Dried Beet Pulp as a Sole Source of Energy in Beef and Sheep Rations

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Abstract
Three experiments were conducted to study the effects of feeding dried beet pulp as a sole source of energy replacing a grain or a grain residue in a high concentrate ration on feed intake, energy utilization, growth performance, carcass quality and rumen fermentation in growing and fattening sheep and beef cattle. Thirty 10-month-old wethers were finished in experiment 1, while experiment 2 involved a 120-day growth trial with 44 4-month-old Awasi lambs; three digestion and N-balance trials with eight lambs were also conducted at 3-week intervals during the last 90 days of experiment 2. The rations contained either 90% corn grain (C) or 90% dried beet pulp (BP) or 45% corn plus 45% beet pulp (CBP) or 45% beet pulp plus 45% wheat bran (BPWB). In experiment 2, all rations contained 1% urea and were pelleted. Two rumen fistulated steers were fed intraruminally 5 kg of ground beet pulp or corn grain as such or either in 5 kg of a complete ration, in four subsequent trials for fermentation study in experiment 3. The sheep performance in experiment 1 showed that the BP group gained better (P<.05) and required less feed per unit of gain than the C group. In experiment 2, similar increases in daily gain (P<.05) and feed efficiency were noticed in the BP group than in all other groups and the finished lambs were 4.0 kg heavier than those on CBP pellets and more than 7.0 kg heavier than those on C pellets. In regard to carcass quality, dressing percentage, rear leg weight, longissimus muscle area and fat thickness on loin eye muscle were highest in the all BP group as compared to the others. The digestion coefficients of dry matter, NFE and energy did not differ among rations while crude fiber and ether extract digestibility were respectively higher and lower in the BP ration as compared to the others. In experiment 3, rumen pH dropped and VFA levels increased (P<.01) at the end of 3 hr fermentation period in all groups. Molar proportions of VFA did not seem to change in response to kind of feed or due to its incorporation in a balanced diet. Copyright © 1975. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1975 by American Society of Animal Science.

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