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.
Feedstuff
|
DM
|
CP1
|
TDN1
|
NEm1
|
NEg1
|
ADF1
|
Ca1
|
P1
|
Sugarbeet Tops
|
17.0
|
15.1
|
58.0
|
0.59
|
0.27
|
14.0
|
1.01
|
0.22
|
Sugarbeet Top Silage, i
|
21.0
|
12.7
|
53.0
|
0.55
|
0.20
|
18.0
|
1.56
|
0.20
|
Sugarbeet Tailings
|
18.4
|
8.9
|
65.0
|
0.67
|
0.40
|
34.0
|
2.35
|
0.27
|
Sugarbeet Tailing Silage
|
20.0
|
10.0
|
65.0
|
0.66
|
0.40
|
NG
|
2.50
|
0.20
|
Sugarbeet Top Silage, ii
|
32.0
|
11.9
|
51.0
|
0.45
|
0.20
|
NG
|
1.56
|
0.22
|
Sugarbeet Pulp, Dried
|
90.0
|
9.1
|
72.0
|
0.77
|
0.49
|
31.0
|
0.72
|
0.20
|
Sugarbeet Pulp, Wet
|
25.1
|
9.1
|
72.0
|
0.77
|
0.49
|
31.0
|
0.72
|
0.20
|
Sugarbeets (Whole)
|
20.1
|
6.8
|
81.0
|
0.90
|
0.60
|
NG
|
0.24
|
0.24
|
Sugarbeet Molasses
|
77.0
|
10.0
|
75.0
|
0.77
|
0.50
|
0.0
|
0.12
|
0.03
|
Concentrated Separator Byproduct
|
66.0
|
20.0
|
67.0
|
0.75
|
0.42
|
0.0
|
0.05
|
0.03
|
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).
|
Pressed Beet Pulp to CSB Inclusion (% of Ration DM)
|
|
0:0
|
20:0
|
40:0
|
0:10
|
20:10
|
40:10
|
ADG, lbs
|
3.98
|
3.39
|
3.12
|
3.67
|
3.50
|
3.17
|
DMI, lbs/day
|
21.45
|
19.16
|
17.56
|
22.46
|
20.55
|
18.77
|
F:G
|
5.41
|
5.65
|
5.65
|
6.06
|
6.41
|
5.92
|
Apparent Dietary NE, Mcal/lb
|
Maintenance
|
0.91
|
0.89
|
0.90
|
0.89
|
0.86
|
0.86
|
Gain
|
0.61
|
0.59
|
0.60
|
0.54
|
0.59
|
0.57
|
Table 3. Effect of increasing level of pressed beet pulp and CSB in finishing rations on performance of steer calves (Bauer et al., 2007).
|
Pressed Beet Pulp to CSB Inclusion (% of Ration DM)
|
|
5:0
|
12.5:0
|
20:0
|
5:10
|
12.5:10
|
20:10
|
ADG, lbs
|
3.78
|
3.67
|
3.30
|
3.87
|
3.74
|
3.32
|
DMI, lbs/day
|
24.16
|
24.16
|
22.66
|
25.54
|
26.05
|
24.20
|
F:G
|
6.37
|
6.58
|
6.85
|
6.85
|
6.94
|
7.30
|
Apparent Dietary NE, Mcal/lb
|
Maintenance
|
1.00
|
0.99
|
0.97
|
1.00
|
0.99
|
0.92
|
Gain
|
0.70
|
0.68
|
0.67
|
0.69
|
0.68
|
0.62
|
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.