In a study conducted by Dennis, T. S., beet pulp was substituted for corn in a high concentrate diet. The results showed that the substitute significantly improved milk protein concentration and production. However, trace mineral levels should be monitored. There are some disadvantages of feeding beet pulp to dairy cows.
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Lower milk protein concentrations and productions
Lowering milk protein concentrations and productions by feeding dairy cows beet pulp has several benefits, including the ability to increase milk production, improve milk quality, and reduce milk fat. It also improves the ruminal pH and has antimicrobial properties, according to a study.
Feeding beet pulp to dairy cows may help dairy farmers reduce their feeding costs while increasing the nutrition level of their cows. Beet pulp is rich in sugar and can be used to replace common cereal grains. It also improves sustainability by stretching forage supplies.
The feedstuff can be fed to dairy cows in several forms. It can be a supplement for cows, or included in backgrounding diets. It contains high levels of TDN and is low in crude protein. Beet pulp can also be used as roughage in finishing diets. Its energy value is higher than corn silage.
High moisture level of beets
While sugar beets and fodder beets are similar in their nutrient content, sugar beets are higher in moisture and sugar than fodder beets. In addition, they contain a higher level of fiber, DM, and crude protein. This means that sugar beets can lower the production cost per kilogram of dry matter (DM).
Beet pulp is not only a low-protein, high-fiber energy source, but is also highly digestible, with a low risk of acidosis. It can be provided as a substitute for corn grain at 60, 120, and 240 g/kg of DM. The moisture content also limits the distance at which beet pulp can be transported.
To overcome this problem, sugar beets can be mixed with forage during ensiling. Sugar beets can be mixed with corn silage, while beets added to corn silage can increase protein and fat content.
Alternatives to corn silage
There are several alternatives to corn silage for dairy cows. These feeds have a variety of benefits. Unlike corn, these feeds are not acidic, which means that they are palatable to dairy cows. In addition to providing good nutritional value, they also have other benefits.
The final quality of corn silage depends on several factors, including the forage’s dry matter content at harvest, the degree of plant maturity, and the amount of oxygen removed during packing. For this reason, it is important to send silage samples to a commercial laboratory for nutrient analysis. However, producers should be aware of the capital costs and the associated DM losses when comparing two types of silage.
Small grain silage is another alternative that can be used to supplement corn silage. While it will not provide the same quality of forage as corn silage, it can be very cost effective. You should also consider the digestibility rate and the neutral detergent fiber of the alternative feeds.
Limit-fed diets containing beet pulp
Beet pulp is a high-energy supplement that can replace a portion of forage and grain in dairy cattle diets. Its energy content is about 85 percent and its crude protein content is comparable to that of corn. Beet pulp is also high in digestible fiber, which improves palatability. A typical dairy cattle diet can contain up to 15 percent beet pulp by weight.
Beet pulp is a byproduct of the sugar beet industry and is a good source of beneficial fibers, particularly for dairy cattle. It also provides rapid fermentable energy in the rumen. Beet pulp contains approximately nine percent crude protein and twenty percent crude fiber, as well as 45 percent NDF. It can be purchased in dried or pelleted form. Beet pulp can be fed to dairy cows in both whole and ground form. It is also a good way to control diarrhea in young pigs.
