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The chemical composition, digestibility and energy value of fodder-beet roots

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Abstract

The chemical composition, in vivo digestibility values, digestible- and metabolisable-energy contents of 6 samples of commercially grown fodder-beet roots are reported. The dry-matter content of the samples ranged from 159 to 214 g kg−1, the variation being largely due to varietal type. High concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates were measured in all samples (mean 649 g kg−1 DM), although the high-dry-matter varieties had a significantly (P < 0.01) higher content than low-dry-matter varieties.
The smaller neutral- and acid-detergent fibre fractions were lower in the high-dry-matter varieties. Gross energy content was relatively low (mean 16.0 MJ kg−1 DM), and while differences between individual samples were observed, they were not statistically significant.
The digestible organic-matter content of the beet was high in all cases (mean 831 g kg−1 DM), as were the apparent digestibility coefficients of organic matter and gross energy. The mean digestible and metabolisable energy contents of the fodder-beet roots were 14.0 ± 0.23 and 11.8 ± 0.18 MJ kg DM−1 respectively.

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Present address: MAFF, ADAS, Nutrition Chemistry Department, Starcross, Exeter, EX6 8PE, Gt. Britain.
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