Fodder beet

[Herefordshirefarmer4321]

Looking at the benefits of feeding fodder beet to our growing cattle (8-14mth) and finishing cattle. Is it worth adding to either of the mixes. And how often can I grow it in the same field?
Thanks in advance

 

[Great In Grass]

It's not recommended to follow beet with another crop of beet you need a two-year gap ideally.

It's low in minerals and protein so will need balancing. Due to the sugar content, however, intakes are good which leads to good animal performance.

I've attached some info for you.

 

[Stuart J]

It's not recommended to follow beet with another crop of beet you need a two-year gap ideally.

It's low in minerals and protein so will need balancing. Due to the sugar content, however, intakes are good which leads to good animal performance.

I've attached some info for you.

Why not beet followed by beet? What's the problems?

 

[Skintagain]

Why not beet followed by beet? What's the problems?

Disease I believe. Hard on the ground too

 

[clemmo]

Why not beet followed by beet? What's the problems?

nematodes
Weed beet
Herbicide options

 

[neilo]

Quite a few do two consecutive years of beet round here, followed by a long break.
The second year crops are always noticeably poorer and dirtier.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Quite a few do two consecutive years of beet round here, followed by a long break.
The second year crops are always noticeably poorer and dirtier.

Yes same here, can never understand why, it might take years to get rid of the problems caused. Wheras one year in five is so sustainable.

To yet the real benifits though totally virgin land, the beet grows with such vigour. Local farmer bought a farm with a beet quota but the land was totally beet sick. So he grew the beet on his home farm 20 miles away from the nearesr sugar beet & on heavy grade three soil he had the highest yeilding crop of sugar beet in Yorkshire. Locally (this was 25 years ago) we all went to look at this foreign crop, now fodder beet is much more common.