Beet Pulp

I noticed everyone feeds beet pulp to their show animals. What are the benefits of feeding it and how should it be fed?

Beet pulp is a great source of fiber, which in many cases is just used as a filler in rations.  It gives a calf that full appearance even when they are stressed at a show.  It can be used as a larger portion of a ration to hold animals or fill a calf up while not being shown.  So you can cut back on the amount of feed that you are using.  I learn more uses for it every day.

It expands inside them and gives them a deeper, sounder look.

let me give it ta ya from a different angle, if you like narrow ribbed , higher flanked cattle then i would recommend staying away from the beet pulp. But if you like deep, really well sprung cattle that have the appearance of a dominate female then i would probly maybe feed it.
And a previously stated if you have a fatty on your hands who need to be cut back, but still feed the same amount of actual feed mass. Sweet feed should be replaced with Beet Pulp till you have them at their desired weight or size. I see loads of fatties, with huge pones walking around the show barns, wonder what kind of calving problems their gonna have.

How soon before a show do you start feeding it?  Or do you just always feed it?

We feed it as soon as they go on a show ration. Lately we have been feeding cotton seed hulls as well as Beet Pulp as the price of Beet Pulp as risen to over $16 per 50. We can get cotton seed hulls year round for $6.50 per 50. I see no difference between the two except for the price. Both expand well and create a fuller looking spring of rib.

JDman said:

I noticed everyone feeds beet pulp to their show animals. What are the benefits of feeding it and how should it be fed?

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if your wanting to hold a calf and make him "think" he is full, you feed him wet beetpulp becasue it is expanded and just a filler,

if you want to add gut to one you feed him dry beetpulp, then when he drinks his gut swells up

I agree with everything that's been said on here; beet pulp can really give a full look to one and fill its top. But if your showing exotic cattle just be aware that it can also enlarge the brisket. I wouldn't worry about that though unless your calf just has too much leather in the first place.

OLD WORLD SHORTIE said:

We feed it as soon as they go on a show ration. Lately i have been feeding cotton seed hulls as well as Beet Pulp as the price of Beet Pulp as risen to over $16 per 50. I can get cotton seed hulls year round for $6.50 per 50. I see no difference between the two except for the price. Both expand well and create a fuller looking spring of rib.

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Well the one thing I know about cotton seed hulls is it will take the hair off a calf fast! So I suggest you feed it in moderation and maybe try some condensed pellets like belt buster or guts!

Nutritionally beet pulp does not add much to a ration. It is a great roughage source that helps to keep animals full and to maintain proper ruminal function. It is fed mostly as a filler, after a while of feeding it on farm our calves will eat it straight. It does not have the greatest palatability but it will add fill and mass to your calves. dry gives great fill and wet will add some depth esp back through the calves flank. Show Rite Stretch also works well, feed dry.