How to Feed Beet Pulp to Beef Cattle

Sugar beet plants are processed to make table sugar. Beet pulp is the byproduct left over once the sugar has been extracted from the beet. Beet pulp is commonly fed to farm animals including cattle, goats and horses. Feeding beet pulp to cattle adds fiber and calories, and is more cost-effective than feeding hay and grain alone. You can feed cows beet pulp soaked in water or dry right out of the bag.

Things You'll Need

  • Cow weight tape
  • Beet pulp
  • Feed scale
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find the average weight of your herd by using a cow weight tape on a sample of cattle. If you have a herd of 50 cows, use the weight tape on five cows and average the weights. Stand the cow comfortably with all four legs square. Place the tape tightly around the cow's body just behind the shoulders in the heart girth area. Use that measurement to estimate the cow's weight using the chart on the weight tape. This measurement will help you determine how much beet pulp to use.

    • 2

      Weigh out the appropriate amount of beet pulp based using a feed scale. Cattle should be fed at least 4 percent of their body weight in forage or hay. Beet pulp can be used to replace 1 to 2 percent of the cow's daily forage. For example, a cow that weighs 1000 pounds should be fed at least 30 pounds of hay and 10 pounds of beet pulp every day. This would equal feeding 1 percent of the cow's forage in beet pulp.

    • 3

      Mix the appropriate amount of beet pulp in with the cattle's grain, and place in your cattle feeder.