Wet versus Dry Beet Pulp for Milk Production

Abstract

Summary In a reversal experiment consisting of three 10-week trials, the relative feeding value of wet and dry beet pulp for milk and butterfat production was determined. Eight cows were used in each of the first two trials and ten cows were used in the third trial. During each trial the cows were divided into two equal groups. One group received wet beet pulp while the other group received dry pulp. The groups were reversed at the end of the first five weeks. The total milk and butterfat production was slightly higher for the cows while receiving dry pulp. The 26 cows produced 23,369.7 pounds of milk and 760.03 pounds of butterfat while being fed dry pulp, as compared with 23,307.0 pounds of milk and 747.80 pounds of butterfat while receiving the wet pulp. The average daily production per cow while receiving dry pulp was 32.10 pounds of milk and 1.044 pounds of butterfat, as compared with 32.01 pounds of milk and 1.027 pounds of butterfat while receiving the wet pulp. The butterfat percentage was slightly higher while the cows were receiving dry pulp. The average butterfat percentage was 3.25 while on dry pulp, and 3.21 while on wet pulp. Seventeen of the 26 cows tested higher while receiving dry pulp, one cow tested the same on both wet and dry pulp, and eight cows tested higher while receiving the wet pulp. The cows consumed slightly more water while receiving wet pulp. The average daily water consumption per cow was 104.2 pounds on wet pulp, and 102.3 pounds on dry pulp. The average gain in body weight was slightly greater for the cows receiving dry pulp. The average gain per cow was 14.3 pounds while receiving the dry pulp, and 8.9 pounds while receiving the wet pulp. It was found from an average of several feedings that more than twice as much time was required for preparing and feeding a group of five cows wet pulp as was required for feeding the same number of cows dry pulp.