What is forage sugar beet?

One of the fundamental challenges in livestock production is the problem of feed shortages and high costs of animal nutrition. Therefore, the necessity of using economical feed materials such as agricultural by-products (straw, husk, sugarcane tops, etc.) and by-products of agro-industries (molasses, sugar beet pulp, bagasse, and sugarcane tops and pits) in animal nutrition is felt. About 60% of the feed shortage exists in the country. An optimal solution to cover this shortage is to optimize the use of agricultural residues in general and, in particular, the use of sugar beet tops in Khuzestan province. A significant portion of sugar beet includes leaves and tops (at least 25% of the total plant weight) that remain in the field during sugar beet stem harvesting. The highest concentration of protein in sugar beet plants, which is concentrated in the green leaves, part of the tops, can be a significant nutritional source for livestock. The sugar content in sugar beet plays an essential role in providing usable energy for animals, making it an effective food source in animal nutrition. Sugar beet tops can be stored either as dry or as silage and used in the nutrition of dairy and beef cattle. Silaging sugar beet tops, along with adding nutritional supplements (such as molasses and urea), improves the quality and nutritional properties of the silage product.