Can I use hot water to soak my sugar beet in the winter?

Yes, absolutely! Soaking with warm or hot water can help speed up the soaking time on freezing winter days, and it creates a lovely, warm mash which some horses find comforting. Just make sure the feed has cooled down enough before offering it to your horse.

How can I tell if my soaked sugar beet has gone bad?

Use your nose! Freshly soaked sugar beet has a sweet smell. If it has started to ferment, it will smell distinctly sour, acidic, or like vinegar/alcohol. If you smell this, discard the batch and rinse your buckets thoroughly before soaking a fresh portion. This goes for any other feeds or forage too.

Does feeding sugar beet cause “fizzy” behavior?

Unmolassed sugar beet is highly unlikely to cause fizzy behavior. Because it is extremely low in starch and sugar, the energy it provides is released slowly through hindgut fermentation. Cereal grains, which are high in starch, are typically the culprit behind fizzy behaviour.

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FAQs

All Questions beet facts

Can I use hot water to soak my sugar beet in the winter?

Yes, absolutely! Soaking with warm or hot water can help speed up the soaking time on freezing winter days, and it creates a lovely, warm mash which some horses find comforting. Just make sure the feed has cooled down enough before offering it to your horse.
How can I tell if my soaked sugar beet has gone bad?

Use your nose! Freshly soaked sugar beet has a sweet smell. If it has started to ferment, it will smell distinctly sour, acidic, or like vinegar/alcohol. If you smell this, discard the batch and rinse your buckets thoroughly before soaking a fresh portion. This goes for any other feeds or forage too.
Does feeding sugar beet cause “fizzy” behavior?

Unmolassed sugar beet is highly unlikely to cause fizzy behavior. Because it is extremely low in starch and sugar, the energy it provides is released slowly through hindgut fermentation. Cereal grains, which are high in starch, are typically the culprit behind fizzy behaviour.