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Beynen AC, 2018. Beet pulp in dog food

  • May 2018
DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.18461.41443
Authors:
Anton Beynen
Anton Beynen
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Abstract

Beet pulp in dog food In many cases, beet pulp is listed by the ingredient panels on packaged dry dog foods. The ingredient refers to the dried residue of sliced sugar beets after the sugar constituent has been removed. Beet pulp as ingredient is not always highlighted, but a significant number of dog foods predicates that it supports gut health. Beet-pulp fiber allegedly promotes digestion of nutrients, intestinal motility, firm stools and good bacteria in the large intestine. Sugar-beet pulp contains about 50% non-fermentable and 20% fermentable fibers. All of these fibers are resistant to the dog's digestive enzymes, but the fermentable ones are broken down by the bacteria in the lower intestinal tract. Dry dog food with added beet pulp typically includes less than 5%. The non-fermentable fibers in beet pulp end up in stool, together with bacterial products of the fermentable fibers. Research data indicate that beet pulp in dry dog food impairs digestion. An average inclusion rate of 3.1% beet pulp raised daily feces output by 14% (Note 1). Stool bulk was increased due to higher contents of both water and solids. The extra solid matter in the large intestine holds water and so moistens stool. Dietary beet pulp accelerated the flow of alimentary tract contents toward the anus and increased the frequency of defecation. Feces consistency was not perceivably changed. Beet pulp did not clearly affect the good bacteria in the dog's gut. Switching from a commercial dry dog food without beet pulp to a food with beet pulp is associated with multiple diet composition changes. Therefore, the impact on feces volume and appearance is unpredictable. However, studies in dogs suggest that the changeover to a diet rich in beet pulp increases rather than decreases stool volume. This could be considered disadvantageous to many dog owners.
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Anton C. Beynen
Beet pulp in dog food
In many cases, beet pulp is listed by the ingredient panels on packaged dry dog foods. The
ingredient refers to the dried residue of sliced sugar beets after the sugar constituent has been
removed. Beet pulp as ingredient is not always highlighted, but a significant number of dog foods
predicates that it supports gut health. Beet-pulp fiber allegedly promotes digestion of nutrients,
intestinal motility, firm stools and good bacteria in the large intestine.
Sugar-beet pulp contains about 50% non-fermentable and 20% fermentable fibers. All of these
fibers are resistant to the dog’s digestive enzymes, but the fermentable ones are broken down by
the bacteria in the lower intestinal tract. Dry dog food with added beet pulp typically includes less
than 5%. The non-fermentable fibers in beet pulp end up in stool, together with bacterial products
of the fermentable fibers.
Research data indicate that beet pulp in dry dog food impairs digestion. An average inclusion rate
of 3.1% beet pulp raised daily feces output by 14% (Note 1). Stool bulk was increased due to higher
contents of both water and solids. The extra solid matter in the large intestine holds water and so
moistens stool. Dietary beet pulp accelerated the flow of alimentary tract contents toward the
anus and increased the frequency of defecation. Feces consistency was not perceivably changed.
Beet pulp did not clearly affect the good bacteria in the dog’s gut.
Switching from a commercial dry dog food without beet pulp to a food with beet pulp is associated
with multiple diet composition changes. Therefore, the impact on feces volume and appearance is
unpredictable. However, studies in dogs suggest that the changeover to a diet rich in beet pulp
increases rather than decreases stool volume. This could be considered disadvantageous to many
dog owners.
Beet pulp
Dried sugar-beet pulp has variable contents of sugar and molasses, but roughly comprises 50%
insoluble and 20% soluble fiber compounds (1). The beet pulp used in a dog feeding trial contained
31% hemicelluloses, 25% cellulose and 16% viscous polysaccharides (2). The latter mainly represents
pectin (3). Beet pulp contains about 10% crude protein (1).
The apparent total-tract digestibility of beet pulp in dogs was measured by the difference method
with a canned (4) or extruded (5) food as dietary base. Mean fecal digestibilities of organic matter
and crude protein were 44 and 49%. When using dog feces as microbiota source, beet pulp appears
moderately fermentable (6-10).
Macronutrient digestibility
Beet pulp is poorly digestible and its fibers may interfere with the effectiveness of digestive
enzymes. The net effect of beet pulp inclusion on whole food digestibility depends on the amount
added and the nature of the exchange ingredient(s).
Replacing gelatinized corn starch or brewer’s rice by beet pulp reduced apparent ileal digestibility of
dry matter, crude protein and fat by 9.6, 5.5 and 2.4% units (11-14, Note 2). The undigested proteins
and carbohydrates, and the pectin from beet pulp, all feed the colonic bacteria. This enhances
bacterial protein excretion (15), which lowers apparent protein digestibility.
Eighteen publications describe the impact of dietary beet pulp on the net efficiency of macronutrient
digestion in dogs (2, 6, 11-25, 27). On the whole, beet pulp had a dose-dependent lowering effect (2,
27). The influence of the exchange ingredient(s) (Note 3) cannot be assessed. At an average inclusion
level of 6.9% in dry food, beet pulp lowered overall apparent fecal digestibility of crude protein and
crude fat by 1.8 and 0.9% units.
Feces characteristics
Taken all data (2, 6, 11-14, 16-20, 22-26) together, 7.0% beet pulp in dry food increased fecal wet
weight by 77%, dry matter excretion by 29%, fecal moisture fraction by 8% units and lowered fecal
dry matter digestibility by 2.0% units (Note 4). There were no perceivable changes in feces
appearance (6, 12-14, 20, 22, 23).
Beet pulp’s low digestibility and its depressive effect on macronutrient digestion raise dry matter
excretion. The more concentrated colonic luminal content triggers osmotically induced fluid
secretion, thus bringing about greater fecal water loss. Compensation seems to occur through more
water drunk (19), while leaving urinary water excretion unchanged (25).
Gut function
Diets containing beet pulp reduced the mean gastrointestinal retention time of chromium-
mordanted fiber from 25 to 21 hours (2, 6, 17, 18). Faster intestinal transit may lessen dry matter
digestibility. Dogs fed beet pulp needed to defecate more frequently: 3.0 times/day instead of 2.4.
Beet pulp feeding raised the concentrations of fecal short-chain fatty acids (11, 14, 22, 23) and lactic
acid (22, 23), which lowered fecal pH (14, 22, 24, 25). The prevalence of intestinal lactic acid
bacteria, which are regarded as beneficial for canine health, was variably influenced by consumption
of beet pulp. The number of lactobacilli in the distal colon was unaffected (15). Both fecal lactobacilli
and bifidobacteria were diminished (22) or strengthened (14, 22). Beet pulp also increased
lactobacilli without affecting bifidobacteria (23). Probably, the exchange ingredients were co-
defining.
One dog study (28-30) showed that intake of beet pulp in place of cellulose increased the colonic
surface-to-volume ratio and improved the histopathological picture, but reproducibility is unknown.
Closing remarks
Beet pulp lowers macronutrient digestion and expands stool bulk. Other indicators of canine gut
function are not convincingly improved. Prevention of intestinal disorders has gone unaddressed
until now.
Note 1
The beet-pulp effect (at < 5% in dry food) on fecal wet weight is based on references 2, 14, 22 and
25.
Note 2
Apparent ileal digestibilities of dry matter,
protein and fat (% of intake)
Ref
BP,
%
DMD,
%
CPD,
%
CFD,
%
11
0
76.6
73.4
95.0
7.5
67.8
70.9
93.2
12
0
76.6
71.1
94.5
7.5
70.9
68.5
91.6
13
0
79.3
74.4
95.6
7.5
65.8
66.3
93.2
14
0
78.0
74.0
95.9
2.5
67.5
65.0
93.6
Control
77.6
73.2
95.3
Beet pulp
68.0
67.7
92.9
Ref = reference, BP, % = % of beet pulp in dry food, DMD, % = apparent dry matter digestibility (% of
intake), CPD, % = apparent crude protein digestibility (% of intake), CFD, % = apparent crude fat
digestibility (% of intake).
Note 3
Control ingredient(s) that were replaced isogravically by beet pulp in dog feeding trials
Ref
Ref
Control ingredient(s)
2
18
corn starch
4
19
basal ingredient mixture
6
20
native corn fiber
11
21
cellulose + corn starch + purified protein
12
22
lignocellulose /lignocellulose + rice flour
13
23
sugarcane fiber + corn
14
24
grain mixture
15
25
glucose + casein
16
26
corn starch
17
27
unknown
Note 4
Overview of outcomes of beet-pulp effects in dog feeding trials
Ref
Days
n
BP,
%
FW,
g/d
FD,
g/d
FM,
%
DMD,
%
CPD,
%
CFD,
%
Carb
D, %
FS
2
21
5
0
117
45
62
90.4
91.6
96.6
,,
,,
2.5
154
50
67
89.4
91.6
95.5
,,
,,
5
219
59
73
87.4
89.5
95.6
,,
,,
7.5
252
65
74
86.2
88.8
95.4
,,
,,
10
327
75
77
84.1
86.0
94.3
,,
,,
12.5
374
76
80
84.3
88.5
93.7
4
14
6
0
79
80
85
,,
,,
50*
55
72
50
6
17
5
0
124
58
53
83.8
89.8
96.1
2.4
,,
,,
12.5
231
57
75
82.2
83.6
94.1
2.8
11
11
5
0
85.3
85.1
95.1
,,
,,
7.5
81.5
83.9
94.3
12
10
5
0
97
39
60
87.8
85.8
95.9
3.5
,,
,,
7.5
155
64
59
82.2
81.8
94.8
3.0
13
11
6
0
126
47
63
78.5
75.5
94.0
3.0
,,
,,
7.5
180
53
70
75.0
75.4
92.7
3.1
14
14
6
0
73
86.2
86.9
97.2
2.9
,,
,,
2.5
90
85.4
87.0
96.6
2.7
15
35
7
0
87.1
,,
,,
6
85.7
16
10
12
0
77.7
73.2
,,
,,
6
74.8
74.9
,,
,,
12
71.6
73.1
17
21
5
0
126
51
60
87.6
85.1
95.2
,,
,,
7.5
270
82
70
81.6
82.7
93.3
18
21
6
0
113
39
65
89.2
89.7
97.1
,,
,,
7.5
232
63
73
85.8
87.4
97.0
19
28
8
0
66
23
66
88.8
90.9
95.9
92.3
,,
,,
7
128
32
75
85.3
88.2
95.8
89.9
20
12
6
0
108
42
61
82.3
82.3
94.3
3.1
,,
,,
7
141
45
66
78.4
81.2
93.8
3.0
21
84
6
0
88.8
,,
,,
4.7
81.9
22
56
8
0
98
41
58
85.7
97.7
2.3
,,
,,
2.7
76
30
61
87.9
97.5
2.3
,,
,,
12
167
50
70
82.5
97.6
2.1
23
15
6
0
125
57
53
69.6
79.4
89.7
4.2
,,
,,
10.4
167
54
68
73.7
78.3
87.9
3.9
24
21
6
5
117
39
66
79.9
77.2
92.1
89.9
,,
,,
10
134
42
69
79.2
77.4
93.7
88.5
25
21
6
0
58
20
65
92.4
,,
,,
4.7*
75
24
69
90.7
26
56
10
0
122
32
74
,,
,,
10*
193
48
75
27
14
10
0
86.4
87.2
94.0
91.8
,,
,,
1.5
85.7
85.7
94.1
91.8
,,
,,
3
85.0
86.4
93.9
89.1
,,
,,
4.5
85.0
86.0
93.7
89.4
^Overall means, excluding Ref 4. Ref = reference. Days = duration of feeding, including feces
collection period. n = dogs per dietary treatment. BP, % = % of beet pulp in dry food; for moist food*
expressed on 90% dry-matter basis; FW, g/d = fecal wet weight, g/d per dog. FD, g/d = fecal dry
weight, g/d per dog. FM, % = % of moisture in feces. DMD, % = apparent fecal dry matter digestibility
as % of intake. CPD, % = apparent fecal crude protein digestibility (% of intake). CFD, % = apparent
fecal crude fat digestibility (% of intake). CarbD = apparent fecal carbohydrate (nitrogen-free extract)
digestibility (% of intake). FS = fecal score on a 1-5 scale (1 = hard, dry and crumbly stools; 5 = watery
diarrhea).
Note 5
Miscellaneous observations
- Beet pulp feeding did not affect clostridial organisms in the distal colon (15) or feces (14, 22, 23),
but raised the fecal concentration at higher dietary inclusion rate (22).
- Dietary beet pulp did not influence postprandial glycemia in dogs (19, 26).
- Beet pulp markedly raised fecal putrescine concentrations in one study (14), but had no effect in
another (23).
- Beet pulp in the diet of dogs increased fecal excretion of bile acids and reduced serum taurine
concentrations (21).
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,,
,,
6
83.9
85.4
93.4
86.5
Control^
0
104
41
62
84.1
85.7
95.3
92.1
3.1
Beet pulp^
7.5
184
53
70
82.1
83.9
94.4
89.3
2.9
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... In dogs, higher dietary levels (≥ 5% in dry food) of cellulose (26,27), beet pulp (28,29) or psyllium seed (30,31) accelerate chyme passage and increase both feces volume and defecation frequency. The studies also showed that cellulose lowers water content of feces to a limited degree, whereas beet pulp and psyllium seed have a clear increasing effect. ...
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Full-text available
Fermentable carbohydrates are an important part of the canine diet. They can improve gastrointestinal health by modifying gut microbial population and metabolic activity. The present study compared the fermentation characteristics and kinetic patterns of 10 carbohydrate sources using the in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT) with dog faecal inoculum. The substrates tested were: pure cellulose (PC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), sugar-cane fibre (SCF), beet pulp (BP), wheat bran (WB), fructooligosaccharides (FOS), inulin, yeast cell wall (YCW), ground psyllium seed (PS), pea hulls (PH). All substrates were incubated at 39°C under anaerobic conditions with faeces collected from dogs as microbial inoculum. Gas production of fermenting cultures was recorded and after 48 h, pH, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and organic matter disappearance (OMD) were determined. The results confirm high fermentation by dog faecal bacteria of FOS and inulin that produced high amounts of propionate and that underwent very rapid fermentation. Three substrates (SCF, CMC and PC) were not able to support bacterial growth, with low gas and SCFA production, and high BCFA formation. PH and BP showed moderate OMD and SCFA production. Wheat bran B underwent rapid fermentation and generated a high proportion of butyrate. PS underwent slow fermentation with delayed gas production, supporting a high formation of SCFA, with an adequate amount of butyrate for bacterial growth while YCW, which showed a delayed fermentation, gave moderate SCFA production. The fermentation characteristics of PS and YCW suggest their potential use in promoting a more distal fermentation on intestinal tract.
Alternative Dietary Fiber Sources in Companion Animal Nutrition
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Full-text available
  • Aug 2013
The US has a pet population of approximately 70 million dogs and 74 million cats. Humans have developed a strong emotional bond with companion animals. As a consequence, pet owners seek ways to improve health, quality of life and longevity of their pets. Advances in canine and feline nutrition have contributed to improved longevity and well-being. Dietary fibers have gained renewed interest in the pet food industry, due to their important role in affecting laxation and stool quality. More recently, because of increased awareness of the beneficial effects of dietary fibers in health, as well as the popularity of functional foods and holistic and natural diets, alternative and novel carbohydrates have become widespread in human and pet nutrition. Fiber sources from cereal grains, whole grains and fruits have received increasing attention by the pet food industry and pet owners. While limited scientific information is available on the nutritional and nutraceutical properties of alternative fiber sources, studies indicate that corn fiber is an efficacious fiber source for pets, showing no detrimental effects on palatability or nutrient digestibility, while lowering the glycemic response in adult dogs. Fruit fiber and pomaces have good water-binding properties, which may be advantageous in wet pet food production, where a greater water content is required, along with low water activity and a firm texture of the final product. Rice bran is a palatable fiber source for dogs and may be an economical alternative to prebiotic supplementation of pet foods. However, it increases the dietary requirement of taurine in cats. Barley up to 40% in a dry extruded diet is well tolerated by adult dogs. In addition, consumption of complex carbohydrates has shown a protective effect on cardiovascular disease and oxidative stress. Alternative fiber sources are suitable ingredients for pet foods. They have been shown to be nutritionally adequate and to have potential nutraceutical properties.
Evaluation of Byproduct Feedstuffs as Dietary Ingredients for Dogs
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  • Jan 1981
Summary Six experiments were conducted to determine the ability of both adult and immature dogs to utilize various byproduct feedstuffs (distillers dried grains with solubles, beet pulp, grape pomace and tomato pomace). Supplementation of diets with low levels (4 to 8%) of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) had no effect on the apparent digestibility of dry matter (DMD) or starch by adult dogs. Moderate levels of DDGS (16.1%) depressed (P
The effect of age and carbohydrate and protein sources on digestibility, fecal microbiota, fermentation products, fecal IgA, and immunological blood parameters in dogs
Article
The present study compared the effects of diets formulated with fibers of different fermentability and protein sources of animal or vegetable origins on old and adult dogs. The experiment was organized in a 3 (diets) × 2 (ages) factorial arrangement, totaling 6 treatments. Thirty-six Beagle dogs were used (18 old dogs [10.2 ± 1.0 yr] and 18 young adult dogs [2.6 ± 0.9 yr]), with 6 dogs per treatment. Three diets with similar compositions were used: a nonfermentable insoluble fiber source (sugarcane fiber) and chicken byproduct meal (nonfermentable fiber [NFF] diet), a fermentable fiber source (beet pulp) and chicken byproduct meal (fermentable fiber [FF] diet), and soybean meal as a protein and fiber source (soybean meal [SM] diet). Data were evaluated using the MIXED procedure and considering the effects and interactions of block, animal, diets, and age. Means were compared using Tukey’s test (P < 0.05). Age × diet interactions were evaluated when P < 0.1. Old dogs had a reduced coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility of DM, which was explained by the age and diet interaction of CP and fat digestibility that was lower for old than for adult dogs fed the FF diet (P < 0.05). The SM diet obtained higher DM, OM, CP, and fiber digestibility compared with the NFF diet (P < 0.05). The feces of dogs fed the NFF diet had increased DM content (P < 0.05). The short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) did not change by age group and were higher for dogs fed the FF and SM diets compared with dogs fed the NFF diet (P < 0.05). An age and diet interaction was observed for lactate and was increased in the feces of old dogs compared with adult dogs fed the FF diet (P < 0.05). Fecal putres-cine, cadaverine, and spermine were increased for old dogs compared with adult dogs (P < 0.05), and the spermidine fecal concentration was increased for dogs fed the SM diet regardless of age (P < 0.05). Old dogs had reduced peripheral T and B lymphocytes (P < 0.05). An age and diet interaction was observed for fecal IgA (P < 0.001). Adult dogs fed the SM diet had increased IgA in feces compared with animals fed the NFF and FF diets (P < 0.05). However, for old dogs, both the FF and SM diets induced increased IgA compared with the NFF diet (P < 0.05). In conclusion, beet pulp may reduce digestibility and induce increased lactate in the feces of old dogs. The protein and oligosaccharides of soybean meal are digestible by dogs, induce the production of SCFA and spermidine, and increase fecal IgA. Old dogs had increased putrecine, cadaverine, and spermine fecal concentrations. © 2017 American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved.
Influence of lignocellulose and low or high levels of sugar beet pulp on nutrient digestibility and the fecal microbiota in dogs
Article
Lignocellulose is an alternative fiber source for dogs; however, it has not yet been studied as a feed ingredient for the nutrition of dogs. Eight adult Beagles were involved in the study, which consisted of 3 feeding periods of 8 to 12 wk each. All dogs received 3 different diets, which either had the same concentration of fiber sources (2.7% sugar beet pulp or lignocellulose) or were formulated for a similar concentration of approximately 3% crude fiber: 12% sugar beet pulp (highSBP; 3.1% crude fiber), 2.7% sugar beet pulp (lowSBP; 0.96% crude fiber), or 2.7% lignocellulose (LC; 2.4% crude fiber). Feces samples were collected at the end of each feeding period, and the apparent nutrient digestibility, daily amount, and DM content of feces and fecal cell numbers of relevant bacteria were analyzed. The daily feces amount was lower and the feces DM was higher when dogs were fed the LC diet and the lowSBP diet compared with the highSBP diet (P < 0.001). Apparent digestibility of CP, Na, and K was highest with the lowSBP diet followed by the LC and highSBP diets (P < 0.001). After feeding LC, the bacterial cell counts of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and the Clostridium leptum cluster were reduced compared with feeding highSBP and even more reduced after feeding lowSBP (P < 0.001). The bacterial cell count of the Clostridium coccoides cluster was lower in LC and lowSBP compared with highSBP (P < 0.001). The feces of dogs fed LC and lowSBP had lower concentrations of acetate (P < 0.001), propionate (P < 0.001), n-butyrate (P = 0.015), total fatty acids (P < 0.001), and l-lactate (P < 0.001) compared with dogs fed highSBP. The concentration of i-butyrate was higher in the feces of dogs fed with LC compared with dogs fed high and low sugar beet pulp (SBP; P < 0.001). The pH of the feces of the LC-fed dogs was highest followed by lowSBP- and highSBP-fed dogs (P < 0.001). Depending on the concentration, the use of LC and SBP as fiber sources in dog feed has different impacts on the fecal microbiota and the apparent digestibility of nutrients. Therefore, different areas of application should be considered. © 2017 American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved.
Cellulose, beet pulp and pectin/gum arabic effects on canine colonic microstructure and histopathology
Article
  • Jan 1995
Source of dietary fiber fed to dogs affects nitrogen and energy balance and intestinal microflora populations
Article
Twenty-eight adult ovariohysterectomized dogs were fed one of four diets differing in type of dietary fiber to assess the effects of fiber on energy digestibility, partitioning of nitrogen (N) components, and changes in intestinal microflora. Dietary fiber sources were beet pulp (BP), short-chain fructooligosaccharides (FOS), cellulose (C) and a fiber blend (FB; BP, gum talha, and FOS). Dry matter (DM) intake was reduced and DM digestibility was increased for dogs fed the FOS diet. Fecal N and microbial N excretion (g/day) was greater with the FB diet. This diet tended to reduce urinary N excretion. Bacterial characterization of intestinal contents found that FOS increased total aerobic bacteria in the distal colon. Fiber Blend decreased counts of Clostridium spp. in the ileum. We concluded that fermentable fiber sources increase microbial growth in the colon, and have the potential to trap and remove N from the body.
Isolation and Characterization of Pectin in Sugar‐Beet Pulp
Article
Pectin was extracted from sugar-beet pulp by various solvent fractionation procedures. An optimal HCI-extraction method yielded 19.53% pectin from the raw material. The HCl-isolated pectin contained 81.8% galacturonic acid. The sugar-beet pulp pectin obtained from different extraction procedures had a high methoxy content ( 60% degree of methylation). The pectin also contained 10 to 17.5% neutral sugars which were mainly arabinose and galactose as analyzed by gas chromatography. The peak molecular weights (relative to dextrans) of the pectins as determined by gel permeation ranged from 35,500 to 44,700 daltons. The pectin possessed high water-holding capacity and low viscosity.