Dried beet pulp as energy source for intensive bull fattening

Abstract

Eight digestibility trials, carried out with wethers, demonstrated that dried sugar beet pulp is a highly digestible energy source for ruminants. Using 95 as value figure, the mean starch equivalent content of the eight different lots amounted to 63.2 (73.3 in the dry matter) this corresponds with approximately 90% of the value of rolled barley. Beef production trials were carried out with 779 young bulls (322 baby-beef bulls and 457 store bulls) fed ad libitum with complete dry rations containing, respectively, 50, 60, 70 or 95% dried sugar beet pulp pellets. Straw and water were always available. Soybean oil meal was added to the first three rations, to increase the protein content, while in the last ration 0.85% urea was incorporated, or a liquid supplement containing 9.5% urea was available in a small tank with lick-wheel. From the fattening experiments it can be concluded that dried sugar beet pulp is a palatable feedstuff which can be used as sole energy source for finishing bulls. Dried sugar beet pulp supplemented with urea, minerals, micro-elements and vitamins resulted in high performances, high quality carcasses and an acceptable feed cost price. The use of a liquid supplement besides dried sugar beet pulp gave satisfactory results but further studies concerning palatability will be needed.