Glossary > Feed Ingredients > BEET PULP

Beet Pulp is a very common ingredient in many animal feeds. It has long been recognized as a popular feed additive for horses and other livestock and, more recently, has also been added to many dog and cat feeds. There are many reported benefits to using beet pulp in animal feeds, but there is also some controversy concerning its use.

One of the biggest advantages of by-product feed sources is that they are usually readily available and affordable. In addition, beet pulp has several additional advantages over many other common fiber sources such as peanut, rice, or soy hulls. Beet pulp is an insoluble fiber source that is moderately fermentable. This means the fiber from beet pulp has the benefits of adding bulk and moisture to animal stools while providing an energy source that can improve the health of the colon. Slow to moderately fermentable fiber sources, like beet pulp, are often recommended as one of the best sources of fiber for dogs and cats.

There have been several reported problems concerning the use of beet pulp in animal feeds, including potential swelling in the stomach, palatability, and plugging of the intestinal villus. Few of these have been substantiated and most refer to the feeding of beet pulp to horses.

In summary, beet pulp is considered to be an excellent fiber source in most commercial feeds. In addition to being a good fiber source, beet pulp may have a slight advantage over some other fiber sources because of its benefit to the intestinal bacteria that help maintain colon health. Beet pulp is often found in many quality feedds, and when fed correctly, is an ingredient that can be beneficial to most animals.