Beet pulp is a good, fiber-rich energy feed for cattle, worth about 85 to 95 percent of the energy of corn, but it is low in protein. Used in the right amount, it stretches hay and pasture and is gentle on the rumen. This guide covers how much to feed, which form to buy and how to handle it.
What beet pulp is
Beet pulp is what remains of sugar beets after the sugar is extracted. It is sold dried (shreds or pellets), pressed, or wet. Dried pulp stores well in a dry bin or shed. Wet pulp is about 75 to 80 percent water, spoils quickly, and is best used close to the plant that makes it.
Nutritional value
- Energy. North Dakota State University reports pressed pulp at about 94 percent of corn’s energy value in backgrounding diets and 86 percent in finishing diets, with about 72 percent TDN.
- Fiber. The fiber is highly digestible, so pulp usually does not cause the acidosis that grain can.
- Protein. Crude protein is only about 8 to 9 percent, so cattle on pulp often need a protein supplement.
How much to feed
NDSU research puts the useful range at roughly these shares of the total diet dry matter:
- Finishing cattle: about 5 to 15 percent as a partial replacement for roughage
- Backgrounding cattle: up to 40 percent in research, but intake starts to drop above about 20 percent
- Beef cows: practical use stays under about 50 percent because of bulk and moisture
At 20 percent of the diet, cattle eat roughly 30 to 35 pounds of wet pulp a day, which is under 1 percent of body weight on a dry-matter basis.
Soaking and handling
- Soaking dry shreds or pellets in cold or warm water makes them easier to eat and helps prevent choking in animals that bolt their feed. Do not soak in hot water or leave it standing, because it ferments and loses value.
- Keep dry pulp away from moisture and rodents.
- Ensiled wet pulp keeps best at about 65 percent moisture, and blending it with dry pulp or wheat middlings helps.
- Throw out any pulp that smells sour or looks moldy.
Beet pulp compared with other feeds
Pulp pairs well with grass hay and low-quality forage, and it is a common buffer in lactating dairy diets. For dairy details, see feeding beet pulp to dairy cows, and for more general guidance see feeding beet pulp to cattle. Another byproduct option is palm kernel meal.
Bottom Line
Beet pulp is an affordable, safe energy and fiber source when you keep it to a sensible share of the ration and cover the protein gap. Ask a nutritionist or your extension agent to balance the ration for your herd.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice.
