Beet pulp supplements for equine intestinal health

Researchers evaluated the microbiome composition of horses fed sugar beet pulp (SBP) compared to those not fed this supplement.

Beet pulp is not only a fiber-rich dietary component, but also an effective prebiotic for promoting equine gut health.

It is common practice to supplement a horse with beet pulp as a substitute for other dietary fibers, especially for horses requiring more calories and/or fiber in their diet. Researchers at the University of Missouri evaluated the microbiome composition of horses fed sugar beet pulp (SBP) compared to those not given this supplement.

Study on Sugar Beet Pulp for Horses

Six healthy adult horses were fed 2.5 pounds of PBS soaked without molasses with Timothy grass hay twice daily. The PBS replaced 2.5 pounds of hay. Six control horses were fed only Timothy grass hay twice a day during the seven-day study period. All horses had been removed from pasture for a five-day acclimatization period. Fecal samples were collected daily in the morning and evaluated for microbial constituents.

Study on Beet Pulp for Horses

Six healthy adult horses were fed 2.5 pounds of soaked, molasses-free PBS with Timothy grass hay twice a day. The PBS replaced 2.5 pounds of hay. Six control horses were fed only Timothy grass hay twice a day during the seven-day study period. All horses had been removed from pasture for a five-day acclimatization period. Fecal samples were collected daily in the morning and evaluated for microbial constituents.

PBS resulted in an increase in the relative abundance of specific Bacillota, which are producers of short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate. This has the potential to promote overall intestinal well-being by reducing the incidence of intestinal dysbiosis.

Beet pulp as a prebiotic

Not only a fiber-rich dietary component, beet pulp also acts as an effective prebiotic to promote intestinal health in equines by producing short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate. Butyrate, produced by Gram-positive anaerobic bacterial species by fermentation of dietary fiber, is known for its positive intestinal effects in providing energy to colonocytes and optimizing tight junctions in the gut, as well as other anti-inflammatory properties. In this light, it could play a strategic role as a preventive feeding strategy against colic and colitis. The authors also suggest that PBS supplementation before and during dietary changes or other stress factors, such as travel, could have a preventive function.

Reference

Ford T, McAdams ZL, Townsend KS, et al. Effect of Beet Pulp on the Composition and Predicted Function of the Equine Fecal Microbiota. Biology 2023, 12, 1254. doi.org/10.3390/biology12091254