By Karla H. Jenkins, UNL Cow/Calf, Range Management Specialist
The 2013 sugar beet campaign will begin in October. It is a good time to remind western Nebraska producers that beet pulp is an economical energy source for beef cows. Research at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension feedlot has demonstrated that gestating beef cows can be maintained on energy dense, limit fed rations containing beet pulp. Performance results from two years of data suggest the total digestible nutrients (TDN) of beet pulp in high roughage diets to be about 90%. The crude protein content is approximately 10%.
In the first experiment late gestation beef cows were limit fed (1.7% body weight, 18 lb dry matter (DM)) either a 30:70 wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS):wheat straw diet or a 20:20:60 WDGS:beet pulp:wheat straw diet (DM basis). Both diets were fed to provide 11 Mcal/d. The cows weighed 1100 lb and were a body condition score (BCS) 5.8 at the initiation of the 70 day feeding trial. At the conclusion of the experiment there were no statistical differences. Cows on the WDGS:straw diet weighed 1259 lb (BCS = 5.7) and the cows on the WDGS:beet pulp:wheat straw diet weighed 1245 lb (BCS = 5.8).
In the second experiment mid gestation beef cows were limit fed either the 20:20:60 WDGS:beet pulp:wheat straw diet (18.6 lb DM) or a 20:45:35 WDGS:beet pulp:wheat straw diet (15.3 lb DM). Both diets provided 11 Mcal/d (approximately 11 lb TDN/d). Initial body weight was 1200 lb (BCS = 5.2). Final body weight was 1307 lb (BCS = 5.6) for the 20:20:60 diet and 1310 lb (BCS=5.7) for the 20:45:35 diet (P > 0.20).
Including WDGS in the diet met the metabolizable protein needs of the cows. Being able to maintain cow body weight with beet pulp, wheat straw, and some distillers is an economical way to replace forages or hay that may be better utilized for growing cattle. The moisture content of beet pulp is typically 75%. This may allow producers to use dry distillers grains as a protein source and still avoid sorting issues when feeding crop residues. The dry matter content of these diets makes them compatible with storing in bags, pits, or other methods with minimal oxygen permeation. However, at the research facility these diets were mixed fresh daily with no sorting or refusal issues.
Diets used in the research trials are presented in Table 1 (http://go.unl.edu/sh7i). Producers wanting assistance with ration balancing should contact their local extension office. Additional information on beef production can be found on http://beef.unl.edu.