Is Beet Pulp High in Calories for Your Horse?

December 21, 2025 •

3 min read

Beet pulp is a highly digestible fiber that provides a considerable amount of energy for horses, with unmolassed varieties offering approximately 2.8 megacalories per kilogram on a dry matter basis. This moderate energy density makes it a versatile feed for managing your horse's weight and overall health.

Quick Summary

Beet pulp is a source of digestible energy derived from fermentable fiber, offering more calories than hay but fewer than most grains, making it a valuable weight management tool.

Key Points

Moderate Calorie Density: Beet pulp provides more digestible energy per pound than most grass hays but less than cereal grains like oats.
Slow Energy Release: Its calories come from fermentable fiber, converted to volatile fatty acids in the hindgut for a slow, steady energy supply.
Excellent for Digestion: As a "super fiber," beet pulp supports hindgut health and can be a safe energy source for horses prone to digestive upsets from grain.
Helps with Weight Management: It can be used to help hard keepers gain weight or manage calorie intake for easy keepers by adjusting ration amounts.
Not a Complete Feed: Beet pulp is low in many vitamins and minerals, requiring supplementation to ensure a balanced diet.
Molassed vs. Unmolassed: For horses with metabolic issues, unmolassed beet pulp is preferred as it is lower in sugar.

Understanding Beet Pulp's Calorie Content

Many horse owners wonder, "Is beet pulp high in calories?" The short answer is that it's a calorie-dense fiber source, but its energy release is fundamentally different from that of grains. While it contains more digestible energy per pound than most grass hays, it is less calorically dense than cereal grains like oats or corn. The energy in beet pulp comes from highly fermentable fiber, which is broken down in the horse's hindgut by microbes into volatile fatty acids (VFAs). These VFAs are absorbed and converted into a slow, steady stream of energy, unlike the rapid glucose and insulin spike caused by starches and sugars found in grains. This "cool energy" makes it a safe choice for many types of horses, including performance horses and those with metabolic issues.

The Source of Energy: Fiber vs. Starch

One of the key distinctions is the origin of the calories. Grains provide energy through starch, which is primarily digested in the small intestine. An overload of starch can push undigested material into the hindgut, leading to digestive issues like colic and laminitis. Beet pulp, on the other hand, is a "super fiber" that is digested safely and efficiently in the hindgut, promoting a healthy microbial population. For horses, this translates to a reliable energy source that supports gut health without the risks associated with high-grain diets.

Beet Pulp for Weight Gain vs. Weight Loss

Beet pulp's role in weight management depends on how it is incorporated into a horse's diet. For hard keepers or underweight horses, adding beet pulp can safely increase the overall caloric density of the diet. For overweight or easy keeper horses, it can be used to replace a portion of their less-calorie-dense hay, ensuring adequate fiber intake while managing total calorie consumption.

Considerations for weight management:

For weight gain: Feed beet pulp in addition to the horse's regular forage ration. Combining it with a high-fat supplement, like oil, can further boost caloric intake.
For weight loss: Use beet pulp to replace a portion of lower-calorie hay. Because it is highly digestible, you can feed a smaller total volume while still meeting fiber needs, which helps with satiety.
Adjusting the diet: Always make dietary changes gradually over 7-10 days to allow the horse's digestive system to adapt.

Nutritional Comparisons: Beet Pulp vs. Other Feeds

To put beet pulp's calorie content into perspective, it's useful to compare it with other common horse feeds. This comparison highlights its place as a moderate-calorie, high-fiber option.


Feature	Dried Beet Pulp	Good Quality Grass Hay	Cereal Grains (e.g., Oats)
Digestible Energy (kcal/lb)	~1,000	~800-900	>1,300
Energy Source	Highly Fermentable Fiber (VFAs)	Fiber	Starch, Sugars
Energy Release	Slow, Steady	Slow	Rapid
Glycemic Index	Low	Low	High
Gut Impact	Supports Hindgut Health	Supports Hindgut Health	Risk of Digestive Upset
Metabolic Suitability	Excellent, especially unmolassed	Excellent	Poor (for sensitive horses)

Important Feeding Considerations

While beet pulp is a beneficial addition to many equine diets, it's not a complete feed. It has a notable calcium-to-phosphorus imbalance and is deficient in certain vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it should always be fed as part of a balanced ration, typically complemented with a forage-focused vitamin/mineral supplement. Unmolassed beet pulp is the best choice for most horses, particularly those with metabolic concerns like insulin resistance or laminitis, due to its low sugar content. It's also worth noting that beet pulp is not a perfect hay replacement, but can be used to supplement forage, especially for senior horses with poor dental health. It's a myth that beet pulp must be soaked to prevent choke, but soaking is recommended for pellets and for horses that eat quickly to improve palatability and reduce dust.

Conclusion: A High-Fiber, Moderate-Calorie Choice

Is beet pulp high in calories? Yes, relative to average hay, it is, providing a valuable and highly digestible source of energy for horses. However, its calories are delivered differently than those from grain, providing a safer, more sustained energy release. Its primary value lies in its high fiber content and prebiotic properties, which promote a healthy digestive system. Used correctly as part of a balanced diet, it's an excellent tool for supporting body weight, providing supplemental fiber, and offering a steady energy source for a variety of horses.

For more information on equine nutrition, consult the experts at Kentucky Equine Research.

Kentucky Equine Research - Benefits of Beet Pulp for Horses

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, on a dry matter basis, beet pulp is more energy-dense than most grass hays, making it a good way to add calories to a horse's diet. Unmolassed dried beet pulp offers approximately 2.8 megacalories per kilogram, compared to around 2.0 megacalories per kilogram for typical hay.

The energy from beet pulp is released slowly and steadily, whereas energy from grains is released rapidly. This is because beet pulp's energy comes from highly digestible fiber fermented in the hindgut, while grains get energy from starch digested in the small intestine.

Yes, beet pulp can be used in a weight-loss diet for horses. By substituting a portion of hay with beet pulp, you can maintain fiber intake while potentially feeding a lower overall volume of forage, which can reduce total calories.

While it is a common practice, soaking beet pulp is not required for all horses and feeding levels. Soaking is primarily recommended for pellets or for horses that eat quickly or have poor dental health, as it improves palatability and reduces dust.

No, molassed beet pulp is not suitable for all horses. The added molasses increases sugar content, which can cause an insulin spike similar to grain. For horses with metabolic disorders like insulin resistance or laminitis, unmolassed beet pulp is the safer option.

No, beet pulp should not be the sole fiber source in a horse's diet. Although research has shown horses can consume up to 45% of their diet as beet pulp, it is low in certain minerals and vitamins that hay provides. It should be used as a supplement or partial hay replacer, not a total replacement.

A 'super fiber' is a feedstuff high in highly digestible fiber that provides more calories than average hay. Beet pulp is considered a super fiber because it's rich in soluble fiber (pectin), making it easily digestible and a valuable source of energy derived from fermentation.