Question

Are there any studies that link the herbicide glyphosate use in sugar beets to inflammation in horses? Should I worry about feeding beet pulp to horses?

Answer

We understand the safety concern regarding glyphosate use in sugar beet production, but we believe beet pulp is safe for horses.

About 95% of the sugar beets in the U.S. are genetically modified (GM) to increase herbicide tolerance. According to research studies, there is no difference in how GM and non-GM feedstuffs affect the health and safety of animals. Additionally, research has shown minuscule amounts of glyphosate residue in beet pulp. The maximum residue allowed by the United States Department of Agriculture is 25 mg/kg.^*,**

Scientific studies in other species have shown this level to be harmless when fed over time. Although most research has been conducted in other species, there is also no evidence to suggest GM feed ingredients, including beet pulp, are in any way harmful to horses. Instead, there has been considerable research about the benefit of feeding horses beet pulp, and its popularity in equine diets continues to rise. In fact, beet pulp is considered a prebiotic and contains antioxidants that may indirectly contribute to reduced inflammation.

Read more about genetically modified feeds here: Are Genetically Modified Feeds Safe for Horses?

^*Barker,  A.L., and F.E. Dayan. 2019. Fate of glyphosate during production and processing of glyphosate-resistant sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 67(7):2061-2065. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b05672.

^**Vicini, J.L., W.R. Reeves, J.T. Swarthout, and K.A. Karberg. 2019. Glyphosate in livestock: Feed residues and animal health. Journal of Animal Science 97(11):4509-4518. doi: 10.1093/jas/skz295.