Pulp is a product of sugar beet processing

The beets are cut into chips, from which sugar is extracted through a process of diffusion. The shavings freed from sugar are called pulp - at the beginning of beet sugar production, sugar syrup was squeezed out of beets. Pulp, the main by-product of the sugar industry, obtained using traditional production technology, is the pulp of beets after leaching sugar with proteins attached to it from the juice remaining in the uncut cells.

Pulp is used for livestock feed in fresh, sour and dry form. Fresh beet pulp contains 90-93 percent water and 7-10 percent dry matter, including protein 0.7, fiber 1.6, nitrogen-free extractives (hemicellulose and pectin) 4.4 and ash 0.3 percent.

The feed value of raw fresh pulp, however, is small and amounts to only 0.06-0.08 feed (oat) units. At the same time, in terms of nutritional value and dry matter content, bagasse is better than meadow hay and is only slightly inferior to oats. After all, almost all the nutrients of beets, except sugar, remain in the pulp. It should also be noted that pulp fiber, unlike fiber from other plant foods (straw, chaff, flower films), is characterized by good digestibility.

The amount of pulp in the daily diet is 55-65 percent of all feed eaten by young animals. Thanks to the use of pulp, the cost of fattening is relatively low with a fairly high efficiency. feed use (7.5 feed units per 1 kilogram of weight gain) and daily weight gain of 800-1000 grams. The quality of meat from animals fed with pulp is no worse than that of those fed with green fodder silage. Beet pulp silage is also a very productive feed for dairy cows, increasing their daily milk yield and milk fat content.

However, during long-term storage, a large amount of butyric acid accumulates in it. It acquires a soft consistency, and animals refuse to eat it.

Scientists have developed a technology to eliminate this drawback. To reduce losses and prevent a decrease in its nutritional value, the pulp is squeezed out and ensiled, the mass is thoroughly compacted and covered with a polymer film. Adding 15-20 percent chopped straw and molasses (molasses) to the ensiled pulp allows you to obtain high-quality silage.

The current level of development of chemistry opens up great opportunities for improving pulp also through the use of urea and other synthetic additives. Urea replaces 20-30 percent of protein in cattle diets.

Scientists at the Institute of Microbiology and Virology of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR proposed the use of lactic acid bacteria, which, preventing the pulp from souring, determine its directed fermentation.

High-temperature drying of beet pulp is the most rational method to increase its safety and feeding qualities. Dry matter is about 90 percent. Dried pulp is a good ingredient in feed for ruminants.

The nutritional value of 1 kilogram of dry pulp is 10 times higher than that of raw pulp; granules enriched with urea and mineral and vitamin supplements are produced on its basis. The addition of 1 kilogram of such feed to silage and bagasse rations, which, by the way, are deficient in protein and minerals, increases the average daily weight gain of cattle by no less than 30-45 percent, reduces feed costs and the cost of weight gain by 25-30 percent. Comparing Nutrition various types pulp, scientists have found that if we take the efficiency of feeding cattle on raw pulp as 100 percent, then when using dry pulp, its efficiency increases by 1.5 times. Dried pulp, protected from direct contact with tops, can be stored for as long as desired without loss of nutrients or deterioration of its nutritional properties. Feed preparation based on dry pulp is easier to mechanize, and dry pulp is easier to dose.

Diets with pulp, balanced in protein, minerals and vitamins, provide high meat and milk productivity of animals, and at the same time reduce the need for concentrated feed and feed mixtures. In animals that consumed large amounts of pulp, 1 kilogram of weight gain costs 40 percent less.

Dry beet pulp, supplemented with protein and mineral components, is used as a concentrated feed. Since it contains quite a lot of fiber, it can be a substitute for dry roughage. However, pulp is used not only as a source of feed.

A completely new look industrial use pulp, developed in Soviet times, was the production of pectin glue from it. Pectin glue has found application in the textile industry and other sectors of the national economy. The first pulp glue plant in the USSR was launched in 1932.

Pectins belong to the group of polysaccharides. Beet pulp contains up to 25 percent of them. Aqueous solutions pectins with sugar in the presence of organic acids form jellies, which are used in the food industry for the preparation of jellies, marmalades, and so on. Although pectins do not replace other carbohydrates as nutrients, they have a positive effect on the human body. There is research evidence that their use increases blood clotting, delays the development of vitamin deficiencies, and reduces toxic effects from lead poisoning.

Granulated beet pulp is a natural feed for farm animals made from beet pulp, dried at high temperatures, ground into flour and then granulated into granules (pellets).

After granulation, the pulp can be stored in packaged form for a long time, which allows for long-term supplies of feed for livestock. The feed unit of granulated pulp is 0.85, while the nutritional value is 10 times higher than that of fresh pulp with a similar weight reduction. The absorption of protein and extractive substances from dry pulp by animals is 75%. When granulating or briquetting, 100 kg of raw pulp produces 7-8 kg of dry pulp.

To store dried pulp, it is more cost-effective to reduce it in volume and make it transportable, for which briquetting or granulation is applicable. Thus, we solve the problem of transporting beet pulp, since fresh Transporting pulp is very problematic. Granulation of pulp reduces the cost of transporting it by 5 times.

In combination with other feeds, dry pulp can replace up to 50% of barley or oats in cattle diets, providing an increase in their weight gain or milk yield. Dry beet pulp is well digested not only by cattle, but also by other types of farm animals. In a purely dry form, it is not recommended for feeding animals due to porosity and moisture absorption, which can lead to some health problems for livestock. To avoid such problems, granulated feed is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3 or used as an additive to mixed feed within 10%.

For the sale of pulp, nearby collective farms, cattle and pig farms, within 100 km, were used. and a shelf life of no more than 2 days. When granulating beet pulp, the consumer region increases significantly, since it can be transported all over the world, due to the possibility of long-term storage and the use of storage containers suitable for transportation.

Dried pulp is stored in bulk (1 m3 weighs 220 kg).
Granulated pulp - stored in big bags or bags. (1 m3 weighs 400 kg).
Briquetted pulp is stored in polyethylene thermal packaging. (1 m3 weighs 500 kg).

Composition (in % ratio):
Proteins - 8.31, Fats - 0.66, Fiber - 23.05, Nitrogen-free extractives - 65.59, Water - 7.81
Content of vitamins and minerals (mg/kg): vitamin B1 (aneurin) - 0.55, vitamin B2 (lactoflavin) - 0.20, pantothenic acid - 0.21, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - 0.18, vitamin B8 ( niacin) - 0.26, biotin - 0.001, calcium - 4.7 g, phosphorus - 1.2 g

Beet pulp is a unique product in its qualities. It has a high feed value: 100 kg of fresh pulp containing 15% dry matter (DM) is equivalent to 16 feed units and contains 0.6 kg of protein (digestible protein), and 100 kg of dried pulp (86% DM) is equivalent to 84 feed units and contain 4 kg of digestible protein. It is a valuable source of microelements, amino acids and proteins.

To preserve and increase the feed value of the pulp, it is ensiled, dried, granulated, enriched with protein substitutes, etc.

Dried pulp differs slightly in chemical composition from raw pulp; its nutritional value is equal to wheat and rye bran. It is produced in loose, granulated or briquetted form. This pulp can be used directly in feeding, having previously been soaked in water in a ratio of 1:3, or as part of mixed feed up to 10%.

In combination with other feeds, pulp can replace up to 50% of barley or oats in cattle diets and provide an increase in their weight gain or milk yield. In pig diets it can be used up to 20–30%. Beet pulp (dry and raw) is a valuable, nutritious, concentrated carbohydrate feed; it is well digested not only by cattle, but also by pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, birds, fur animals. Dry pulp is introduced into the diets of broilers over 20 days of age in an amount of 5% by weight of concentrates.

Granulated beet pulp also adds a pleasant sweet taste to the feed, which contributes to its intensive consumption by animals.

Some feeds (for example, cereals) contain a lot of starch and little digestible fiber, which increases the risk of acidosis in cows. To prevent this, the diet should include energy sources that are broken down slowly in the rumen. A viable option in this case is beet pulp. First, let's try to find out what its value is and in what form pulp can be available for feeding cattle.

Beet pulp is the main by-product of the sugar industry, containing 6−7.5% dry matter, including 0.2−0.4% sugar. The yield of raw beet pulp is 80−83% of the weight of processed beets.

Pulp has a relatively high fiber content and at the same time is characterized by high nutritional value. Therefore, the question may arise as to which feed it belongs to - basic or concentrated. However, as part of a total mixed diet, classification is not really important. The main thing is what role the pulp plays in feed consumption, for the rumen and, finally, in providing the animal with energy and nutrients.

Pulp is a food rich in energy. The high content of pectin, the main component of beet pulp, significantly increases the digestibility of the organic substance. Despite the extraction of sugar, nutrients that are easily digestible by ruminants remain in the pulp. This type of feed is favorable for the rumen microflora: low in protein and minerals, quite rich in calcium, easy to ensile, rich in fiber, but fine-textured, tasty and inexpensive.

The following types of beet pulp are distinguished:

• Fresh unpressed
• Fresh pressed
• Sour
• Canned
• Dried (granulated)

Each type of pulp has its own advantages and disadvantages, which farmers should consider before deciding which one to use.

Fresh unpressed pulp

It contains 90−93% water and 7−10% dry matter, in particular protein 0.7%, fiber 1.6%, nitrogen-free extractives (hemicellulose and pectin) 4.4% and ash 0.3%. The concentration of vitamin C in it is about 19 mg/kg.

Table 1 shows the approximate composition of pulp and its feed value in comparison with other feeds.

Table 1. Comparison chemical composition different types of food

*Fresh pulp.

The feed value of fresh, unpressed pulp is low, but in terms of dry matter nutrition it occupies a middle place between meadow hay and oats. Almost all the nutrients in beets, except sugar, remain in it. It should be noted that pulp fiber, unlike fiber from other plant feeds (straw, chaff, flower films), is characterized by high digestibility. This type of pulp is difficult to ensile because it has a low percentage of dry matter.

Fresh pressed pulp

This is the type of pulp that was pressed at a sugar factory using presses and contains, in Ukrainian realities, 10-17% dry matter. In European practice, pressed pulp is considered to be one that contains at least 22-24% dry matter. Such pulp can be easily and correctly preserved in the future due to less water, has fewer losses during storage and is better eaten by animals. Today in Ukraine there are only a few factories that are capable of producing pressed pulp with 22% dry matter from the conveyor.

Consumers of pressed pulp can be farms located near a sugar factory. Fresh pressed pulp is difficult to transport and unload, especially in winter period when it freezes.

1 kg of pressed pulp contains 0.16 feed units, which is 1.6 times more than unpressed pulp. In the American feed rating system, pressed pulp is credited with 50% of the structure efficiency of alfalfa.

Fresh pressed pulp is low-cost to feed, since you don’t have to spend money on preservation and you don’t need to take into account losses during canning. However, it is usually available for no more than three months - while the beets are being processed. Pressed pulp has a very limited shelf life and should be fed after 2-3 days.

After extracting the sugar, the pressed pulp consists primarily of carbohydrates. The residual sugar content is no more than 4−6% in dry matter. It is noteworthy that, despite this, the digestibility of organic matter is very high. The organic substance of sugar beets is digestible by 89%, and of pressed pulp by 86%, although the fiber content increases from 5% in beets to 21% in the dry mass of pressed pulp - in other words, it increases fourfold. The reason is that the carbohydrate fraction of pressed pulp consists predominantly of easily digestible pectins and hemicellulose and only 5% of almost indigestible lignin (see Scheme 1).

Scheme 1. Composition of fiber and carbohydrate fractions of various feeds

Source: Steinhefel, 2006.

Pectins are almost completely absorbed; most of them are broken down under the influence of microbes in the forestomach. Therefore, pressed pulp is the only food that, with a fiber content of more than 20%, has energy value 7.4 MJ PEOPLE, or 12 MJ OE per 1 kg of dry matter. Pectins are also responsible for the structure of pulp and its ability to swell. If improperly stored or cooled too slowly during ensiling, pectins can experience chemical or enzymatic decomposition, which causes changes in the structure of the pulp, which are often accompanied by yellowing of the mass. This means not only a loss of structure, but also a reduction nutritional value stern.

Sour pulp

In sour pulp, the digestibility of dry substances decreases. If in fresh it is 70%, then in sour it is only 55%.

Nutrients in pulp (sugars, pectins, etc.) decompose to form organic acids, mainly lactic, butyric and acetic. First, lactic acid is formed, which improves the taste of the pulp, but subsequently, with the development of unfavorable microbiological processes, butyric and acetic acids are formed. As a result of butyric acid fermentation, beet pulp becomes especially bad smell, its taste deteriorates. Long-term storage of pulp in pits leads to significant loss of nutrients. Valuable feed solids dissolve and enter the drainage with pulp water. Over five months of storage, sour pulp can lose up to 40% of dry substances, including all sugar and almost all pectin substances. According to research by American specialists, the loss of dry matter in beet pulp when stored in pits for six months was 65%, and nutritional value it worsened by 50%.

To increase the shelf life of sour pulp, it is practiced abroad to add an organic preservative based on propionic acid. In Denmark, fresh beet pulp with a dry matter content of 9% is treated with such a preservative to a pH level of 3.8.

Silage pulp

It is a valuable feed for cows (see Table 2). There is almost no loss in nutritional value of this type of pulp compared to raw material. Nowadays, pulp is mainly ensiled in film sleeves or bales, less often in silage trenches. Pressed pulp with a dry matter content of 20−24%, when packaged in a sleeve, can be stored for 12 months without loss of nutritional value. The pulp is packed in bales, like the pulp in sleeves, it is stored without loss, and can also be easily transported over long distances.

Table 2. Comparison of the feed value of ensiled pulp and corn silage at the stage of waxy ripeness (with forks) for ruminants

Source: DLG, 1997.

Dried pulp

To increase the feed value and shelf life of beet pulp, as well as the possibility of its transportation over long distances and use in the production of compound feeds, beet pulp is dried. This is especially effective when granulating dried pulp - transportation costs are reduced by more than 5 times.

It is not advisable to keep fresh or pressed beet pulp in warehouses. As already mentioned, through fermentation. Therefore, sugar factories create special workshops where the product is dried. Dried pulp can be stored for a long period compared to fresh pulp without loss of nutrients and deterioration in feeding properties. Feed preparation based on dry pulp is easier to mechanize and easier to dose.

The drying procedure consists of several stages:

• squeezing out part of the water from the pulp (the dry matter content increases from 6.2 to 20−22% and more than 2/3 of the moisture is removed)
• drying itself;
• briquetting; During the briquetting process, a little molasses (about 20%) can be added to the pulp, which significantly increases its feed value.

Dried pulp is a concentrated carbohydrate feed. The nutritional value of 1 kilogram of dry pulp is 10 times higher than that of raw pulp. The nutritional value of dried pulp is close to that of wheat bran. In combination with other feeds, it can replace up to 50% of barley or oats in cattle diets.

The digestibility of the organic matter of dry pulp is high (up to 85%) due to the fact that there is practically no lignin in the fiber. It contains large quantities of biologically valuable amidglutamine, as well as a useful biologically active substance - betaine.

The following vitamins are found in dried pulp:

• vitamin B1 (aneurin) - 0.55 mg/kg;
• vitamin B2 (lactoflavin) - 0.20 mg/kg;
• pantothenic acid - 0.21 mg/kg;
• vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - 0.18 mg/kg;
• biotin - 0.001 mg/kg.

In addition, two enzymes were found in it - protopectinase and pectinase. It also contains minerals (Table 3), a small amount of fat, and two forms of sterol classified as plant sterols, or phytosterols. One kilogram of dry pulp contains 80 g of protein, 3.2 g of amino acids, 6.1 g of lysine, 5 g of calcium, 2 g of phosphorus, 154 g of sugar and 32 g of starch.

Table 3. Content of main minerals in dry pulp (84−91% DM)

Sugar production produces a number of by-products that are used in cattle feeding. According to the production technology (see Diagram 1), sugar beets are washed, crushed and subjected to diffusion (washing out sugar and dissolving it in water). This solution is heated to 73-78°C. The sugar-containing raw juice is separated from crushed beet pulp (pulp) - the main by-product in sugar production. The raw juice is cleared of sediment using limestone and carbon dioxide. The clarified juice contains about 12-15% dry matter and is evaporated to obtain a thick syrup. Then sugar crystallizes from this syrup. The remains of the syrup from which sugar was obtained are molasses, another most valuable product in livestock feeding. From a ton of sugar beets, about 35 kg of sugar, 540 kg of raw pulp and 40 kg of molasses are obtained.

Raw pulp

Sugar beet shavings, after the sugar has been extracted from them, leave production at liquid state, with a water content of about 90% and at a temperature of about 70°C. By squeezing, some of the water is removed. This is how raw pulp is obtained with a dry matter content of 20 to 30% and at a temperature of about 50°C. This product is fed to animals fresh or ensiled.

Fresh beet pulp should be fed 1-3 days in advance to prevent spoilage.

During transportation, pulp, especially in large quantities, cools slightly, so it is very important to silage it directly from transport, without intermediate storage. This avoids nutritional loss, contamination, and also stimulates the “hot fermentation” process.

Despite the fact that pulp contains relatively little dry matter, pulp belongs to the group of raw materials that are easily ensiled. In order for the silage process to proceed optimally, it is important to quickly and cleanly fill the silage container, compact it tightly, and quickly and efficiently close it from the air. It is important to remember that the height of the trench should not be higher than 2 meters to ensure uniform cooling. The temperature inside the silo trench decreases gradually, by approximately 1°C per day. They open the silage trench and begin to feed the ensiled pulp 6-8 weeks after it has completely cooled. It is very important that the rate of removal of pulp from the trench is higher than 0.2 m per day in winter and 0.4 m per day in summer to avoid its spoilage.

Pulp contains little protein, a lot of energy and has an average crude fiber content (see Table 1). The basis of crude fiber is cellulose and pectin, which are very important for ensuring the normal functioning of the rumen. Bagasse is a very valuable feed for dairy cows because it supplies energy to the rumen, but does not contain starch. This feed raw material is included in the diet from 2 to 6 kg of dry matter per head per day.

Dry pulp

Dry pulp contains about 90% dry matter. The advantages of this product over the previous one are easy transportation. Dry pulp is included in the composition of feed for cows and young cattle.

Another by-product of sugar production from sugar beets. At the sugar factory, the pulp is mixed with molasses and then dried. After drying, the mass is granulated, usually through a matrix with holes 12 mm in diameter (large granule). Molasses pulp contains even more energy compared to dry pulp. Depending on the amount of molasses added, the sugar content in the final product is between 13 and 28%. The breakdown of this feed in the rumen is uniform, due to which it is well absorbed by animals.

There are very different products offered on the market, so you need to monitor the sugar content in the molasses pulp, and if the sugar beets are heavily contaminated with soil, this can also happen. increased rate raw ash. The sugar content must be at least 10.5%. The proportion of raw ash should be about 3.5% of the dry matter, maximum 4.5%.

It is important to pay attention to the hardness of the pulp. It depends on the addition of molasses. For this reason, there are “mini-granules” on the market made from slightly molasses pulp, which are simply much less durable. The sugar content in such granules is correspondingly lower.

Molasses pulp is well suited for feeding replacement young animals on grazing, in amounts from 1.5 to 3 kg per head per day. It is included in the diet of dairy cows in an amount of 2-4 kg. For farms that produce a lot of grass silage, this feed is a good energy supplement to the protein-rich main feed.

Molasses pulp is a standard component for the production of feed for dairy cows.

This food is also a very good sorbent: 1 kg of dry pulp binds 2-3 liters of liquid. Therefore, it can be used to prevent loss of juice, for example, when ensiling wet grass (4th or 5th cutting). The grass is ensiled in layers, with a thin layer of molasses pulp. For the same purpose, you can use pulp when ensiling brewer's grains.

Molasses

Molasses is a by-product of sugar production. It is a dark brown or black syrup.

The dry matter content in molasses is 70-75%, the sugar content is about 50%. Sugar is responsible for the high energy content of this raw material. To improve the fluidity of molasses, water is added to it, then the dry matter content is reduced. In practice, molasses is often found with a dry matter content below 50%, which, of course, reduces the amount of energy in this raw material. Therefore, it makes sense to check molasses for its dry matter content.

Molasses contains no crude fiber and has about 10-12% crude protein. Molasses is used very widely in feeding; it significantly improves the taste of the diet. It is often fed in combination with straw. Dairy cows receive no more than 1-2 kg per day due to the high sugar content. Almost all industrial feeds for cattle include molasses in the amount of 5 to 10%.

Molasses can also be used as a silage agent for raw materials with low sugar content (below 6% sugar in dry matter) in an amount of 30-40 kg per ton of silage mass. But its effectiveness in comparison with modern silage products is extremely low.

By-products of sugar beet processing are high-energy raw materials with a low crude protein content and a pronounced negative nitrogen balance in the rumen (from -4 to -9 g N/kg DM). This raw material is rich in calcium and potassium, which means it is not suitable for feeding dry cows (with the exception of molasses in special cases).

Chopped beet parts

Chopped beet parts are New Product, which sugar factories began to offer to agricultural producers quite recently. It's about about a mixture of crushed tails and heads of sugar beets. The dry matter content of this product ranges from 12 to 18%. Silage from crushed beet parts is similar in digestibility to silage from sugar beet tops, it contains about 6.3 MJ NEL or 10.3 MJ OE per kg DM. The nutritional value of each individual batch depends very much on its raw ash content.

Conclusions:

By-products from sugar production are an interesting raw material for feeding livestock. Pulp in various forms supplies cheap and very valuable energy in the form of cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin. These foods are digested slowly in the rumen and are gentle on rumen microorganisms. The use of these products is recommended primarily in diets containing protein-rich basic feed. Also, in feeding low productive cows (for example, in the 3rd period of lactation), grain crops can be completely replaced with pulp. Beet products vary greatly different manufacturers. Therefore, on a case-by-case basis, it is important to examine these foods for their dry matter, sugar, and other nutrient content.