Fodder Beet and milk quality

[cowcrazy]

What do people who feed beet reckon the up lift in milk quality is when they start? Is it mainly improved proteins or BF as well?

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Both. Just had a quick look at last year's milk quality when they were getting a heap of beet was 7.2 and 4.7. when the beet ran out it quickly dropped back to 6.5 and 4.3 and lower volumes.

 

[Ducati899]

Didn't do anything for us last year,stopped using it after a few months and seen no difference

 

[pappuller]

waste of time here, tried it 2 or 3 times only made em sh!t

 

[Sid]

Both. Just had a quick look at last year's milk quality when they were getting a heap of beet was 7.2 and 4.7. when the beet ran out it quickly dropped back to 6.5 and 4.3 and lower volumes.

At what cost? £25/t? Dm/t? Feeding storage costs? Extra ppl?

Spoke to an organic producer who has to meet certain bf and p levels. Was costing him too much and due to cost him more this autumn to reach those goal posts.

 

[supercow]

tried beet last year because the second cut was low in sugar I think they dropped a litre when we ran out, but it probably costs a litre so we never put it back in, didn't notice a differene with milk quality, the major difference was our tractor man moaning every time he put the slurry tanker on it got in the slurry and kept blocking the spout! it gets everywhere! random bit of beet just chillin in corners of the shed

 

[Cows 'n grass]

At what cost? £25/t? Dm/t? Feeding storage costs? Extra ppl?

Spoke to an organic producer who has to meet certain bf and p levels. Was costing him too much and due to cost him more this autumn to reach those goal posts.

No figures to hand but I'm sure it's it the next cheapest feed to grazed grass.

Mine is all grazed insitu.

I wouldn't dream of growing FB organically, mine will have had 5 sprayer passes but will yield 20+ t DM/ha.

 

[Sid]

No figures to hand but I'm sure it's it the next cheapest feed to grazed grass.

Mine is all grazed insitu.

I wouldn't dream of growing FB organically, mine will have had 5 sprayer passes but will yield 20+ t DM/ha.

Ah grazed makes huge difference. Doubled fenced. Extra milking prep time.
With any system its the hidden costs you need to be aware of.

Guy up the road does same as you but organically. Gets on well with it.

 

[Maxxum-man]

I have just started feeding 5kg a day, hoping it may improve quality of the milk but its only while I'm serving to sexed semen, very good feed for fertility and health

 

[Beef farmer]

Cracking feed for fertility. Bit concerned I won't be feeding any this year. Oh and cows love it

 

[Rossymons]

Cracking feed for fertility. Bit concerned I won't be feeding any this year. Oh and cows love it

That it is. Our cows were like magnets, the heats were incredible.

I miss feeding it but I don't miss growing and harvesting it.

 

[cowcrazy]

We normally see a lift in milk qualities but last year grew one of the KWS high dry matter ones and saw no improvement.

 

[supercow]

Anyone using superplus from for farmers? Seen a hike in milk protein and a lift in milk since started feeding it, 80£ a ton tho

 

[Maxxum-man]

Anyone using superplus from for farmers? Seen a hike in milk protein and a lift in milk since started feeding it, 80£ a ton tho

What is it? What's the analysis?

 

[holywell farmer]

waste of time here, tried it 2 or 3 times only made em sh!t

Do wash the beet

 

[pappuller]

Triple cleaned.

 

[supercow]

What is it? What's the analysis?

I don't even know! We only got it cos there was no mash filter at short notice. It's sludgy type stuff u wouldn't think it would mix in the wagon but it's doing alright. Proteins been at 3.1 all summer, up to 3.34 but that's more to do with changing onto second cut but I think it's helping

 

[cowcrazy]

Has anyone on here grown the new LG Fodder Beet variety Brick?. Looks good on paper.