For Gijsbert van den Berg, dairy farmer on Kampereiland (OV), it is certain: he will again be feeding fodder beets this season. An extreme increase in fat and protein content has convinced him in recent years. “After three days you can see a difference in the tank. In my case, the increase from 0,05 continued to 0,20 percent extra protein with the fodder beets. I know of few feed materials that show such an increase.”
The fodder beet harvest starts from mid-September. Berg Fourage supplies fresh beets to dairy farmers throughout the Netherlands. "Because we have permanent contracts with arable farmers, we have fresh harvest available throughout the stable season," says Henry Westerink, product specialist at Berg Fourage. “We can deliver a shipment every few weeks. Then livestock farmers save storage capacity, you don't have to store 400 tons in one go."
Hardly any extra work
Gijsbert feeds his fodder beets from the first harvest until about April next year. He gets a new load every 3-4 weeks and then shreds them himself with a simple chipper. "It's nothing, actually it hardly costs me any extra work," said the Overijssel farmer. The result of the fodder beets, on the other hand, is noteworthy.
MPR figures 'skyhigh'
The MPR figures show the trend well. ''The protein percentage started with a trough after the grazing season. As soon as we started with the fodder beets, the content went 'sky high'! The peak was 3,85%'', explains Gijsbert. “The fat percentage started at 4,25% and increased to 4,85% in the winter months. We continued that until April, until the fodder beets were finished and the cows went outside again."
Noticeable difference with one load
Henry knows from experience that Gijsbert's results are no exception. 'In fact, fodder beets cannot be compared with any other type of feed. Such a tasty product, with such a high sugar content, simply provides high percentages of fat and protein. It should fit in your ration, but I'd say give it a try. You can already notice a difference with just one load. Then you can decide if you want to continue.”
Would you like to know more about fodder beets?
Berg Fourage, 0341-768222 or mail sales@bergfourage.nl