Frequently Asked Questions About Fibre-Beet

What is Fibre-Beet?

A formulated blend of high quality fibre sources based around the proven benefits of Speedi-Beet.

Why is fibre so important?

The horse has evolved to utilise fibrous material that is fermented in the hindgut by specialist microbes. The horse absorbs the fermentation products, to supply its energy needs. Unlike us it can only produce limited amounts of some pancreatic enzymes and so is not suited to eat starchy or protein rich foods. These will not be entirely absorbed and will enter the hindgut disrupting the microflora present.

How so?

The microbial populations in the hindgut compete with each other. When given the right substrate to ferment they will proliferate and succeed. If too much starch or protein enter the hindgut those associated microbes will increase, produce their own products that may be toxic to the horse, and grow at the expense of the more “friendly” bacteria.

How do I use Fibre-Beet?

Fibre-Beet has been formulated to replace a proportion of forage sources such as hay and grazing. It can also be used as a top dressing, or to replace hard feed.

Why is this necessary?

Forage sources can be widely variable in their make-up, depending on a number of environmental and management conditions. Non-structural carbohydrates can reach levels that may cause disruption to the hindgut microflora, with the associated problems.

So how does Fibre-Beet help?

By reducing the amount of forage given, and replacing it with a “stable” fibre source, the variation in free sugars and polysaccharides is reduced, ensuring fewer problems in the hindgut.

Should I stop grazing?

NO! Horses are trickle feeders; their behaviour is geared to continuous feeding of small amounts of feed (grazing) and it is this that maintains gut function and integrity. Fibre-Beet should be fed prior to grazing to reduce the rate, not to replace it.

Should I stop feeding hay?

Again, no. Fibre-Beet should be used as a feed in its own right. A less full hay bag will keep your horse occupied.

Can I feed Fibre-Beet with haylage?

Yes. Haylage and silage are “pre-fermented” and their profile will be dependant on the profile of the grass when cut. Therefore feeding Fibre-Beet will help reduce variation.

How can it replace hard feed as well as forage?

Hard feed is usually fed to increase the energy intake where forage alone is insufficient. The enhanced energy levels of Fibre-Beet will allow replacement of hard feed.

Why do I need to replace my hard feed?

The horse needs high levels of fibre, both as a fermentable nutrient, but also to bulk the gut to avoid colic, torsion and other physical problems. Providing a fibre source with a high energy level maintains gut integrity and provides the extra energy associated with hard feed.

Should I stop using hard feed?

No. But you should be supplying the horse with as much energy through fibre as you can. Then hard feed can be used to supplement this as necessary.

Fibre-Beet can also be used as a top dressing?

Yes. Fibre-Beet is very attractive to all equines. Not only is the aroma and taste extremely palatable, the shape of the lozenge means it is easy for your horse to pick up and chew.

What is in Fibre-Beet?

Fibre-Beet is a carefully formulated product based on Speedi-Beet and Alfalfa. Each ingredient on its own has demonstrable benefits in horse nutrition and maintaining fibre intake. In Fibre-Beet the relative proportions are calculated to optimise these benefits, whilst allowing the incorporation of essential nutrients such as biotin, and added benefit materials such as oat fibre.

What are the benefits of Speedi-Beet?

Speedi-Beet is an unmolassed sugar beet pulp whose cell matrix has been disrupted by a patented process, including micronization. Non-fibrous nutrients have been “unlocked” enabling them to be digested and absorbed in the small intestine more efficiently than unprocessed product. The fibre profile of Speedi-Beet allows optimum beneficial fermentation, in both end products and rate of fermentation, giving extra slow-release energy.

What are the benefits of Alfalfa?

Alfalfa is a member of the legume family and has a good amino acid profile. The leaves are rich in protein and essential minerals whilst the stem has a beneficial profile of fibre. This fibre is rich in cellulose and therefore provides excellent bulking, whilst the hemicelluloses are easily fermentable for slow release energy. Depending on the cut alfalfa can be high in protein. However, in Fibre Beet, its inclusion is carefully calculated, to derive benefit from the fibre whilst keeping overall protein to a realistic level.

What else is of benefit in Fibre-Beet?

Fibre-Beet has been formulated with inclusions of sodium, calcium and biotin. Although naturally rich in vitamins A, D3 and E supplementation with biotin (a B vitamin and co-enzyme) maintains proper protein and energy metabolism, additionally important in the integrity of hoof keratinisation. Calcium is added to optimise the Ca:P ratio and to help maintain normal bone development, whilst sodium is added to help with normal digestion and osmotic process.
In addition there is added oat fibre whose fibre fermentation pattern is similar to that of grass and hay.

Do I need to soak Fibre-Beet, as it contains Speedi-Beet?

Soaking of Fibre-Beet is preferred, not essential. The Speedi-Beet content has been micronized which improves soaking and reduces impaction and feeding unsoaked will not cause problems associated with traditional sugar beet pellets. However, soaking is a good preparation, not just a “softening”. Chewing and swallowing soaked material works enzymes into the product improving the efficiency of digestion. Also, it ensures good bulking of the horses feed and maintains water intake during feeding. The ideal liquid diet.

What are the correct proportions for feeding?

1 part of Fibre-Beet, by weight, to 3 parts of water. Soaking time is 45 minutes cold water soaking and 15 minutes hot water (to fully absorb into the alfalfa and oat component).

What if I use too much water?

This will present no problem. The product will be a bit sloppier but will merely improve your horse’s water intake.

What if I use too little? Will this cause Colic?

No. As mentioned above the Speedi-Beet is manufactured in such a way as to eliminate the risk of impact colic, which was feared when using traditional sugar beet pellets unsoaked. Too little water may mean more chewing and this can be of great benefit to behaviour in some circumstances.

How is Fibre-Beet good for laminitics?

Excess non-structural carbohydrates entering the hind gut lead to microbial changes and fermentation patterns change towards production of undesirable products such as lactic acid. Fibre-Beet has NSC (Non-Structural carbohydrates) levels of less than 10% (grass NSC can be as high as 30%) and this level of sugar is mainly absorbed in the small intestine.

What about Cushings Syndrome?

Cushings Syndrome is associated with hyperglycaemia (too much glucose circulating in the blood) and abnormal patterns in plasma insulin. It is due to aberrations in the pituitary gland. Glucose levels in Fibre-Beet are less than you would find in forage and so reduce the risk. However if these levels are still critical then “washed” Speedi-Beet (see Speedi-Beet FAQs) may provide a solution.

Is this the same for insulin resistant (IR) horses?

The sugar in Speedi-Beet is only 50% glucose; fructose will have no direct effect on insulin, whilst alfalfa is fructose based. The amounts of glucose, from Fibre-Beet, circulating in the bloodstream would have a negligible effect on overall levels.

All the same won’t I be better off not feeding Fibre-Beet.

Not necessarily. All feedingstuffs contain sugars, or chains of sugars (e.g. starch). In fact, at around 8%, Fibre-Beet has lower total sugars than grass (11%) and most other feedstuffs. Only specialist feedstuffs, like soya hulls, will provide less.

I know Speedi-Beet doesn’t make my horse fizzy. What about Fibre-Beet?

Fizziness is like the “sugar rush” people can get from overeating sweet foods. High levels of glucose are absorbed, swamping the body’s ability to convert it quickly to glycogen (a storage molecule).
When an animal is in danger (flight or fight) there is a massive release of glucose from the stored glycogen to prepare for extreme exercise. If the diet provides too much glucose then the animal is permanently in this state – i.e. fizzy.
Fibre-Beet has very low levels of glucose which, when absorbed, will primarily aid in the absorption of amino acids for protein metabolism. The main source of Fibre Beet energy is from slow release hindgut fermentation and so the body can cope with this.

My horse is very active. If I feed Fibre-Beet won’t he receive too little energy. Shouldn’t I be feeding cereals?

The horse has evolved to utilise fibre as its main energy source. In the wild he’ll graze on poor quality grass and avoid too much exercise, simply because he won’t have the energy. Now domesticated, we can put demands on him that require much higher levels of energy expenditure. Cereals, especially when micronized to improve starch digestibility, are the traditional method of supplying extra energy, rapidly. But Fibre-Beet will provide a controlled release of fermentation energy, at higher overall levels than other forages, and even some cereals. It can replace some or all cereal energy, depending on the amount of the horse’s activity. As mentioned above Fibre-Beet is not meant to replace hard feed but to optimise fibre intake allowing you to use less hard feed and therefore possible associated problems.

Can I feed Fibre-Beet to a senior horse?

Yes. Once soaked it is palatable and easy to eat – even if your horse is missing teeth (it requires little chewing) – and the greater energy nutrient and energy availability will be of tremendous benefit. As horses get older their digestive efficiency declines and so a readily digestible feedstuff, like Fibre-Beet, is ideal. If, however, condition were not maintained, then feeding Speedi-Beet would be recommened.

Can I feed it to young horses, foals and mares?

Yes. The fibre profile is ideal for all ages and states, and the high availability of the other nutrients make Fibre-Beet a safe and concentrated feedstuff. The importance of feeding any horse is to provide the correct profile of nutrients at each stage of the horse’s life. The versatility of Fibre-Beet means it can fit into any feeding regime.

Can I use Fibre-Beet to put weight on my horse?

If put in over and above your horse normal diet he will improve his weight and condition. Conversely it can be used as a top dressing to increase the intake of other feeds, or can be substituted for a less nutritious feedstuff. However Fibre-Beet would be best used as a long term, controlled solution for maintaining weight and condition. To help increase weight over the medium term Speedi Beet, as a top dressing, would be the preferred option.

Can I use Fibre-Beet to help lose weight?

Restricting intake is the best way to help your horse lose weight, but this may give rise to behavioural problems such as boredom. Feeding Fibre-Beet alongside poor quality forages within a regime of exercise will help reduce weight.
As with weight gain, we would recommend a planned use of Speedi-Beet (as gut fill prior to grazing) as the preferred alternative.

Can I feed Fibre-Beet to a convalescent horse?

Yes. Fibre-Beet can be fed in any situation. Its soaked bulk, if fed before other feeds will increase subsequent feeding time and allay boredom; its palatability will also help mask the taste of any medication introduced. Again, due to its higher soaking capability, Speedi-Beet may be a preferred option.

What can I feed Fibre-Beet with?

As mentioned previously Fibre-Beet can be fed in conjunction with any feedstuff you would normally feed your horse; e.g. commercial cubes, straights and forages.

How much Fibre-Beet should I feed?

If Fibre-Beet is used as a forage replacer feed 250g/100kg* body weight of your horse. Giving Fibre-Beet before grazing or a hay bag will allow the horse to control its own intake. If Fibre-Beet is being used to replace hard feed then, as a rule of thumb replace 1/3-1/2* with Fibre-Beet. Use your judgement on how its condition appears and adjust the quantities accordingly.

I already feed Speedi-Beet. Should I change?

If you are happy with the consistency of the forage and your horse’s condition is good, stay where you are.
If you feed both Speedi-Beet and alfalfa then the complementary proportions in Fibre-Beet makes it the ideal choice.

I don’t use sugar beet or alfalfa. Should I be doing so?

Feeding your horse is a choice of individual preferences. There are a good number of excellent high fibre commercial feeds available. Fibre-Beet contains materials of known and consistent quality, both Speedi-Beet and alfalfa regarded in their own right as excellent feedstuffs for horses. Fibre-Beet combines these qualities in such a way as to provide a “super forage” with added essential trace elements to provide optimum nutrition whether fed with forage on its own or with hard feed.