Can Rabbits eat Beets?

Beets are also known as table beet, red or golden beet, and garden beet. They are popular the world over in particular throughout the USA and Canada down into Central America and also in Europe.

Beets have a darker purple skin or purple flesh and have a flavour which is a rich, earthy and sweet.

So can rabbits eat beets and if they can how much of them can be eaten?

Lets take a look and find out more by checking out their nutritional data.

In particular, we’re interested in their starch, sugar, phosphorus, fat, protein and acidic content. It would also be useful if it had a nice amount of protein in it as well.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 180 kJ (43 kcal)
Carbohydrates 9.96 g
Sugars 7.96 g
Dietary fiber 2.0 g
Fat .18 g
Protein 1.68 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv. (0%) 2 μg
Thiamine (B1) (3%) .031 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (2%) .027 mg
Niacin (B3) (2%) .331 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
(3%) .145 mg
Vitamin B6 (5%) .067 mg
Folate (B9) (20%) 80 μg
Vitamin C (4%) 3.6 mg
Trace metals
Calcium (2%) 16 mg
Iron (6%) .79 mg
Magnesium (6%) 23 mg
Manganese (14%) 0.3 mg
Phosphorus (5%) 38 mg
Potassium (6%) 305 mg
Sodium (5%) 77 mg
Zinc (4%)

source wikipedia

As you can see beets contain quite a bit of sugar, a hint of fat and protein, they are very acidic and have some calcium and phosphorus.

They also contain a little fiber.

On this basis, beets should be fed sparingly to rabbits in very small amounts a few times a month. This is because of their acidic content mainly not to mention the small amounts of sugar, fat, protein, calcium, and phosphorus they contain.

If they eat too much of it, it is likely to cause your bunny a lot of gas and they will have stomach ache isses which may lead to sickness and diarrhoea.

So feed with caution.

Rabbis should always have a staple diet of water, hay and good rabbit pellets first and foremost, and fresh leafs and veggies should top it up every day and not be their main food.

Can rabbits eat Beet Greens?

If they can eat beets, then what about the greens or leaves that are produced when they are grown?

Yes, they are great for rabbits to eat one a daily basis and can be fed as part of their fresh portion of your rabbits daily diet. But do watch for its acidic content. About 1 packed cup per 2 lbs of body weight per day will suffice.

Can rabbits eat Beet pulp?

Beet pulp  is the fibrous material left over after the sugar is extracted from sugar beets. They can eat it but do feed it sparingly and in small amounts to them.

This thread has some good information on it if you are looking for further information on it http://rabbittalk.com/shredded-beet-pulp-t5567.html

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