Brought to you by Limagrain
'Fed beets, the cows love them'
In recent years, many dairy farmers in the working area of roughage specialist Antoon Verhoeven have started feeding with fodder beets. This also applies to Pieter Teurlings from Udenhout in the 2019 growing season. 'Even if it didn't bring in extra milk money, I would still keep feeding them.'
When Pieter approaches the feeding alley with his shovel at 10:00 am, the feeding fence is completely occupied by his 90 Montbéliardes. They know what's coming: a fresh bowl Rialto fodder beets† "The cows really love it. I think that's a huge advantage, that they like to eat the beets so much and that they stay in better shape. It's a treat for them, compare it with when you want to do something yourself bed comes."
Higher feed intake, higher contents
Pieter sowed just under 2 hectares of Rialto last year fodder beets. He harvests them in phases to feed them fresh from September to March. "After that, the cows go outside and can do without them. The beets continue to grow for a very long time and the storage losses are the lowest. I feed 15 kg of beets a day, which is extra on top of the grass and maize I was already feeding. so more feed in the cows. They remain in better condition and the fat and protein in the milk has increased."
In order not to be dependent on the contractor, to utilize maximum growth and to limit storage losses as much as possible, Pieter harvests his beets himself. The last beets were harvested on 21 January. "There is nowhere better for them than in the ground, provided it doesn't freeze of course."
Curious whether fodder beets also suit your company?
Fodder beets are sown at the end of March-beginning of April. You can read all about the cultivation, harvest, storage and feeding of fodder beets in the white paper of Limagrain.
