One of the most common practices for feeding fodder beet to beef cows is finishing. In this way, the cattle are raised to high slaughter weights in 70 to 80 days. It is an inexpensive and effective means to raise cattle to high LWT in a very short time. However, there are some factors that you need to consider before you start feeding fodder beet to beef cattle.
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Feasibility
Beet is a crop with high sugar content. It is grown from seeds that are small. A kilogram of beet seed contains approximately one hundred thousand seeds. The crop is harvested from fields during the autumn and winter months. The harvested crop is then transported to processing facilities. These facilities run 24 hours a day and process the beet roots.
Beef producers could save money by reducing the amount of expensive winter feeds. The fodder beet crop requires far less water per kilogram of dry matter than conventional feeds. This is an important consideration, especially in arid areas. Moreover, beef producers have started to become aware of its benefits.
Nutrition
Fodder beet is a very important wintering crop, particularly for southern regions. The plant has a high energy content and high yields, making it a valuable addition to cattle diets. However, its high sugar and nitrate content should be monitored to ensure that it is safe to feed to cattle.
Fodder beet contains a large amount of fermentable carbohydrates, but it is low in protein and fibre. Cows fed fodder beet can develop acidosis, and it is important to transition cattle onto a cereal or other crop to minimise this risk. However, the crop can also contain significant amounts of trace and major minerals. Depending on the proportion of beet in the ration and other feeds, the amount of mineral supplement needed will vary.
Fodder beet can be fed to cows during lactation. However, cattle will still need additional transitioning up to winter allocation. This will require the addition of a feed supplement with no more than 1 kg of DM per day.
Silage-making techniques
Two types of silage-making techniques for feeding fodder-beet to beef cattle have been developed for beef producers in the Midwest. Stack silage is made by stacking beet tops and oat straw in alternate layers. The tops are wilted to about 60 per cent moisture. The tops are fed lightly to some lots and heavily to others. The intention was to maximize the intake of beet tops by the cattle.
Beet silage contains a lower digestible energy content than barley silage. This decreases the gain-to-feed ratio of the cattle. However, beet silage is very palatable and yields comparable gains to barley silage. Beet silage must be priced competitively, however.
Grazing systems
Fodder beet is an excellent alternative forage crop for beef cattle. It provides approximately 12 MJ/kg dry matter, outyielding many other forage crops. However, to get the maximum benefit from fodder beet, careful management is required. A number of beef experts have provided inputs on the best fodder beet grazing systems.
The cattle in the FB grazing system were weaned at six months of age and grazed fodder beet for 81 days before slaughter. The cattle were also provided with access to pasture hay. During the grazing period, the cattle were weighed at 4-6 week intervals. The carcasses were graded according to Meat Standards Australia specifications.
Beef cattle fed fodder beet showed improved carcass quality. The carcass composition was acceptable despite low levels of carotene and low ossification. Moreover, beef cattle fed fodder beet were able to be harvested earlier than cattle on control grazing systems. Their carcass quality was also improved, with lower carcass to liveweight yields and higher MSA marble scores than their counterparts.
Costs
Feeding fodder beet to beef cattle can help beef producers cut costs while increasing yields and improving animal welfare. It is important to avoid over-supplementing cattle. It may also have negative impacts on the environment. Feeding fodder beet to beef cattle is not appropriate for all cattle.
The transition process for young cattle is more gradual. Feed beets should be sprinkled on pasture for the first week, followed by a two-week transition to crop. By day seven or eight, the intake will increase by about 0.5kg per day.
Feeding sugar beets to cattle can have significant effects on milk yield and energy content. It is important to check the moisture content of sugar beets before feeding them. A wet year can change the beets’ composition.
