Written by John Swire
Limagrain UK has introduced the new fodder beet variety Ribambelle this year. A triploid beet with red skin, and already used extensively in France, Ribambelle ranks highly among fodder beet varieties for its high energy and medium dry matter contents.
Field trial results show that this new variety has an average dry matter of 16% which makes it ideally suited for dairy or beef cattle.
“As well as high feed value, Ribambelle has the advantage of being rhizomania tolerant (a disease that can cause yield loss) and medium rooted,” says Limagrain UK’s Martin Titley. “It grows with 50% of its root out of the ground, compared with deeper rooted varieties that typically have 70-80 % of their root in the ground. This makes for easier harvesting and a cleaner root.
Its root depth also allows for grazing in situ which appeals to sheep farmers looking for a high energy forage once the grass stops growing to finish lambs, or for those looking for a high value feed for dairy heifers and for finishing beef.
A limited seed supply of the new variety Primula is also available from Limagrain. This pink-skinned variety is rhizomania tolerant and has a dry matter content of between 18% and 19%
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