Reble
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http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=13108
Plain shredded beet pulp, a source of digestible fiber for many horses, has been hard to come by this year for a number of East Coast horse owners. Some have wondered when supplies will replenish. While a temporary supply will be available soon, the long-term outlook on beet pulp availability isn't as clear.
Burton Feed & Seed in Beaufort, S.C., received its first shipment of beet pulp in months earlier this week.
"I had a lot of trouble getting it, and I can't say for sure why," said owner Robert Bowles. "And I have three different suppliers I get regular shipments from."
Triple Crown Nutrition General Manager Eric Haydt, RAS, said seasonal and regional shortages are a larger issue endemic to the sugar beet industry.
"Most processed beet pulp is pelleted for livestock feed and exported overseas. Export contracts are filled first, then domestic," said Haydt. "If a distributor or manufacturer underestimates their annual needs, they could run out just prior to the next harvest."
"For the equine industry, demand is starting to exceed supply." --Eric HaydtWeather is another supply factor. For the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative in Wahpeton, N.D., rain meant a reduction in the members' 2008 harvest.
"We've had to leave 30,000 acres out in the fields," said Minn-Dak agriculturist Mike Metzger. "Beets were coming in covered with mud and we were unable to process them. That's one-third of our crop."
And the long-term supply outlook?
"For the equine industry, demand is starting to exceed supply. Consumption is double what it was five years ago," said Haydt. "On top of that, availability is strictly controlled by the sugar companies, and they haven't necessarily caught up with equine market demand."
Horse owners who rely on beet pulp might want to discuss feed alternatives with their veterinarians. Another option is to purchase a bulk quantity earlier in the year to avoid any future autumn shortages.
A lack of plain beet pulp in several East Coast feed stores is fueling some speculation that a shortage could be in the works.
Beet pulp is a byproduct from the process of extracting simple sugars from sugar beets for the manufacture of table sugar. The pulp, which has 8-10% crude protein and 18% crude fiber, is often used as a livestock feed or equine supplement.
"We're in decent shape on beet pulp shreds, but many feed suppliers in the area are out," said Larry Drennen, of Oxford Feed & Lumber in Oxford, Penn. "It seems that last year's harvest hasn't made it through the full year."
While outages of plain beet pulp have been reported, the pulp with molasses seems to be readily available.
"We carry beet pulp with molasses, and haven't had any problems getting it," said Pat Hertzler, co-owner of Hertzler Farm and Feed, Inc., in Powhatan, Va. "We haven't heard of any shortages. That's not to say there might not be one in the future, but right now there's no problem."
The upcoming sugarbeet harvest will determine beet pulp availability going forward.
While beets are grown in various regions throughout the U.S., the unusual spring weather patterns in the Midwest and upper western states might affect yields this September and October.
“In Nebraska, we had three successive weekends of hard freezes in April and May. That meant 40% of the acreage had to be replanted,” said Professor John Smith of the Biological Systems Engineering department at the University of Nebraska. “Due to the unusual weather, our yields may be down for this year, but we won’t know for sure until after the harvest is done."
The bottom line? If you have horses dependent on plain beet pulp as a feed source, check with your feed supplier to determine if they are having problems. A quick call to your vet might also be in order to determine the most appropriate alternative fiber sources for your own equines.
Plain shredded beet pulp, a source of digestible fiber for many horses, has been hard to come by this year for a number of East Coast horse owners. Some have wondered when supplies will replenish. While a temporary supply will be available soon, the long-term outlook on beet pulp availability isn't as clear.
Burton Feed & Seed in Beaufort, S.C., received its first shipment of beet pulp in months earlier this week.
"I had a lot of trouble getting it, and I can't say for sure why," said owner Robert Bowles. "And I have three different suppliers I get regular shipments from."
Triple Crown Nutrition General Manager Eric Haydt, RAS, said seasonal and regional shortages are a larger issue endemic to the sugar beet industry.
"Most processed beet pulp is pelleted for livestock feed and exported overseas. Export contracts are filled first, then domestic," said Haydt. "If a distributor or manufacturer underestimates their annual needs, they could run out just prior to the next harvest."
"For the equine industry, demand is starting to exceed supply." --Eric HaydtWeather is another supply factor. For the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative in Wahpeton, N.D., rain meant a reduction in the members' 2008 harvest.
"We've had to leave 30,000 acres out in the fields," said Minn-Dak agriculturist Mike Metzger. "Beets were coming in covered with mud and we were unable to process them. That's one-third of our crop."
And the long-term supply outlook?
"For the equine industry, demand is starting to exceed supply. Consumption is double what it was five years ago," said Haydt. "On top of that, availability is strictly controlled by the sugar companies, and they haven't necessarily caught up with equine market demand."
Horse owners who rely on beet pulp might want to discuss feed alternatives with their veterinarians. Another option is to purchase a bulk quantity earlier in the year to avoid any future autumn shortages.
A lack of plain beet pulp in several East Coast feed stores is fueling some speculation that a shortage could be in the works.
Beet pulp is a byproduct from the process of extracting simple sugars from sugar beets for the manufacture of table sugar. The pulp, which has 8-10% crude protein and 18% crude fiber, is often used as a livestock feed or equine supplement.
"We're in decent shape on beet pulp shreds, but many feed suppliers in the area are out," said Larry Drennen, of Oxford Feed & Lumber in Oxford, Penn. "It seems that last year's harvest hasn't made it through the full year."
While outages of plain beet pulp have been reported, the pulp with molasses seems to be readily available.
"We carry beet pulp with molasses, and haven't had any problems getting it," said Pat Hertzler, co-owner of Hertzler Farm and Feed, Inc., in Powhatan, Va. "We haven't heard of any shortages. That's not to say there might not be one in the future, but right now there's no problem."
The upcoming sugarbeet harvest will determine beet pulp availability going forward.
While beets are grown in various regions throughout the U.S., the unusual spring weather patterns in the Midwest and upper western states might affect yields this September and October.
“In Nebraska, we had three successive weekends of hard freezes in April and May. That meant 40% of the acreage had to be replanted,” said Professor John Smith of the Biological Systems Engineering department at the University of Nebraska. “Due to the unusual weather, our yields may be down for this year, but we won’t know for sure until after the harvest is done."
The bottom line? If you have horses dependent on plain beet pulp as a feed source, check with your feed supplier to determine if they are having problems. A quick call to your vet might also be in order to determine the most appropriate alternative fiber sources for your own equines.
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