Dr Tom Shurlock, Consultant Nutritionist provides advice on feeding rates for the British Horse Feeds products, Speedi-Beet and Fibre-Beet, to help manage and maximise the nutrient profile of forage...
There are three ways in which the British Horse Feeds products can have a positive impact on forage supplies:
- Dilution
- Extension
- Enhancement
Speedi-Beet
Dilution: Where the situation dictates – forage is too ‘rich’, or horse requires maintenance level nutrition:
- Mix 1 part of soaked Speedi-Beet with 2 parts of chaff, or chopped straw. Soak and feed up to 3kg per 100kg of your horse’s weight.
Or
- Feed up to 6kg soaked Speedi-Beet (1kg dry product) prior to turnout, to reduce subsequent forage intake.
Extension: This is to replace forage, or hay, when in short supply:
- Feed Speedi-Beet at up to 1kg (dry weight) per 100kg of your horse’s weight. Replace 1.5kg of hay with every 1kg Speedi-Beet (6kg soaked weight).
- Feed Speedi-Beet at up to 1kg (dry weight) per 100 kg of your horse’s weight. Reduce grazing time by ~ 2 hours for every 1 kg Speedi-Beet (6 kg soaked weight)
Enhancement: This is to be fed on top of ad lib forage intake.
Please refer to the generalised feeding instructions for Speedi-Beet found here.
Fibre-Beet
Dilution: Fibre-Beet is a conditioning feed and so is less suitable for forage dilution than Speedi-Beet plus chaff.
Extension: To replace forage or hay, when in short supply:
- Feed Fibre-Beet at up to 1.5kg (dry weight) per 100kg of your horse’s weight. Replace 1.5kg hay for every 1kg Fibre-Beet (4kg soaked weight). Complete replacement (2kg dry/100 kg liveweight) is possible for short periods
- Feed Fibre-Beet at up to 1.5kg (dry weight) per 100kg of your horse’s weight. Reduce grazing time by ~ 2 hours for every 1kg Fibre-Beet (4kg soaked weight)
Enhancement: This is to be fed on top of ad lib forage intake.
Please refer to the generalised feeding instructions for Fibre-Beet found here.
N.B. All the above values should be adjusted according to the level of activity and the condition of your horse. The above guidelines are for horses in light to medium activity.
