how long does soaked sugar beet keep for

[laurac]

I bought some unmollased sugar beet at the weekend and soaked some sunday eve (bag says 24 hours), but i made up far too much when should i throw it away ? it smelt ok today and obviously its been really cold too which has probably stopped it fermenting but i'm thinking i shouldnt use it tomorrow
I mixed up a new batch this eve ready for tomorrow eve (a smaller amount!)
How long does everyone else's sugar beet stay fresh in the cold weather?
thanks v much

[anastasia55555]

i would prob use it tomorrow (stuff u made sunday) some one will prob shoot me down in flames lol! Yeh in hot weather i literally mix what i need for that feed, and that feed only, in the winter i tend to mix up a bucket full and use it over a few days. It does go a hell of a long way!

[misty]

Like human food I go by smell! It will be o.k. for days in this weather. I think the reason why we don't feed it much in the summer is because it goes off in the heat.

[laurac]

thank you ladies, yes a small amount swelled up to a huge amount!
If it smells ok in the morning I shall add to their breakfasts, new smaller soaked batch will be ready tomorrow eve anyway, really good stuff for bulking up their feeds and seems to make them eat slower

[kafee]

I always used to make up as much (molassed beet) as I needed for the next day, but when a very experienced friend was helping me look after them, she would make up a bucketful which would then last several days.

When I started using unmolassed I did the same, until last week when I read the bag! However, I haven't been able to judge how much I need to soak, so I'm still keeping some for 48 hours. The ponies haven't mentioned any problems .............................. that I've noticed.

Like misty, I go by smell. It does ferment in warm weather, but recently I've had to keep it indoors to stop it freezing. I'm sure it's OK to keep it for 48 hours or so.

[laurac]

thanks kafee, i dont think my bad said how long it keeps for when i looked for instructions
Have wrapped my soaking buckets in horse rugs in barn to stop them freezing, hope it works

[welly]

It goes off quickly in hot weather and you shouldn't feed it if it smells fermented. In cold weather it would be OK for a couple of days, but about 3 days would be my maximum.

[laurac]

Thanks welly
I used some of the left over this morning it smelt fine but i then chucked the rest away
a new smaller batch was made up to soak last night ready for tonight

[jen1]

after soaking i wouldnt go beyong 4 days if its cold, 2 days if its warm,

[Azrael]

I make enough for 2 days but some people at the yard get 4 or even 5 days out of it. Mia would be trying to contact the rspca if I inflicted sugarbeet older than 2 days on her, she doesn't like it if it's getting at all smelly. In summer I use speedibeet and soak as needed.