Fodder beet is a biennial plant grown for its fleshy and swollen root which can produce substantial yields of high-quality fodder and is an excellent supplement.

The main use of fodder beet is for feeding cattle, goats, sheep, also pigs. The high sugar content makes fodder beet palatable and a valuable energy source.

Features

High yielding (12t DM/acre possible)
Improved milk yields (11-12.5 MJ/kg DM ± 12 liters on beet alone)
High energy feed (55-80% sugar/sucrose)
Two crops per year possible
Can be stored for up to 5 months
90 – 100% usage – zero waste
Rapid growth rate under good conditions
Cheap replacement for expensive dairy meal

Growing Conditions

Fodder beet is best suited to areas with a 400 mm minimum average annual summer rainfall, irrigation is beneficial for very high yields. The optimum 12 – 16oC is recommended for germination, not below 7oC.

Feeding

Lift beet from soil and feed to cows in combination with a roughage source, 1 – 2 bulbs per cow per day.

Grazing

Strip grazing is possible for the grazeable beet type for larger herds.

Seeding Rate

1.2kgs to 1.5kgs — kgs/acre

40cm to 50cm — row spacing

25cm to 30cm — plant spacing

1cm to 2cm — planting depth

Packaging

1x Fodder Beet- Enermax (250g)