Friday, 24 June 2016 09:55

Careful transition needed for fodder beet

Written by 
Fodder beet has only recently gained popularity as an important dairy cow winter feed. Fodder beet has only recently gained popularity as an important dairy cow winter feed.

While fodder beet has been grown in NZ for years, it has only recently gained popularity as an important dairy cow winter feed.

DairyNZ has advice for transitioning cows onto the supplement.

Increasing use is leading to better understanding of this crop. The key to success in feeding fodder beet to non-lactating (dry) cows is follow good practice and don't cut corners.

• Take accurate yield and dry matter (DM) measurements, especially in the crop portin to be allocated during transitioning (see 'estimating fodder beet crop yield'.)

• Transition cows carefully, slowly introducing them to fodder beet. Decrease the proportion of pasture/silage and increase the amount of fodder beet in the diet over 14-21 days.

• Start mature cows with 1-2kgDM fodder beet/cow/day and only increase by 1kgDM every second day to the required allocation. Do not keep increasing the allocation if not all the cows are eating beet or are leaving bulbs on previous days' breaks. Start heifers and rising yearlings on 1kgDM fodder beet/cow/day and only increase by 0.5kgDM every second or third day once all animals are eating.

• Rising two-year-old heifers and rising one-year-old calves will be slower to start eating the bulbs and will sometimes benefit from splitting bulbs (e.g. using a tractor wheel) to get them onto the crop.

• If transitioning onto unrestricted (ad libitum) fodder beet, do this over at least 21 days. After transitioning to 7-8kgDM fodder beet hold this allocation for seven days and then slowly increase the break line a little each day until the cows leave fodder beet behind to achieve ad libitum intake. These cows still require 2-3kgDM/day of a good quality fibre source (silage, straw, hay).

• Work out your break size accurately: measure the rows, yield and width of your paddocks. Remember cows can graze under the fence by up to 1m so include this area in the allocation.

• Offer a wide enough face of fodder beet so that all animals in the mob can access the crop at the same time. In paddocks without a grass headland to provide extra space at the start of transitioning or in very high yielding crops, consider harvesting the beets in the headland and using these for the first few days of transitioning.

• Using a time based approach (i.e. a set amount of time on crop) is not recommended as a tactic for transitioning because cows can consume 1kgDM every 15-20mins (3-4kgDM/hr) directly after the fodder beet break is opened.

• Have good electricity on fences and have a second fence very close to the feeding fence in case of break out.

• Feed supplement prior to putting cows on crop to ensure a good gut fill. Long chop baleage, silage or hay fed at least three hours before beets are offered is best.

• Check cows frequently. Individual cows transition differently, so even with well-planned transitioning acidosis can occur.

• Farmers need to look for: cows that separate themselves from the mob, are not eating, dehydrated, scouring, 'not doing well', bloating, milk fever-like symptoms, down cows or sudden death. Contact the vet immediately.

More like this

Turning data into dollars

If growing more feed at home adds up to $428 profit per tonne of dry matter to your bottom line, wouldn’t it be good to have a ryegrass that gets you there quicker?

Owl Farm marks 10 years as NZ’s first demonstration dairy farm

In 2015, the signing of a joint venture between St Peter's School, Cambridge, and Lincoln University saw the start of an exciting new chapter for Owl Farm as the first demonstration dairy farm in the North Island. Ten years on, the joint venture is still going strong.

Featured

$2b boost in NZ exports to EU

New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.

US tariffs hit European ag machinery markets

The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.

Tributes paid to Jim Bolger

Dignitaries from  all walks of life – the governor general,  politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and  friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Red faced

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…

Cold comfort

One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter