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[RC] Carbohydrates in Beet Pulp - k s swigart

Bruce Weary said:


Beet pulp has become a popular feed in recent years, and is a safe
feed, due to it's fiber content.

...

The way a horse largely refuels himself is by eating a meal containing
some carbohydrates (beet pulp has almost none) and converting it to
sugar (glucose).


The fiber in beet pulp is almost entirely carbohydrates (all fiber is);
however, because it mostly fiber the carbohydrates in beet pulp are
almost all structural carbohydrates.  What beet pulp has very little of
is starch (i.e. NON-structural carbohydrates).

Other than fat (which beet pulp has virtually none of) and protien
(which beet pulp doesn't have a whole lot of either), ALL the stuff you
feed your horse (including the hay you give it) is carbohydrates.

The difference between structural and non-structural carbohydrates (i.e.
between hay/beet pulp and grain) is in where and how in the GI tract
(and consequently how fast) they are processed.  But make no mistake,
beet pulp is absolutely loaded with carbohydrates, but it is the kind of
carbohydrate that is processed through fermentation in the hind gut
rather than breakdown of starches in the stomach.

kat
Orange County, Calif.




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