ASSOCIATION OF FODDER BEET WITH HAY IN DAIRY-COW FEEDING

The effect of supplementing a basal diet based on good quality hay with 3.1 kg of fodder beet DM (at 17% DM) was tested in 24 dairy cows in mid-lactation. The animals ingested on an average 12 kg of hay dry matter and 6.1 kg of beets plus concentrates for a daily milk production of 21.4 kg. The substitution rate of beet for hay was high (0.9) corresponding to a forage fill value of 0.96 LFU/kg of DM. The energy value of beets was at least equal to that given in the INRA feed tables (1988), ie 1 UFL/kg of DM. The use of fodder beet increased the protein content of milk, but not significantly, by 0.75 point. It did not alter the fat content.