The Importance of Accurately Assessing Fodder Beet Yield and Crop Allocation
Accurate crop allocation is especially important during the transition period. It gives the rumen time to adjust to the high levels of quickly fermentable sugar in fodder beet, which helps reduce the risk of acidosis.
To manage this properly, getting an accurate yield assessment is key.
Many factors can affect how accurate your yield estimate is. For a step-by-step guide, click here to view our Beet Yield Assessment Pack.
It is strongly recommended you send a sample to a professional feed lab to test the dry matter percentage (DM%). Guessing DM% can lead to errors in yield estimates. For example, on a high-yielding crop, just a 1% change in DM% can shift your estimate by ±2 tonnes of dry matter per hectare (TDM/ha).
DM% can be influenced by:
- Soil type
- Climate
- Planting time
- Irrigation rate and frequency
Once you have an accurate yield, you can confidently work out how much to allocate to animals each day.
Transitioning Stock Onto Fodder Beet
Start by choosing the right initial allocation based on the stock class and age. Before giving them their first measured break, make sure all animals are familiar with the crop and are already eating it. Also, make sure the break size is big enough so every animal can access the crop at the same time. Once that’s done, begin transitioning your animals over a minimum of three weeks.
For R2 Cattle:
- Start with 1kg DM/ha/day
- Increase by 1kg DM/ha/day every second day
- Make sure the whole group is eating their full allocation before increasing
For R1 Cattle:
- Start with 0.5kg DM/ha/day
- Increase by 0.5kg DM/ha/day every second day
Before feeding fresh beet, always give animals a supplement like pasture or silage for 2–3 hours. This helps avoid hunger related binge eating, which can lead to health issues.
Supplementary Feeding
Supplementary feeds that provide fibre and protein are important for:
- Maintaining rumen function and pH
- Supporting lean muscle growth
- Assisting with foetal development in pregnant animals
For pregnant animals, also consider phosphate supplementation.
