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KWS Feedbeet popular fodder beet
The fodder beet continues to gain ground. Livestock farmers who feed fodder beet are enthusiastic about the increasing fat content (0,1% to 0,3% higher), the higher protein content (0,05% to 0,25% higher) and the often higher milk yield. Fodder beets are very tasty and there is no question of displacement of other feed materials in the ration. Even better is that high yields can be achieved with fodder beets.
WUR Open Cultivation has been publishing the 'Vegetable Beet Variety Bulletin' in collaboration with Delphy for several years now. High and low dry matter content beets are tested under Dutch conditions. The high dry matter content beets are white in color and can achieve a dry matter content of up to 24%. These fodder beets are also called Feedbeet. This gives KWS Feedbeet a clear advantage over the old-fashioned fodder beet, where the dry matter content often remains at 14%-15%. For that reason, the old-fashioned fodder beets can only be fed fresh and cannot be ensiled. Moreover, the risk of frost damage is much greater due to the high moisture content in the beet. Thanks to the much higher dry matter yield, the balance per hectare of KWS Feedbeet is much greater than what can be achieved with the old-fashioned fodder beet.
Harvesting Feed Bite
In contrast to the old-fashioned fodder beet, the Feedbeet is comparable to the sugar beet in terms of cultivation and harvest. The mechanization of sugar beet cultivation can be fully used in the cultivation of Feedbeet. Due to the very regular shape of the Feedbite, it is possible to harvest very well without losses or delays with the usual machines. This in contrast to the old-fashioned fodder beet. An additional advantage is that many machines in recent years have been equipped with a defoliator instead of a scalper. This keeps the beets (even) better in storage.
Save feed bite
The beets can be fed fresh provided they are shredded. In some cases, the beets are processed in the corn husk. However, because many dairy farmers bring in the maize before 1 October, they miss out on beet yields in this way. In the month of October and November, the yield is still increasing daily. Partly because of this, most fodder beets are harvested later and often stored in a trunk in combination with a dry product such as soya hulls. This so-called 'bagging' of the beet has many advantages. The feeding speed can be adjusted and it is possible to store and feed all year round. Silaging together with maize cob silage (MKS) is also on the rise.
For the 2023 growing season, the organic variety GODIVA KWS (rhizomania and rhizoctonia resistant) and for conventional cultivation the variety LAURENA KWS (rhizomania and rhizoctonia resistant) available. Both varieties are very suitable for sandy and valley soils with a risk of Rhizoctonia. It is advised to choose these varieties if corn or grass is included in the cropping plan.
For (clay) plots without rhizoctonia, the variety PIERINA KWS with the special feature of the low tare percentage recommended.
More information about KWS Feedbeet can be obtained from your regional KWS advisor or at the website.
