Barn Feeding

Brownie Style Silage

Sweet topping for an existing silage
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Feeding successfully with KWS Feedbeet

KWS Feedbeet is a multi-dimensional approach, which combines the know-how in plant breeding with innovations in cultivation, handling, storage and feeding of beets. High dry matter beet types are preferred in intensive feeding systems and could be fed fresh or ensiled to livestock in the barn.

What makes feeding beets attractive?

KWS Feedbeet supports the diversity of homegrown forage systems and can help to fill the gap of winter forage. Ensiling of beets is a proven method of conservation and allows year-round supply. The diversity which KWS Feedbeet brings to crop rotation can be a considerable component in meeting obligations from the EU Common Agricultural Policy.

Benefits on Farm

Improve Income Over Feed Cost (IOFC)

By higher milk revenues and lower feeding cost.

High feed value

Due to high palatability, digestibility and its high energy content.

Nutritional consistency

No impact on nutritional profile (energy, protein, …) based on harvest time.

Better animal health

Because it is a rumen friendly feedstuff, providing an additional carbohydrate source and a range of fermentable fibers.

Increase proportion of homegrown feed

Reduce costs of purchased feedstuff.

Improved nutritional heat stress

Based on Potassium content and high digestibility.

Year-round availability

Combination of fresh and preserved feed with a silage fitting to your feeding practice.

Non-GMO

Crop Benefits

High dry matter yield and crop stability

Reach maximum yield, because KWS Feedbeet is a non-maturing crop and continues growing through the autumn.

Flexible and broad harvesting window

Without affecting the nutritional quality.

Robust and efficient crop

High water and nitrogen use efficiency. Broad resistance and tolerance spectrum against all revelant beet diseases.

Lower risk of crop damage

Compared to other crops, wild boars are more visible and easier to handle.

Improved land use efficiency

High dry matter yield and energy content compared to other crops. Consistent yield increase per year through breeding.

KWS Feedbeet - Decreases Dependency on supplementary Purchase of energy rich Feed

With its predictable and stable yield it secures your feedstuff supply on farm. The superior yield lowers your production cost per energy unit. Feedbeet minimizes your dependency on price fluctuation in the commodity market. As concentrates are usually highly volatile in price, homegrown feedbeet gives cost calculations a solid base.

Homegrown fresh Beets are only half as costly as purchased Concentrates

Our analysis takes into account all steps involved in growing and processing forage crops until they finally reach the feed table in Germany and Denmark. It shows that feedbeet has become signicantly more attractive. For a fair comparison, the costs for feedbeet and all alternative feed components were calculated on the basis of dry matter and energy unit. We have used publicly accessible, independent sources^{1, 2}.

Own calculation based on yield according to national statistics, dry matter yield of forages, incl. storage losses, forage production cost incl. growing, harvest, loading, transport, cleaning, ensiling and feeding. Cereal production cost incl. growing, harvest, transport and drying. Yield and prices for 2021 and 2022 estimated for forages.

¹Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL). The LfL is directly subordinate to the Bavarian State Ministry of Agriculture in Germany. LfL contribution margin calculator 09/2022 and Gruber Tabelle zur Fütterung von Milchkühen (2019). ²SEGES Innovation is a private, independent, non-profit research and development organization and is the leading agricultural knowledge and innovation centre in Denmark. ³Market prices for concentrates and production prices for forages and cereals are without VAT. ⁴Energy content of feedstuffs in NEL (LfL, Germany) and NEL20 (NorFor, Denmark). ⁵Average production prices for homegrown cereals for Denmark in sandy and clay soils.

Feeding fresh or ensiled

Feedbeet can be fed fresh or ensiled. All categories of ruminants will love it either way. From the experience with a large number of farms, nutrition experts today can easily help you recalculate the ration and include feedbeet.

For example in dairy, at a rule of thumb, 3-5 kg dry matter/cow/day could be used in the total mixed ration, depending on animal size and production level.

It takes a maximum of 10-14 days to get the animals used to their new ration.

Feeding guideline:

Ensure good quality beets (clean and undamaged beet)
A transition period of 10-14 days is recommended
Provide effective fiber to stimulate rumen function and ensure animals’ crude protein requirements are being met with protein supplements
Fine chopped beets decrease the selection potential by the cow and the risk of swallowing bigger pieces of beets