It is always important that horses stay well hydrated and during the very warm weather it may be difficult, especially for horses that are away a lot and therefore may not drink as well as usual.
There are a number of ways that owners can increase moisture intake for their horses in conjunction with feeding. Soaking hay will assist as well as the use of ‘beets’ in the ration.
The Dunstan Beets are a great way to provide both fibre and water, two very important elements in all equine diets and components that may be lacking if horses are away a lot, boxed or yarded. Sugarbeet is a super fibre and therefore has a higher calorie level than traditional fibre sources - so great for achieving weight gains while assisting to maintain digestive health.
The Dunstan Beets are soaked prior to feeding - 10mins for the Dunstan Betabeet non-molassed flakes and 30mins for the Dunstan Sugarbeet Flakes. The fact that the Dunstan beet flakes are soaked provides an opportunity to assist your horse with hydration- increased water can be included if desired - especially helpful when horses are not drinking as freely as you would like from their water buckets.
Which Dunstan Beet for My Horse?
For horse owners who wish to avoid any additional molasses in the ration, and are looking for a super ‘cool’ calorie source, Dunstan Betabeet Flakes provide a non-molassed, non-heating, rapid soaking beet flake - ideal for inclusion in rations for horses susceptible to laminitis or those that are sugar sensitive.Alternatively, for the very fussy eater or those requiring more calories per kg from their beet, Dunstan Sugarbeet Flakes provide the ideal solution. With the added molasses in Dunstan Sugarbeet Flakes this product is highly palatable and, with an increased calorie contribution, is more fattening.
Dunstan Beets - a 'Super Fibre'
Feeding beets to horses is unique compared to most other fibre sources as it is known as a ‘super fibre’, meaning it has a similar calorie level to Oats and is therefore great for weight gain. Both Dunstan Betabeet and Dunstan Sugarbeet have the enviable product benefits of not only providing an increased calorie contribution to the ration compared to other fibre sources, but in doing so, contribute a premium quality fibre to optmise digestive health. Yet another unique characteristic is the benefit that beet provides to the microbial population of the hindgut, therefore acknowledging its role as a prebiotic – by stimulating the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria. Optimising the microbial population of the hindgut results in improved feed efficiency as well as general digestive health.
Dunstan Beets - Low NSC
Non-molassed beets such as Dunstan Betabeet have a NSC (non-structural carbohydrate) level of less than 12% and therefore are recommended as a great fibre for all horses, and can be utilised in particular for horses with ‘special needs’ where low NSC feedstuffs are required. Low in starch, Dunstan Betabeet is a great calorie source for horses that can become highly strung on high-grain feeds or which suffer from ‘tying-up. Due to its calorie density, Dunstan Betabeet can be used to substitute some grain in the diet without compromising body condition. As Dunstan Betabeet is low in NSC, it also provides a suitable fibre and calorie source for horses that suffer from Laminitis and/or Cushings and may have restricted pasture intake as well as struggling to find feeds that meet their unique needs.