The Myths and Reality of Beet Pulp Beet pulp is not only one of the most gratifying, but also one of the most frustrating feeds for an equine nutritionist.
Few feeds have as many myths and evil predictions associated with it.
As with any other type of feed, understanding a little more about beet pulp's nutritional content and effects on the body will help a horse owner understand where this useful feed can most profitably be incorporated into an equine ration. Beet pulp is the by-product resulting from the extraction of simple sugars in the manufacture of table sugar. Feeds are most commonly categorized as either a forage, an energy feed or a protein supplement. Familiarity with these simple definitions is very helpful when comparing commercial feed mixes which often have vague or elusive label names or descriptions. Rather than trying to puzzle out whether a bag of Aunt Tilly's Super Barnyard Rocket Fuel is really going to help your horse gain weight or is just another bag of lawn clippings, a quick look at the crude fiber and protein content will identify whether the product is an energy feed or just fifty pounds of high-priced hay.