Barb Lee
Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:59:50 -0800
Shel, Please note that the beet pulp was listed under concentrates. It is not used for a protein component, so much as an energy component. Pound for pound it has about the same digestible energy as corn. The difference is that the energy comes from digestible fiber in B/P whereas the energy from corn comes from starch. Corn is about 90% dry matter, 77% Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN), and 8.9% Crude Protein. Beet pulp is about 91% dry matter, 72% TDN and 9.1% protein. So you can see that the actual nutritional value of Beet Pulp is very close to that of Corn. The difference is in how it is digested. One of the important aspects of ruminant digestion is that of protein. Now, as I understand it, there are a couple of different types of protein, one bypasses the rumen and is digested in the intestines. The other is amazing...the little microbes in the rumen actually feed on the cellulose - fiber - of plant material. Then, if I understand correctly, as these little microbes die off naturally, they pass into the intestines and become protein for the host animal. So that is why beet pulp is widely used as an energy source for ruminants. Starch (corn) in large quantities kills off those little microbes that feed the ruminant and lead to the inability of the ruminant to take in large quantities of fiber because there are fewer microbes to digest it. That is also why it is an acceptable component in a "grassfed" animal's diet. I am still scratching my head though...I know how much BP expands and I know how little room there is inside a ewe carrying twins. Perhaps that is the wisdom in the ration that includes barley in the article you posted. BTW, barley contains a B vitamin that is not present in corn. I forget which one, but it's pretty important. Jeez I'll be glad when I have the confidence of having made several right decisions behind me! LOL! Thank you for sharing Shel, I am going to go back and look at that ration formula real hard! Regards, Barb ----- Original Message ----- From: "Asylum Farm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info> Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 5:20 PM Subject: [Blackbelly] feeding trivia > Here's a good basic article about feeding for sheep. I know it's in > UK terminology and not specific for BB- but the idea is the same. > Basically, BP is used for roughage. I believe it only comes out at > 10% protein. > http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/advice/ewenutri.pdf > > Shel > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > _______________________________________________ > This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info > > _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info