pulp along with 2 oz of HealthyGLO meal a day.

The bag I give recommends giving 1 to 2 lbs of beet pulp a day for a 1000 lb horse so I look at it like giving a 100 lb horse 10-20 ounces of beet pulp a day.

 

[minihorsecwgrl]

Thank you! I appreciate all the info

what would u recommend grain wise?

 

[chandab]

Thank you! I appreciate all the info

what would u recommend grain wise?

What brands can you readily get in your area? Many have great luck with Purina, it just that the Mini and Pony doesn't always work for all pony/mini situations, and despite what it says on the bag, often isn't enough for growing horses. Omolene 300 or Equine Jr are good for growing weanlings and yearlings. Last winter, I fed my weanlings a local senior pellet topped up with Calf Manna and I think they came out of winter looking quite good. I have very limited feed choices, and this was a good combination for my boys. the 3 of them shared 2 quarts of senior 2x daily; I added 1 cup Calf Manna to that. They are now on just over 1 quart 2x daily shared of just the senior.

 

[disneyhorse]

I'd move to Purina Junior... The mini/pony is for "easy keeper" not for growing horses I think.

Stones usually come from a diet very high in calcium... Beet pulp does have a decent amount of calcium but you'd have to feed an awful lot of it and also evaluate the rest of your feeding program. So many people fail to look at ALL parts of a feed program that they focus just on the grain or the supplements.

 

[wildoak]

I've been feeding beet pulp for years with no ill effects, and nearly all my horses get it daily. I don't feed large quantities unless I have a horse with special needs, but I think it helps fill out the show horses and I feel safer adding it than I would stuffing them with extra grain.

Jan

 

[Marty]

I'm a beet pulp fan. In the summer I soak it in straight Gatorade to be sure they are being hydrated enough. They don't get much though, just about 1 1/2 cups for a lunch treat.