fodder beet

[neilo]

That would of been over £400 per day here,

I'm guessing @CopperBeech would have been feeding that to a big mob of sheep.

I've used the same method of feeding when the store is getting full, straight from the lifter to nearby mobs. The trailer load will last several weeks with a smaller mob. It would make a hell of a mess in wet conditions though.

 

[neilo]

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?

I've fed it whole to indoor ewes quite a few times, just tipped behind a cattle barrier that's been adjusted to allow them to feed through/under it. Either you need to feed it ad-lib, or ensure they can all feed at the same time. It's very palatable, so if there is limited access, the first ewes will scoff it all. Bear in mind that it's very low protein, which will need balancing from higher CP concs or silage, especially for ewes approaching lambing.

 

[Andyt880]

Thanks @neilo
I will see what concentrates are available here (Co. Down) to balance it out. It might be an easier option to just feed a complete concentrate ration and Adlib hay/silage. It will cost £32 -£35 per ton for washed beet delivered here so not a cheap option if I still have to purchase a high CP concentrate?

 

[NZDan]

How have folk folk found lamb survival from ewes grazing FB. Local vets here advising against feeding it due to poor lamb survival compared to ewes wintered on grass.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

How have folk folk found lamb survival from ewes grazing FB. Local vets here advising against feeding it due to poor lamb survival compared to ewes wintered on grass.

Is that just fodder best? As Neil says, not really adequate on its own.
For most people feeding beet the alternative wouldn't be grass but silage.

 

[neilo]

How have folk folk found lamb survival from ewes grazing FB. Local vets here advising against feeding it due to poor lamb survival compared to ewes wintered on grass.

Not really seen any difference when I've grazed it, then putting them to grass paddocks to lamb. I have always bolused to cover for TE deficiencies though, which could be an issue on any root crops, and things like Iodine deficiency would give poorer lamb survival IIRC.

Grazed fodder beet would be a better ration than lifted beet, as the tops are a lot higher protein than the roots. Still only barely adequate IMO, and growing stock don't seem to thrive on it like adult ewes.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

^^^^ echo the bit about youngstock not doing on it so well, as older ewes etc. do.

A few blokes around here will get a trailer of chopped beet behind the bike, "get Mother to drive" and kick them off around fields a month ahead of outwintering to help the transition which is IMO fairly critical to feeding beet to anything.
Long transition really seems to help with performance.

 

[ajcc]

How have folk folk found lamb survival from ewes grazing FB. Local vets here advising against feeding it due to poor lamb survival compared to ewes wintered on grass.

What do we mean by lamb survival problems? Is this before birth or at/after birth?

 

[Bones]

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?

Last couple of years I feed straw , crystal x, and about 2 whole beet per head , to housed ewes, then introduced meal in the last 2 weeks before lambing, works well, they only get a hand full of straw, but its going to be expensive this year,

 

[NZDan]

What do we mean by lamb survival problems? Is this before birth or at/after birth?

Not really seen any difference when I've grazed it, then putting them to grass paddocks to lamb. I have always bolused to cover for TE deficiencies though, which could be an issue on any root crops, and things like Iodine deficiency would give poorer lamb survival IIRC.

Grazed fodder beet would be a better ration than lifted beet, as the tops are a lot higher protein than the roots. Still only barely adequate IMO, and growing stock don't seem to thrive on it like adult ewes.

My understanding is that the local vets compared scanning % vs docking % between ewes that had fodder beet and ewes that didn't have fodder beat on their customers farms, ewes that had had no fodder beet had a smaller difference. It's been a much debated topic while I've been out contract lamb docking and while many are determined to stick with fodder beet there are also some that are giving up on it as to expensive.

 

[Bones]

Thanks @neilo
I will see what concentrates are available here (Co. Down) to balance it out. It might be an easier option to just feed a complete concentrate ration and Adlib hay/silage. It will cost £32 -£35 per ton for washed beet delivered here so not a cheap option if I still have to purchase a high CP concentrate?

£32_£35 for washed beet delivered, you must be close to the source, £45_£47 it's costing me,

 

[Green farmer]

Thanks @neilo
I will see what concentrates are available here (Co. Down) to balance it out. It might be an easier option to just feed a complete concentrate ration and Adlib hay/silage. It will cost £32 -£35 per ton for washed beet delivered here so not a cheap option if I still have to purchase a high CP concentrate?

Ran out of silage mid winter here and went concentrate and straw diet. Worked out well as you know exactly what nutrients their getting and don't think it cost much more then bought in silage / hay.

 

[Andyt880]

That was last years prices. Yes it only had to travel 5 miles. I haven't heard this years price yet but I imagine it will be up.

 

[Bones]

Any hauliers,,beet people, out there , this side of the pond, interested in a couple of months time, dropping me off some beet and drawing hens dung from here as a back load , come to some kind of an arrangement

 

[euroliner]

How long does chopped beet keep for

 

[neilo]

How long does chopped beet keep for

Only a couple of weeks once it’s chopped I think. Many months if clamped whole, protected from hard frosts.

 

[Dkb]

How long does chopped beet keep for

If your wanting a long life after chopping you can ensile beet.

You will have to add soya hulls, citrus pulp or beet pulp. Something dry to soak up the water though.

 

[Gedd]

What price is beet this year in durham fed it years since might have to have some to help fodder situation out

 

[euroliner]

Only a couple of weeks once it’s chopped I think. Many months if clamped whole, protected from hard frosts.

Neighbour can wash and chop it for me was thinking of doing enough to put in the diet feeder then mix it with wheat straw and silage but it would take me at least a week to use it

 

[Bones]

Neighbour can wash and chop it for me was thinking of doing enough to put in the diet feeder then mix it with wheat straw and silage but it would take me at least a week to use it

You'd have no problem with a week,