Fodder Beet overview

Fodder beet has a lot to offer when managed correctly. It has a high yield potential and its high energy is great for putting body condition on cows.

There are environmental benefits as well, with reduced risk of nitrate leaching compared to kale, and less methane emissions than kale or pasture.

However, it is critical to understand the ins and outs of fodder beet to get the best out of your crop and ensure your cows are kept healthy and receive the appropriate nutrition. Fodder beet is a great cropping option but requires careful management and staff experience.

Why fodder beet?

• Flexibility i.e. grazed or lifted and fodder beet has a long shelf life - in-ground or harvested.
• Consistent and high-quality feed, and a high yield potential when grown well.
• A feed with low nitrogen content can help reduce nitrate leaching when it substitutes high-N pasture or supplementary feed.
• Alternative crop rotations and an alternative to brassicas, including winter swedes and kale.

Key factors to consider

• Environmental challenges exist when grazing forage crops, however, there are many strategies for minimising environmental impacts.
• Feed supply: cropping paddocks out of rotation over spring can cause a feed pinch.
• Avoiding acidosis: transition cows carefully on to crop and make sure that cows meet their full nutritional requirements while on crop, this requires attention to detail throughout the feeding period. Our research has shown the following requirements as a guideline to reduce acidosis risk:
  • Lactating cows - feed 40% or less of total DMI as fodder beet.
  • Dry cows - feed 70% or less of total DMI as fodder beet.

Talking Dairy podcasts

Episode 25: Fodder beet - know what you're feeding

Does fodder beet have a positive future as a feed for cows in New Zealand? What are some key things to consider when feeding beet through winter? And how do you put systems in place to maximise cow performance and animal health, while also minimising fodder beet’s risks? Here to answer those questions, and more, are DairyNZ scientist Dr Roshean Woods and veterinarian Dr Charlotte Westwood. Roshean and Charlotte have been involved in a three-year research project on fodder beet and they share the results with us.

Episode 31: How fodder beet's use has evolved

Fodder beet offers many benefits as an alternative crop to brassicas, but it also presents risks and challenges. So, what can we learn from recent research about how to deal with those risks and challenges? How have farmers adapted their feeding practices over time? And do we have all the answers or is there more research required? In this episode DairyNZ senior scientist Dawn Dalley summarises recent research findings, and North Canterbury dairy farmer and veterinarian Trish McIntosh joins us to share her experiences of using fodder beet.