Sugar beet pulp in Animal Nutrition

By product obtained after extraction of juice from sugar beet is called wet beet pulp. Due to high water content, it is a challenge to transport this product. They may also harbor some bacteria, compromising its preservation. These pulps can be pressed to control the moisture and increase the dry matter proportion. This pressed pulp can be oxidized if left for some time turning it into grey-whitish color. It is easier to transport but should be stored carefully as they can be spoiled quickly. Unpreserved pressed pulp is not viable to be fed to animals after 2-3 days of production. Best way is to pile up the pressed pulp and cover it with sheets, this may increase the life of pulp. If we have to store the pulp for an extended period, then the best way to do it is to ensile the pressed pulp. They can be ensiled with variety of feedstuffs like hay, wheat straw, alfalfa, dry corn grain, wheat middling etc.

The beet pulp is composed of adequate natural fibers along with proteins, minerals and vitamins. The natural fibers here are digestible to much extent making it a viable source of energy. The chemical composition can be summarized as follows (www.feedipedia.org/node/24378):

The sugar beet pulp is beneficial for ruminants as it prevents acidosis due to only 2-4% starch. Further, its fiber proportion is in the form of pectin (30%) which ferments in the rumen without production of lactate. Thus it stabilizes the ruminal pH. Beet pulp has high water retention property which may produce beneficial laxative effect in digestive system. The slower rate of beet pulp degradation than that of cereal grains (60% effective degradation of beet pulp), make it less acidogenic than concentrate feeds. The OM digestibility of beet pulp is high (84%) when fed at rate of 2% live weight. This value is fairly high compared to cereals, legumes and oil meals. The high OMD values are attributable to less proportion of lignin and high NDF. The protein content is fairly low compared to protein and even cereal feedstuffs. The protein is 60% degradable in rumen while the bypass protein is about 85% digestible. Due to low protein, negative protein balance in rumen is developed (-30 to -50 g/kg DM), this requires beet pulp feed to be supplemented with NPN compounds. The pulp bears double the calcium found in corn or barley and less phosphorus.

On dry matter basis, the beet pulp yield is greater than corn although they cost the same, thereby pulp being more economical and advantageous. In an experiment, Barki lambs (30 kg BW) received sugar beet pulp in order to replace 25, 50, 75 or 100% maize grain. There was only a slight difference between sheep fed on control (100% maize grain) and sheep fed on the highest levels of sugar beet pulp. It was concluded that sugar beet pulp could completely replace maize grain in growing sheep diet (Mahmoud et al., 2016). According North Dakota State University studies, beet pulp can be fed to dairy cattle as a complete or partial replacement to other forages. Beet pulp can be included in diet accounting for 20% of the finishing ration (dry matter basis), which can make up to 35-40 pounds of beet pulp a day. Feeding in greater proportions may decrease the dry matter intake. In case of beef cow, there is theoretically no limit to the amount of beet pulp added in diet as far as nutrition is concerned but practically no more than 50% of ration (dry matter basis) should be fed as it may induce satiety due to bulkiness and moisture present.  Keeping in view above discussion sugar beet and sugar beet pulp may be used in dairy and meat animal diets. However, there is a need to design proper feeding methodology to get maximum benefits from feeding sugar beet and its pulp.

References are available on request.