Feeding Sugarbeet Byproducts to Cattle

Occasionally, processors must dispose of whole sugarbeets due to spoilage or excessively large crops. Whole beets can be fed successfully to cattle. Whole beets are low in crude protein (6.8%) but high in energy (75% to 81% total digestible nutrients, or TDN). If possible, whole beets should be broken up prior to feeding. Producers can utilize extended mixing times with a conventional mixer wagon to break up whole beets. In addition, some producers report success using manure spreaders to spread whole beets on stubble or stalk fields and allowing cows access to the beets on the field. Choking may be a potential problem when feeding whole beets. Whole sugarbeets also can be fed by chopping in a tub grinder or forage harvester to reduce the risk of choking. Some producers have noted success by using a forage harvester to chop the beets prior to feeding.

Whole sugarbeets can be chopped and ensiled as a storage method. As with any ensiling process, good silage-making principles should be employed. These principles should include achieving the proper moisture level (typically 60% to 65% moisture is required). Since raw beets contain higher levels of moisture than is optimum for ensiling, the addition of a dry ingredient is necessary to facilitate optimum ensiling.

Depending on what class of livestock the silage will be fed to, dry ingredient choices could include chopped forage, grain screenings or other byproducts.

The sugar in the beets will provide the fermentable carbohydrate needed for successful fermentation. The pile should be packed and covered to exclude oxygen.

Beet pulp can be used effectively as a supplement for gestating or lactating cows, as an ingredient in backgrounding diets or as a replacement for roughage in finishing diets. Beet pulp is relatively low in crude protein (8%), but relatively high in TDN (72%).

Research conducted at NDSU indicates that wet beet pulp can be included at up to 40% of the diet (dry-matter, or DM, basis) in backgrounding diets (Table 2). However, reductions in dry-matter intake will occur at inclusions greater than 20% of the diet. In finishing diets, wet beet pulp can be used as the roughage source, having an energy value greater than corn silage (Table 3).

As a partial or complete roughage replacement, it can be included at 5% to 15% of the diet in finishing rations (DM basis). Data collected at NDSU indicates pressed beet pulp has 94% the energy value of corn in backgrounding diets and 86% the value of corn in finishing diets (Tables 2 and 3). When wet beet pulp is fed at 20% of the diet DM, cattle will consume 30 to 35 pounds of wet pulp, which would be less than 1% of their body weight on a DM basis.

Table 1. Nutrient composition of various sugarbeet byproducts.

1 All values listed are on a dry-matter basis.

Abbreviations: DM = Dry Matter; CP = Crude Protein; TDN = Total Digestible Nutrients; NEm = Net Energy for Maintenance; NEg = Net Energy for Gain; ADF = Acid Detergent Fiber; Ca = Calcium; P = Phosphorus; NG=Not Given.

Adapted from AS1182, “Alternative Feeds.”

Table 2. Effect of increasing level of pressed beet pulp and CSB in backgrounding rations on performance of steer calves (Bauer et al., 2007).

Table 3. Effect of increasing level of pressed beet pulp and CSB in finishing rations on performance of steer calves (Bauer et al., 2007).

As with any feedstuff, diets should be balanced to meet the protein and energy needs of the class of cattle that is being fed. There is no limitation on the amount of beet pulp that could be included in a beef cow ration from a nutritional standpoint. However, in most practical applications, no more than 50% of the ration (DM basis) as beet pulp would be fed due to the reductions in intake that may occur at high levels, as well as moisture content and bulkiness of the diet.

Beet pulp is available as either a wet (pressed shreds) or dry byproduct (shreds or pellets). Because beet pulp contains large amounts of digestible fiber, it usually does not create a prob- lem with acidosis for cattle consuming beet pulp. The economical distance that wet beet pulp can be transported is limited by the moisture content.

Dry pelleted pulp should be stored in bins or commodity sheds to protect it from moisture and rodents. Wet pulp can be stored effectively in silage bags or in trench or bunker silos. Research conducted at NDSU indicates wet beet pulp can be ensiled successfully with a variety of other feedstuffs as a means to facilitate storage. Best results were obtained with the addition dry beet pulp or wheat middlings. Addition of sugarbeet tailings or dry feedstuffs such as wheat middlings or corn improved the quality of the silage through the addition of fermentable carbohydrate. Optimum moisture content for these silages is approximately 65 percent.

Advancements in defoliator technology have limited the usefulness of beet tops since the beet tops essentially are mulched as they are removed. This causes difficulties in gathering the remaining residue into a windrow or for cattle to graze the material.

Beet tailings consist of small beets, broken or damaged beets, soil and other foreign material not suitable for sugar production. Tailings are high in moisture (75% to 85%) and can be quite variable in nutrient content.

With low levels of soil contamination and foreign material, beet tailings have a feeding value similar to or slightly greater than corn silage on a dry-matter basis. However, high levels of soil or foreign material will reduce the energy content of tailings substantially. Choking may be a problem with beet tailings. Due to the high moisture content, transportation is a major expense with beet tailings. Producers should evaluate transportation costs carefully before purchasing these byproducts. Some producers have ensiled beet tailings successfully as a means of storage. Tailings should be blended with a dry feedstuff to achieve a moisture level that limits effluent losses from the silage pile. This can be accomplished through the addition of chopped forages, grain screenings or other byproduct feeds.

Beet molasses is used primarily as a source of energy (75% TDN) in animal feed, but it also is included in rations to improve palatability and to reduce dust. It also is added to manufactured feeds as a binder for pellets and a carrier for urea or other nonprotein-nitrogen sources, vitamins and minerals. The maximum recommended level is 15%. Beet molasses contains relatively high levels of potassium, sulfur, magnesium, sodium and chloride, compared with cereal grains.

Beet molasses must be stored in a well- insulated, heated tank. At temperatures above 110 degrees, it can be pumped easily with a 2.5- to 3-horsepower pump and 3-inch tubing.

Desugared molasses, or CSB, is molasses that has gone through further refinement to remove remaining sugar. It is slightly lower in energy (67% TDN), compared with molasses, but is higher in protein (20% crude protein, or CP) and potassium. Research conducted at NDSU indicates that it increases intake in a wide variety of diets when fed at 5% to 15% of the diet.

Molasses and CSB are liquid byproducts. Tanks and associated pumping equipment are required to handle these byproducts. More information on handling liquid byproducts is available at www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/publications/handling-liquid-feed-commodities. CSB can be stored in an uninsulated tank with no additional heating required for pumping. Pump size should be 2-horsepower or larger, with a minimum tube size of 2 inches.