Feeding of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgarisL.) for Milk Production

Abstract

Abstract Verma, A.K. and Naik, D.G. 1994. Feeding of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) for milk production. J. Appl. Anim Res., 6: 37–42. In order to assess the feasibility of feeding green sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) plant, eighteen crossbred lactating cows of first or second lactation, yielding 6–10 kg milk daily, were divided into three equal groups of six animals each following randomised block design. During 45 days of experimental feeding, the cows of control group (Group I) received 75 percent dry matter requirement through green maize fodder and the balance 25 percent through concentrate. mixture to meet the protein and energy requirements. 25 and 50 percent of green maize dry matter was replaced with sugar beet in group II and group III, respectively. Nutrient intake, their digestibilities, daily weight gain, milk yield and its composition, except, crude protein, did not differ significantly among the three groups indicating that upto 50 percent maize fodder can be replaced with sugar beet plant wi...