Fodder beet in TMR

[Bruce Almighty]

We grow beet for our sheep which they either graze in-situ or feed through an auger bucket & chop coarsely.

We also feed beet whole to bulling heifers & they love it.

Put beet in front of the milkers & they won't look at it, split it with a shovel etc & not interested.

Maize stocks are limited & I'd like to get some beet into the milkers, what's the best thing to do?
We have a Keenan but it doesn't chop & our current TMR is 50/50 grass & maize silage with QLF tmr40 (molasses) rolled wheat and soya rape.

Also
What is the best way of storing beet when harvested as the weather warms up?

Thanks in advance

 

[pappuller]

Try chopping it through the auger bucket and mix in tmr?

 

[Bruce Almighty]

The auger bucket is a bit tired & chops it to Apple/ potato size & I'm worried about cows choking.
As it is, it's great for the sheep

 

[Cow2000]

Whenever we’ve fed beet the milkers love it, sort the TMR looking for it

 

[davidroberts30]

how long are you giving the cows to get a taste for it?
first time i ever fed it,it took the cattle 3 weeks to really get on it

 

[thorpe]

ive never known cattle reject beet!

 

[Slowcow]

Would the Keenan not smash it up enough if you put it in first?
We fed some with our tub and the cows went for it right away! Spend ages rooting it out

 

[Scholsey]

Literally have whole beet coming out the mix sometimes if in a rush and it’s never a problem, think potato’s are more a issue than beet.

 

[idgni]

Put it onto clean floor and crush it with wheels or bucket on loader , works well , that’s how I got my sheep into it

 

[Timbo]

Just to bear in mind, if you are mixing it into a TMR, it needs to be pretty clean - there is nothing like beet in a tmr to heat up fast when contaminated with soil.

 

[thorpe]

Just to bear in mind, if you are mixing it into a TMR, it needs to be pretty clean - there is nothing like beet in a tmr to heat up fast when contaminated with soil.

you dont want to be feeding dirty beet to cattle how ever it fed, we dont wash but put over a cleaner and store dry.

 

[Bruce Almighty]

Thanks for replies.

The heifers took to it straight away, root forked out of the bucket into the trough by hand.

I think we'll try forking some into the cow trough the same as heifers & be patient.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Drive tractor wheal over it

 

[richy]

We were advised against feeding beet this year after losing 16 cows with TB apparently badger loves the stuff

 

[Jdunn55]

We were advised against feeding beet this year after losing 16 cows with TB apparently badger loves the stuff

Badgers love corn, maize, fodder beet etc, basically anything except grass

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

Badgers love corn, maize, fodder beet etc, basically anything except grass

They just sh!t and pee on that instead.

 

[Jdunn55]

They just sh!t and pee on that instead.

Not to mention root it up looking for worms
Delightful creatures

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Plenty of washed available nowadays, the extra cost would be recouped in the lower dirt tare

 

[Slowcow]

Still just thinking of growing it! Anyone put 2 strands of electric right around outside? Would that keep Tommy Brock out?