The molasses is derived from cane sugar and is characterised by its excellent palatability and flexibility of use. Molasses products are the key ingredients for cost-effectively managing the performance of other feeds including pasture.
Benefits of Molasses:
Directions for Use:
Molasses should be made available to livestock at the following rates:
Cattle
Dry dairy cows: 500g-1kg per day
Springing dairy cows: 700g-2kg per day
Lactating dairy cows: 500g-2kg per day
Adult beef cattle: 500g per day
Calves and heifers: 100g-500g per day
Sheep, Goats and Deer
Lactating or heavily pregnant: 100-200g per day
Other stock: 50-100g per dayImportant
Notes
Benefits of Molasses:
- Increases milk solid production
- Improves milk let-down
- Improves palatability of additives
- Promotes animal health
- Dilutes protein in the spring
- Improves fibre digestion
- Assists in reducing heat related stress
- Aids continued growth and development of young stock
- Increases diet density when intake is reduced before calving
- Provides sugar during early pasture growth
- Assists pregnancy rates - condenses calving patterns
Directions for Use:
Molasses should be made available to livestock at the following rates:
Cattle
Dry dairy cows: 500g-1kg per day
Springing dairy cows: 700g-2kg per day
Lactating dairy cows: 500g-2kg per day
Adult beef cattle: 500g per day
Calves and heifers: 100g-500g per day
Sheep, Goats and Deer
Lactating or heavily pregnant: 100-200g per day
Other stock: 50-100g per dayImportant
Notes
- DO NOT feed molasses at rates greater than 20% of the total diet on a dry matter basis.
- Feeding very high rates of molasses to ruminants grazing very lush pasture may increase the requirement for an additional dietary fibre source such as straw or hay.
- It is advisable NOT TO ADD molasses to the milk of unweaned calves. Young unweaned calves may not be able to digest molasses when drunk with a liquid feed, as milk does not go into rumen.
- Calves CAN digest molasses when it is added to meal and ‘solid’ feeds, as the rumen is functioning when these feeds are consumed.
- DO NOT allow hungry cows free access to highly fermentable products as there is a high risk of cows developing ruminal acidosis.