Peshawar – The Livestock and Dairy Development Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has successfully cultivated a new high-nutrition beetroot variety on a trial basis as cattle feed, in a move aimed at improving dairy cows’ health and enhancing milk production.
The pilot project was carried out at the Government Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm in Harichand, Charsadda district, where officials described the cultivation as a first-of-its-kind initiative in the province.
“This is the first time a highly nutritious beetroot variety has been cultivated at the farm for use as feed for milking cows,” said Field Assistant Inayatullah.
He said the crop was cultivated on 12 kanals of land, producing an estimated 3,000 beetroot bulbs per kanal, with each bulb weighing between nine and 10 kilograms.
The department plans to test the produce on dairy cattle to assess its effects on animal health and milk yield.
According to officials, around seven beetroot bulbs are sufficient for one imported Friesian Australian cow in a single feeding, while four to five bulbs are adequate for a local breed.
Highlighting the crop’s nutritional value, Inayatullah said beetroot offered strong yields even on relatively small pieces of land and provided a level of energy not commonly found in traditional fodder crops.
He said the bulbs contain nearly 20 per cent natural sugars, making them an important energy source for livestock, while the leaves contain up to 16 per cent crude protein.
Officials said the whole plant aids digestion and may improve milk thickness by as much as 2 to 2.5 per cent.
“The objective behind the experiment is to introduce a fodder crop that can also serve as a reliable energy source for livestock,” said Project Coordinator Dr Siraj-ud-Din.
He added that the leaves were also palatable and suitable as feed for cattle and other ruminants, including goats and sheep.
Sharing details of the expenditure, Inayatullah said the department spent around Rs100,000 on cultivation over four kanals, covering labour, seed, fertiliser and irrigation.
That area yielded approximately 12,000 beetroot bulbs. Based on an average weight of eight kilograms per bulb, officials estimated the total output at 96,000 kilograms.
At an estimated market value of Rs10 per kilogram, the produce could generate around Rs960,000, according to the department.
Officials said the beetroot variety could offer farmers a practical and profitable alternative amid rising fodder prices, while also helping improve livestock nutrition and milk quality.
They said farmers with access to their own land could cultivate the crop on four kanals for around Rs100,000, while production costs on leased land could rise to nearly Rs200,000.
Even then, officials estimated that growers could earn profits ranging between Rs700,000 and Rs800,000 from a 96,000-kilogram yield.
Farmers interested in the new crop can obtain technical guidance and seed from the Harichand Dairy Farm and other livestock facilities operating across the province.
