Beet pulp and rice bran can be used as alternative livestock and poultry feeds. Beet pulp is a byproduct of sugar beet processing, and rice bran is a byproduct of rice processing. These byproducts can be used as a feed source in swine, cattle, sheep and poultry. Sometimes, it is used as a less costly alternative to horse feed.
Beet Pulp
When sugar is diffused from sugar beets and processed into bagged sugar, the leftover beet pulp is pressed and dried as a byproduct. The neutral detergent fiber, or NDF, is a measure of forage bulk, while the acid detergent fiber, or ADF, is used to express the energy content of forage. Beet pulp has a similar NDF and ADF to corn silage, which makes it an exchangeable energy source to feed livestock for weight gain.
Rice Bran
Rice is harvested from a kernel enveloped in a rice hull. After drying, the hull is removed to yield brown rice. The outer layers of the brown rice, called rice bran, are removed as a byproduct to produce white rice. Over 60 percent of the nutrients in a rice kernel is located in rice bran. The NDF of rice bran is about half of corn silage, and rice bran should not be added as more than 0.4 percent of body weight in growing cattle feed. Also, rice bran has a high fat content, so it is sometimes defatted prior to selling it for livestock.
Compare Fat Content
Fat is a source of energy for weight gain in livestock and poultry. The crude fat content of beets is about 0.7 percent, while rice bran is about 13 percent. The high fat content of rice bran makes it more difficult to store because it has a tendency to become rancid. Also, rice bran’s high fat content usually limits its addition to feeds at no more than one-third of the diet. Weight gain is dependent on the percentage of beet pulp or rice bran fed.
Compare Protein Content
Protein is a critical nutrient in weight gain of livestock and poultry. In diets, it is expressed at percent crude protein. Beets have about 9 percent crude protein, and rice bran has about 13 percent. Even though rice bran has a higher crude protein content, digestibility concerns and high fat content limit the addition of rice bran to the diet for weight gain. Growing cattle and poultry require at least 15 percent crude protein in their diets, while sheep require a bit higher, at about 18 percent for weight gain.
Other Digestible Nutrients
Total nutritional comparisons of beet pulp to rice bran for weight gain consists of a large variety of nutritional factors. Sugars, fiber, vitamins and minerals need to be considered when comparing these feed alternatives. Sometimes trading one type of feed for another varies according to market price. Other times, it depends on environmental considerations and feed availability. Also, storage conditions and ease of handling may affect feeding techniques, which can influence an animal's ability to gain weight on a certain type of feed.
Comparison
Beet pulp can be fed in larger amounts than rice bran as a cheaper alternative feed. In research by David Farrell in the "World's Poultry Science Journal," rice bran in chicken feed in excess of 20 percent actually decreased weight gain. Beet pulp in cattle feed can be as high as 40 percent of the diet. Beet pulp is simple to store and easy to handle. Rice bran has issues with rancidity, and smaller particle size makes it difficult to handle. Both financial and biological factors matter when choosing between beet pulp or rice bran.
References
- North Dakota State University: Feeding Sugar Beet Byproducts to Cattle
- Nebraska Beef Report: The Effect of Feeding Pressed Sugar Beet Pulp in Beef Cattle Feedlot Finishing Diets
- ADM Alliance Nutrition: What is Rice Bran?
- Midwest Agri: Sugar Beet Pulp Shreds
- University of Missouri Extension: Alternative Feeds for Beef Cows and Stockers
- Cattle Today: Consider Costs When Making Supplement Decisions
- Mississippi State University Extension Service: Feeding Considerations for Byproduct Feeding
- World's Poultry Science Journal: Utilization of Rice Bran in Diets for Domestic Fowl and Ducklings
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