The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: smee2012 on November 12, 2014, 08:48:30 pm

Title: Fodder beets query
Post by: smee2012 on November 12, 2014, 08:48:30 pm
There's a local farmer selling fodder beets for a decent price and I was wondering about feeding them to my sheep. We don't have much in the way of storage space and so I don't want to go buying a 10 ton load at the moment!

Are fodder beets quite good for sheep and if so, how long do you suppose a ton of them would last 9 Zwartbles sheep for? Would they also need hay alongside it? I've read that they ought to be introduced quite gradually too?
Title: Re: Fodder beets query
Post by: Sbom on November 12, 2014, 09:04:31 pm
Sheep love beet, a friend of mine feeds tons to his sheep. You can just scatter them in the field or he used to put them in a clean muck spreader and just drive down the field with it in gear!
A ton should last 9 a while....depending on other feed available
Title: Re: Fodder beets query
Post by: Fleecewife on November 13, 2014, 02:13:20 am
Apparently the resprouting leaves are poisonous to sheep, although my flock survived ok the year we used them.  They love them, and they're not so hard as neeps (swedes)  Yes, I would offer hay too, for the bulk and because grass is the natural food for sheep.  Yes, introduce the beet gradually.
Title: Re: Fodder beets query
Post by: Bionic on November 13, 2014, 08:33:55 am
Apparently the resprouting leaves are poisonous to sheep, although my flock survived ok the year we used them.  They love them, and they're not so hard as neeps (swedes)  Yes, I would offer hay too, for the bulk and because grass is the natural food for sheep.  Yes, introduce the beet gradually.
I thought needs were turnips ???
Title: Re: Fodder beets query
Post by: devonlady on November 13, 2014, 09:13:39 am
Scottish neeps are Swedish turnips (swedes)  ;)
Title: Re: Fodder beets query
Post by: Bionic on November 13, 2014, 01:44:15 pm
Scottish neeps are Swedish turnips (swedes)  ;)


So what are ordinary turnips? Just turnips I suppose
Title: Re: Fodder beets query
Post by: Fleecewife on November 13, 2014, 04:54:59 pm
Scottish neeps are Swedish turnips (swedes)  ;)


So what are ordinary turnips? Just turnips I suppose

Foreign  :D