Fodder use of root chicory

Root chicory is valued in animal feeding for its high inulin content, which acts as a prebiotic component that improves gut microflora, nutrient digestibility, and the overall immunity of livestock. The energy value of roots from this crop can be twice that of fodder beets. Including chicory in the diet helps reduce the feed conversion ratio and increase live weight gain, while the presence of sesquiterpene lactones provides an additional prophylactic effect against internal parasites in small ruminants.

Unlike specialized forage varieties intended for grazing or green mass harvesting, the use of the root type is based primarily on the application of processing by-products: pulp, green mass, and off-grade roots. The use of fresh roots is limited by the presence of the glycoside intybin, which gives the product a bitter taste; therefore, to improve palatability, preliminary preparation in the form of drying or heat treatment is often required. The crop acts not only as a source of nutrients but also as a regulator of metabolism due to its hepatoprotective and antimicrobial properties.