Sugar Beet as Cattle Feed: Scope and Prospects

Abstract

Forages are valuable in maintaining the cattle system and sustaining the production of milk products worldwide. Sugar beet is one of the major sugar producing crops and, nowadays, extending its scope as cattle feed. In the search for sustainability and economic value, the complete utilization of the crop is necessary. The roots and beet tops along with its value-added by-products are the efficient sources for cattle feeding. The by-products such as beet pulp and molasses can be included as alternative ingredients in cattle rations. They can surpass the need of grains and also help in waste disposal produced during sugar extraction. This chapter explores the nutritional and anti-nutritional aspects of sugar beet. Sugar beet contains different quantities of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins and also vary in the proportion of their tissue that can be digested by the cattle. The highly digestible dietary fibre fraction is responsible for higher acetate to propionate ratio. The high acetate level helps in increasing the milk fat and its yield in cattle. In addition to nutrients, the anti-nutrients such as nitrate and oxalate are also present in sugar beet. Nitrate and oxalate, though playing an essential role in cattle, can become toxic beyond a certain limit.