Ensure appropriate Transition to Fodderbeet Grazing

The process of transitioning dairy cows onto fodderbeet should be well managed and careful to avoid any critical mistakes.

It is important to start slowly with 1 – 2 kg dry matter per cow allocated per day and increasing allocation by 1 kg per cow per day.

Cows should be closely monitored to ensure all cows are eating fairly and to ensure all cows are moving through the transition process. Try to avoid some cows eating excessive quantities and other cows eating only minimal amounts.

Full transition should be achieved in 21 days and is noted when cows are fully fed and begin to leave beet behind.

It is of particular importance when feeding fodderbeet to pregnant cows that calcium (Ca) and phosphorous (P) are in adequate supply as fodderbeet will not supply enough. Some supplementation of these two minerals will most likely be required.

The process of transitioning beef cows onto fodderbeet should be well managed and careful to avoid any critical mistakes.

It is important to start slowly with 1 – 2 kg dry matter per animal allocated per day and increasing allocation by 1 kg per animal per day.

Animals should be closely monitored to ensure all are eating fairly and to ensure all animals are moving through the transition process. Try to avoid some animals eating excessive quantities and others eating only minimal amounts.

Full transition should be achieved in 21 days and is noted when animals are fully fed and begin to leave beet behind.

A well grown crop that has a good yield, including a healthy leaf canopy, should provide adequate energy and protein to grow a mature beef animal.

It is important to provide some roughage in the form of hay of straw for dietary fibre

Acidosis is less of a problem with younger cattle tend to adapt to fodderbeet slower than older animals. Sometimes it can be necessary to break the bulbs with a tractor to introduce the animals and allow them to get a ‘taste’ for the beet. Nevertheless, careful management is required to ensure good intakes and a successful transition.

Begin with allocating 0.5kg dry matter per animal. Every second day increase the allocation by 0.5 kg dry matter. Decrease the amount of supplement available by the same amount.

For young cattle, the quantity of protein supplied by even an well grown crop, is unlikely to be adequate. Therefore a high quality supplement such as lucerne hay or silage or grazed pasture should used.