fodder beet

Some advice please. How do you feed it to sheep? Do the roots need to be cut in half for the sheep to eat the centres? Or can it be left whole and distributed around the field? We have never had anything to do with it. A local haulier can deliver it as a back load. Looking at feeding it to a shepherded flock in an effort to reduce costs.
 
Some advice please. How do you feed it to sheep? Do the roots need to be cut in half for the sheep to eat the centres? Or can it be left whole and distributed around the field? We have never had anything to do with it. A local haulier can deliver it as a back load. Looking at feeding it to a shepherded flock in an effort to reduce costs.
Tip it whole into the field

first few times run over it to crush it so sheep will get the taste.
 
We bought a front end loader mounted chopper bucket in a farm sale as we couldn't get our mules to go near it. Once chopped they went berserk for it and we just fed fodder beet rather than watching round bales rot in ring feeders. Our neighbours fed it whole or some had old skh rear beater muckspreaders that they just used for fodder beet. Very little waste or problems with it.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
I have no way of chopping it, and no access to a dung spreader. When I have fed it out, I have reversed down the field trickling it out of a telehandler bucket as I go. Sheep will cope fine with it whole, but might get started on it sooner if you chop/break a few, even if that’s only by driving back over a few once you’ve trickled it out.

A telehandler is a lot of weight on narrow wheels, so best kept off the ground if you can. If you have a muck spreader (of any kind) then make use of it. I certainly wouldn’t invest in anything just to chop it though.

They are very happy grazing it where it grows in the field, and cleaning up any spilt beet after lifting, so certainly not necessary to chop for sheep.
 

spin cycle

Member
Location
north norfolk
Some advice please. How do you feed it to sheep? Do the roots need to be cut in half for the sheep to eat the centres? Or can it be left whole and distributed around the field? We have never had anything to do with it. A local haulier can deliver it as a back load. Looking at feeding it to a shepherded flock in an effort to reduce costs.

i suppose it depends on how many you've to feed (time)...add on age and longevity you want?...and whether beet are hi or low dm

chopping must be better....except do you risk to higher intake:scratchhead:.....tipping them out and 'running over them' must be messy:scratchhead:

i'll have to buy some of @marshfarmer and try some through my rotaspreader:)

also got some grazing in situ;)
 

ajcc

Member
Livestock Farmer
I had a go once with a rotorspreader, chewed beet to shreds and hard to empty. Sideland and tickover but last third of load needed revs and shreds come out well muddied! Need to empty it or get manky compost. Feed them whole where they grow is best...sometimes roll them out of silochop/straw chopper drum at pasture but takes time and hydraulic top link. Or shake a loader bucket at speed whole beet fine but I grow softer low dm grazing variety.
 

marshfarmer

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Norfolk
i suppose it depends on how many you've to feed (time)...add on age and longevity you want?...and whether beet are hi or low dm

chopping must be better....except do you risk to higher intake:scratchhead:.....tipping them out and 'running over them' must be messy:scratchhead:

i'll have to buy some of @marshfarmer and try some through my rotaspreader:)

also got some grazing in situ;)
I can sell them prechopped through the KW :p
 

Andyt880

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co. Down
Does any one have any thoughts on feeding chopped beet to housed ewes? I can get washed beet localy. I will be housing my ewes on wire mesh from around Christmas time and will be lambing from 17th march on. I will have walk through feeders between pens so plenty of feeding space. I was thinking it could be thrown on top of the silage once a day?
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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