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MOLASSES-BASED FEEDS AND THEIR USE
AS SUPPLEMENTS FOR BROOD COWS
F. M. Pate and W. E. Kunkle
December 1989 Circular S-365
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
University of Florida, Gainsville
J.M. Davidson, Dean for Research
For questions or comments regarding this publication contact Findlay Pate or Bill Kunkle
Dr. F. M. Pate is Professor of Animal Nutrition and Center Director at the Agricultural Research and
Education Center at Ona, Florida 33865; and Dr. W. E. Kunkle is an Associate Professor and Extension
Beef Specialist in the Animal Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.
INTRODUCTION
Molasses-based supplements have been fed to cattle in Florida for decades. In the early years these
supplements consisted of molasses alone, but the formulation of molasses supplements progressed and
now includes the addition of crude protein, minerals, vitamins, feed additives and intake limiters. A
molasses-based mixture can be a high crude protein supplement added to concentrate feeds, a medium to
high crude protein supplement fortified with minerals and vitamins fed in a lick-wheel tank or an energy
supplement fed in open troughs to cattle grazing pasture or native range. It can be a simple mixture of
molasses and urea, or a complex mixture containing molasses, other liquids, natural protein, non-protein
nitrogen, phosphorus, several trace elements, vitamins or other feed additives.
While diversity of formulation has been a strong point of molasses-based mixtures, it has also created
confusion. Each of the preceding examples can be useful under certain conditions, but of limited value
in other situations. For a supplementation program to be successful the class of cattle to be supplemented
and the quantities of nutrients supplied by other feeds (forage or other supplements) must be known.
Then a proper molasses-based supplement can be selected and fed in quantities to supply needed
nutrients.
PURPOSE
The first objective of this circular is to discuss molasses-based feeds in general. This includes an
overview of the numerous ingredients used to formulate molasses-based feed mixtures, advantages and
precautions of feeding molasses-based feeds, types of feeding equipment, and when and where to use
different formulations. This will help producers select and feed a molasses- based supplement that best
fits their situation.
The second objective is to help cow/calf producers determine the benefits of feeding molasses-based
supplements to the brood cow herd. This will be accomplished by presenting production results from
two recent long-term experiments which evaluated typical molasses-based supplements that were fed to
brood cows grazing Florida pastures.
INGREDIENTS USED IN MOLASSES-BASED MIXTURES
Molasses is the component used most often in liquid feeds and the two forms commonly fed in Florida
are produced in the state. Sugarcane molasses (blackstrap) is a by-product of the manufacture of cane
sugar. Standard sugarcane molasses contains 79.50 Brix (percent solids by weight) and not less than 48%
total sugars expressed as invert sugar. Heavy millrun blackstrap is more concentrated and contains 850
to 900 Brix. Blackstrap molasses is the ingredient most often used in molasses-based feeds fed in
Florida. Citrus molasses also is produced in Florida from concentrated press liquor obtained from the
manufacture of dried citrus pulp. It contains not less than 710 Brix and 45% total sugars as invert sugar.
A number of other liquid ingredients are often used in molasses-based feeds. These include phosphoric
acid, ammoniated polyphosphate, lignin sulfonates, fish solubles, whey, and various fermentation
products (Table 1). The wide variety of other ingredients used in molasses-based liquids (Table 1) and
their value is proportionally related to the quantity of nutrients they contribute to the mixture (crude
protein, energy, minerals, and vitamins). The extent to which a specific ingredient is used is influenced
by nutrient content, availability, and cost. Molasses-based mixtures can also contain antibiotics or
fermentation modifiers (ionophores), but the specific formulation must have FDA approval based on its
level of consumption and effectiveness.
ADVANTAGES OF MOLASSES FEEDS
Molasses-based feeds have a number of advantages as a supplement.
1. They utilize and increase the value of by-products from Florida industries and provide a locally
available, economical feed for cattle.
2. Cattle consume molasses rather slowly even when it is offered on a free-choice basis. These feeds
provide a consistent supply of nutrients to all cattle in a herd over an extended period. Fewer feed
troughs are needed than with dry supplements.
3. There is little waste.
4. They serve as a good carrier for many ingredients which will be uniformly dispersed in a stable
mixture.
5. They provide a readily available source of energy.
6. Molasses mixtures require less labor in handling and feeding if proper equipment is available.
7. Molasses supplements are high in magnesium, potassium and sulfur.
8. Molasses mixtures can increase total dry matter intake when fed with concentrate or forage diets.
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN FEEDING MOLASSES MIXTURES
A number of precautions should be considered when purchasing and using molasses-based mixtures.
These are listed as follows.
1. Ingredient formulation and nutrient content can vary widely among manufacturers and/or
molasses sources.
2. Over consumption or under consumption may occur.
3. Labeling may be inconsistent.
4. Materials of low nutritional value may be included.
5. Molasses mixtures may contain considerable amounts of water (moisture on the analysis tag).
6. Flow characteristics of molasses mixtures may be reduced during cold temperatures.
7. Molasses mixtures may ferment if the moisture level is too high.
8. It is difficult to incorporate some materials into a molasses mixture; suspension characteristics
should be evaluated to be sure materials do not separate.
9. Adequate quantities of forage or roughage should be provided when feeding molasses
supplements.
Table 1. Ingredients used in molasses-based feeds.
Energy Ingredients
Sugarcane molasses
Citrus molasses
Beet molasses
Starch molasses (corn and sorghum, Hydrol)
Hemicellulose extract (wood molasses, Masonex)
Fats, tallow, oils
Condensed extracted glutamic acid fermentation product (Dyne Ferm)
Lignin suffonate (HN4, Ca, Mg)
Whey
Wet brewers solubles
Fish solubles
Citrus and cane molasses distillers solubles
Wheat distillers solubles
Miscellaneous liquid residues from production of Bakers yeast, potable alcohol, enzymes, distilled
vinegar, citric acid, and amino acids
Condensed soybean solubles
Condensed molasses solubles
Nitrogen Ingredients
Urea
Ammonium polyphosphates
Ammonium sulfate
Ammoniated thio-sulfate
Corn solubles
Fish solubles
Ammoniated lignin sulfonate
Natural protein ingredients
Mineral and Vitamin Ingredients
Vitamins A, D, and E
Calcium chloride or sulfate
Phosphoric acid
Ammonium polyphosphates
Magnesium sulfate
Sodium chloride, sulfate, or bicarbonate
Ethylene diamine dihydroiodide (iodine)
Sulfate or chelated form of iron, copper, cobalt, zinc, manganese, and boron
Sodium selenate or selenite
Other
ionophores (monensin and lasalocid)
Suspension agents (gums and clays)
Antibiotics
Some molasses-based mixtures contain urea. A major concern when feeding molasses-based mixtures
containing urea is toxicity. To prevent this, a few simple precautions should be taken.
1. Never feed mixtures from an open trough in which the equivalent crude protein from non-protein
nitrogen exceeds 15%, unless it is a formula that limits intake.
2. Never offer starving or underfed cattle free access to medium or high non-protein nitrogen molasses
supplements. Fill them up with forage or other feeds first.
3. Always provide adequate quantities of forage or other feeds along with the high non-protein nitrogen
molasses supplement.
EVALUATING MOLASSES-BASED FEED FORMULAS
It is important to learn as much as possible about the composition of a molasses-based mixture in order
to select the correct formula at the lowest cost. The most helpful source of information is the feed
analysis tag. An example is presented in Figure 1. Study all feed analysis tags carefully.
Be certain that nutrients or items listed on the tag are contained in significant quantities and relate to
cost. In terms of cost of the feed and the quantity required by cattle, the two most important nutrients are
energy and crude protein. Minerals and vitamins are important, but are required in small quantities, and
the cost of adding them is relatively small. Minerals and vitamins also may be provided in a mineral
supplement available to cattle all year.
The following guidelines can be used to evaluate the information on the feed analysis tag.
1. Energy content--It is difficult to evaluate the energy of molasses-based supplements, since standard
energy values such as total digestible nutrients (TDN) are not used. Some feed tag analyses that are
indicative of the energy value include the following:
a. Total sugars, invert sugars, or carbohydrate content. These nutrients supply energy in molasses
based feeds; each 1% of sugar approximately equals 1% TDN.
b. Moisture content. Water supplies no energy or protein and reduces the nutritive value.
c. Ash or mineral content. A high ash or mineral content reduces the energy value.
d. Brix value. It is a measure of the solid component (by weight) and generally indicates the
sugar content.
e. Fat content. Fat often is added to molasses supplements to improve the energy value; each 1%
of fat is equal to approximately 2.25% TDN.
2. Crude protein Crude protein can be derived from natural protein and non-protein nitrogen (usually
urea). These two forms make up the total crude protein content. However, crude protein from natural
protein is often better utilized than that from non-protein nitrogen, particularly in situations where
forages low in TDN are fed. An indicator of natural protein content is the difference between total crude
protein and crude protein from non-protein nitrogen, both listed on the feed tag.
3. Mineral content Determine if the quantities listed are significant in relationship to the requirements
of the animal. Requirements can be found in NRC (1984).
a. Phosphorus (most important).
b. Calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
c. Trace elements (copper, iron, cobalt, selenium, zinc, manganese, iodine).
4. Vitamin content--As with minerals, determine if the quantities listed are significant in relation to
requirements. Important vitamins are A and E.
Figure 1. Typical Feed Analysis For A Liquid Feed
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude protein Min 20%
(This includes not more than 14% equivalent protein from non-protein nitrogen).
Crude fat Min 2%
Crude fiber None
Calcium (Ca) Mm 0.3o, a 10
Min 0.3%, Max 1.0%
I Calcium (Ca)
Phosphorus (P) Min 0.5%
Magnesium (Mg) Min .0001%
Copper (Cu) Min .003%
Iron (Fe) Min .006%
Cobalt (Co) Min .0002%
Zinc (Zn) Min .015%
Iodine (I) Min .0002%
TSI (Total sugars as an invert) Min 30%
Moisture Max 35%
Vitamin A Min 15,000 IU/lb
Vitamin D Min 4,000 IU/lb
Vitamin E Min 5 IU/lb
Ingredients: Cane molasses, urea, phosphoric acid, condensed molasses solubles, animal fat
preserved with BHA, calcium sulfate, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D activated sterol, vitamin
E supplement, manganese sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, ethylene diamine
dihydriodide, cobalt sulfate, zinc sulfate.
EQUIPMENT
Because they are liquid, molasses supplements can be handled easily with little labor and fed on a free-
choice or limited basis. Molasses-based supplements can be transported in 55-gallon drums and fed in
any container that holds liquid (Figure 2), or transported in trucks or tractor-drawn tanks and fed with
modern lick-wheel equipment(Figure 3).
Open troughs are convenient for feeding molasses-based supplements, although minor drawbacks are
encountered. For example, the feed is exposed to weather as well as birds and other animals. Also, cattle
and calves may occasionally be pushed into the trough. Intake of molasses mixtures by brood cows can
be relatively high from open troughs; greater than 10 pounds/cow daily has been observed. Molasses
mixtures can be limit-fed by filling open troughs only twice a week. If a 3- or 4-day supply is provided
at one time to brood cows being fed 3 to 5 lbs/head/day, it will require one or more days for the cattle to
eat that feeding. All cattle will have a chance to eat, and their performance will be as good as with daily
feeding. Molasses-based supplements which control intake at 1 to 3 lbs/head/day are also available for
open trough feeding.
Lick-wheel tanks offer the advantage of limiting intake of molasses mixtures. They are essential when
feeding molasses mixtures which contain high levels of urea. The lick-wheel tank also protects the
molasses mixture from dirt, rain, birds, insects, etc. A lick wheel for each 8 to 10 cows is suggested, but
varies with conditions.
Mixing molasses slurries (molasses mixtures with dry feed ingredients) is a recent concept, and special
problems are encountered relative to obtaining uniform feed products that can be handled. Feed
companies have developed molasses slurries, and some Florida producers mix molasses slurries on the
ranch. For ranch mixing it is recommended that the mixing unit be self-contained in the tank used to
deliver molasses mixtures to the feed trough or lick tank. A tank mixer currently used on some Florida
ranches is shown in (Figure 4). For detailed information on design and construction of a slurry mixer, it
is recommended that interested individuals contact the U. S. Sugar Corporation, Clewiston, Florida;
Alico Ranch, La Belle, Florida; or Lykes Brothers Ranch, Inc., Brighton, Florida.
A slurry fed in research trials at the Ona AREC contained 73% standard molasses, 25% cottonseed meal,
1% urea, and 1% water. This mixture was thick and difficult to handle. A slurry of 85.5% standard
molasses with 12.5% feather meal, 1% urea, and 1% water worked in a mix tank and flowed without
problems. This mixture also worked well in a lick-wheel feeder from which yearling heifers consumed
more than 4 lbs/head/day. It appears that each dry feed ingredient reacts differently when mixed with
molasses, but the 15 to 20% level of dry ingredient may be the upper limit for making a workable slurry
with standard molasses. The flow of any mixture can be improved by adding water or other liquids less
viscous than molasses. Some trial and error may be necessary to develop the proper combination of
ingredients to make a workable molasses slurry.
WHEN AND WHERE TO USE MOLASSES-BASED SUPPLEMENTS
Molasses-based mixtures are used primarily as winter supplements for brood cows in Florida when the
quantity and/or quality of forages is limited. Molasses-based supplements are used at moderate levels (3
to 5 lbs/head/day) as an energy supplement and may contain ingredients to supply crude protein,
minerals and vitamins. They may be fed in limited quantities (1 to 3 lbs/head/day) to supply some
energy, but mainly crude protein and other nutrients. The winter season can also be critical, because
cows in south Florida are usually nursing calves and are often being rebred. During this production
period, adequate levels of energy, protein and other nutrients are very important.
Nutrients added to molasses will be beneficial if they are not supplied in adequate amounts by the forage
or other supplements. For example, both a mineral mixture and a molasses mixture containing adequate
minerals need not be offered. Also, many of the nutrients are contained in the consumed forage. Some
nutrients, such as certain trace elements and vitamins, are inexpensive because of the small quantities
used in a mixture and are added for insurance.
Adding non-protein nitrogen or natural protein increases the cost of a molasses-based supplement and
should be used only when needed. The quantity of crude protein needed in a molasses-based
supplement, and the resulting benefits, depend upon the crude protein content of the consumed forage.
Beef cows nursing calves and grazing forage with 10% or more crude protein, or a dry cow grazing
forage with 7 to 8% crude protein, probably will not benefit from added crude protein in a molasses-
based supplement. It should be noted that millrun blackstrap molasses produced in Florida naturally
contains 7% or more crude protein as compared to only 2 to 4% in molasses produced in other areas.
Probably the only situation where forage from a perennial grass pasture in Florida would contain more
than 10% crude protein in the winter is on organic soils.
The usual situation in Florida is that forages from grass pastures on sandy soils contain much less than
10% protein in the winter and are low in TDN. This is certainly the case for bahiagrass, Florida's most
common pasture forage. In these situations, a molasses-based supplement containing 15 to 20% crude
protein should be fed at moderate levels (3 to 5 lbs/head/day).
RESPONSE OF BROOD COWS TO MOLASSES-BASED SUPPLEMENTS
MOLASSES AS AN ENERGY SUPPLEMENT
A five-year experiment was conducted at the Everglades Research and Education Center at Belle Glade
from 1980 to 1985 (Pate, Crockett and Phillips, 1985). Brangus-type cows (124 head) grazed
continuously on Roselawn St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) grown on organic soil at a
stocking rate of 1.25 cows/acre. The breeding season was from January 1 to March 10. The grass
contained 13 to 15% crude protein and 40 to 45% total digestible nutrients (TDN) on a dry matter basis
during the winter. This crude protein level far exceeded the 10% level recommended by the National
Research Council (1984) for cows nursing calves, but the TDN was far below the 56 to 58%
recommended level. This provided a good situation to measure the value of molasses as an energy
supplement because the pasture forage provided more than adequate crude protein.
The experiment compared three molasses treatments: (1) no molasses, (2) molasses during the breeding
season (December 15 to March 1), and (3) molasses during the calving and breeding season (October 15
to March 10). Millrun blackstrap cane molasses was fed twice weekly in open troughs at a rate of 5 lbs/
brood cow/day.
Cows fed molasses during the breeding season weaned approximately 7 more calves per 100 cows,
weaned a similar sized calf and produced 36 lbs more calf per cow in the breeding herd than cows not
fed molasses (Table 2). Cows fed molasses during the calving and breeding season weaned
approximately 6 more calves per 100 cows, had a 24-lb heavier calf at weaning, and produced 52 lbs
more calf per cow than cows not fed molasses.
Table 2. Response of crossbred brood cows to season supplementation with blackstrap
molasses while grazing St. Augustinegrass grown on organic soil (5 years' data, 1980-1985).
(a)
Time of Molasses Supplementation
Calving
and
Breeding breeding
Item None season(b) season(c)
Weaning rate, % 77.2 84.0 182.9
Calf weaning weight, lbs 553.0 551.0 577.0
Calf production/cow, lbs 427.0 463.0 479.0
Increased calf production/cow -- 36 52
over no molasses, lbs
Cow data at different times of year
September (weaning)
Weights, lbs 1020.0 1029.0 1051.0
Condition scored(d) 7.2 7.2 7.4
January (start breeding)
Weights, lbs 1022.0 981.0 1040.0
Condition score 7.1 6.8 7.2
March (end breeding)
Weights, lbs 910.0 919.0 961.0
Condition score 4.4 4.6 4.9
Blackstrap molasses/cow, lbs 0 425 725
Pounds of molasses/additional --- 11.8 I139
pound of calf
(a) For more detailed information on study see Pate, Crockett and Phillips (1985).
(b) Cows fed 5 lbs/head/day of heavy millrun blackstrap molasses on a twice weekly schedule
from December 15 to March 10 (425 lbs/cow over 85 days). Breeding season was from January
1 to March 10.
(c) Cows fed 5 lbs/head/day of heavy millrun blackstrap molasses on a twice weekly schedule
from October 15 to March 10 (725 lbs over 145 days).
(d) Condition score of cow based on a range of 1 to 9 with 1 being extremely thin and 9
extremely fat.
Molasses feeding also resulted in heavier cow weights throughout the year and less cow weight loss
during the winter breeding season. This probably explains the improved reproductive performance
observed for cows fed molasses. A heavier cow weight in September also would be economically
beneficial due to greater returns for marketing cull cows.
MOLASSSE AS AN ENERGY AND PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT
Florida's sandy soil pastures, most of which are bahiagrass, have both low energy (40 to 45% TDN) and
crude protein (6 to 8%) during the winter. Thus, it is commonly recommended that a molasses mixture
fortified with crude protein be fed to brood cows.
A four-year experiment was conducted at the Ona Agricultural Research and Education Center from
1984 to 1988 which compared three molasses mixtures: (1) a 6% crude protein standard blackstrap
molasses, fed at 2.9 lbs/cow/day, (2) a 17.5% crude protein standard blackstrap molasses-urea mixture
fed at 3.2 lbs/cow/day (3 lbs molasses, 0.13 lbs urea, 0.13 lbs water), and (3) a 17.5% crude protein
standard blackstrap molasses-cottonseed meal-urea mixture fed at 2.8 lbs/cow/day (2 lbs molasses, 0.7
lbs cottonseed meal, 0.03 lbs urea, 0.03 lbs water). All supplements provided equal amounts of TDN.
The molasses mixtures were fed to Braford cows (approximately 130/year) grazing bahiagrass pasture.
The breeding season was from March 1 to June 1. Cows were fed free-choice a low-quality stargrass hay
(5.5% crude protein) for an average of 110 days starting in December or January and ending in April or
May depending upon weather and pasture. Molasses mixtures were fed twice weekly in open troughs
from an average starting date December 16 to an average ending date of April 22.
Cows fed molasses with urea weaned 7 more calves per 100 cows and their calves weighed 10 lbs more
at weaning compared to cows fed molasses only (Table 3). Cows fed molasses-cottonseed meal-urea
weaned 12 more calves per 100 cows and their calves were 6 lbs heavier at weaning compared to cows
fed only molasses. Calf production per cow in the breeding herd was increased 39 and 57 lbs,
respectively, by adding either urea or cottonseed meal-urea to the molasses mixture. The cows' weight
differences were not substantial across treatments, but cows fed the molasses-cottonseed meal-urea
supplement tended to be slightly heavier throughout the year than cows fed molasses or molasses-urea.
Younger cows had a greater response to the addition of crude protein to molasses than older cows (Table
3). Three-year-old first calf heifers fed molasses-urea had a 16% higher pregnancy rate than cows fed
only molasses. Three-year-old first-calf heifers fed molasses-cottonseed meal-urea had a 32% higher
pregnancy rate than cows fed molasses only. Even 4-to 6-year-old cows fed either molasses-urea or
molasses-cottonseed meal-urea had a 14% and 16% higher pregnancy rate, respectively, than cows fed
molasses only. 7-to 13-year-old cows exhibited no response in increase pregnancy rate to the addition of
urea to molasses, and a slight response to the addition of cottonseed meal-urea to molasses (weaned 4
more calves per 100 cows). The results show the importance of feeding young cows molasses mixtures
fortified with crude protein, part of which should be a natural protein.
Table 3. Performance of crossbred brood cows fed different molasses-based mixtures during
the winter while grazing bahiagrass pasture (4 years' data, 1984-1988).
Molasses-
cottonseed
Molasses Molasses- meal-urea
Item (a) urea(b) (c)
Weaning rate, % 63.8(f) 70.9(fg) 75.7(g)
Calf weaning weight, lbs 441 451 447
Calf produced/cow in breeding herd, lbs 281 320 338
Increased calf production/cow over molasses alone, lbs ---- 39 57
Pregancy rate for different age cows, %
3 year olds 34.5(f) 50.8(fg) 66.5(g)
4, 5 and 6 year olds 60.7 74.0 76.5
7 to 13 year olds 74.8 74.7 78.6
Cow data at different times of year
November (pre-calving)
Weight, lbs 1092 1091 1106
Condition scored(d) 5.5 5.7 5.7
March (start breeding)
Weight, lbs 936 927 949
Condition score 4.2 4.3 4.5
June (end breeding)
Weight, lbs 988 983 1002
Condition score 4.4 4.5 4.5
August (weaning)
Weight, lbs 1027 1011 1036
Condition score 4.9 4.9 5.1
Molasses mixture fed/cow, lbs(e) 368 406 356
Hay fed/cow, lbs 1816 1753 1856
(a) Standard blackstrap molasses, 79.5 Brix; 6% crude protein (2.9 lbs/cow/day).
(b) Standard molasses, 92%; urea, 4%; water, 4%; 17.5% crude protein (3.2 lbs/cow/day).
(c) Standard molasses, 73%; cottonseed meal, 25%; urea, 1%; water, 1%; 17.5% crude protein.
(d) Condition score of cow based on range of 1 to 9 with 1 being extremely thin and 9 extremely
fat.
(e) Molasses mixtures were fed for 127 days with an average starting date of December 16 and
average ending date of April 22.
(f)(g) Means in the same row followed by a different superscript differ (P < .05).
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Molasses-based supplements should be fed to brood cows in most situations in Florida during the
winter. Start feeding in the fall or early winter, at the beginning of the calving season, and continue
through most of the breeding season. Do not wait until pastures are overgrazed to start feeding molasses
mixtures.
2. Forage quality is very important in selecting the correct molasses-based supplement. It is advised that
forages be tested for crude protein, digestibility (TDN) and possibly minerals too if the quality is
unknown.
3. Because Florida grasses are low in digestibility during the winter, feed 3 to 5 lbs of a molasses
mixture/cow/day. Adjust the quantity fed and duration of feeding as conditions of the cow herd and
pastures dictate. Adjusting intake to the desired level may require twice-weekly feeding rather than free-
choice feeding.
4. Florida grasses grown on sandy soils also are low in crude protein in the winter. In this situation feed
3 to 5 lbs of a molasses mixture containing 15 to 20% crude protein. The best response will be obtained
when more than 50% of the crude protein in the mixture is derived from a natural protein, like
cottonseed meal, soybean meal, or feather meal.
5. It is important that younger cows, particularly first-calf heifers, be fed molasses mixtures containing
added crude protein. However, all cows 6 years of age or younger benefit from adding crude protein to
the molasses mixture. The response in calf production is very large, and more so to natural protein than
to urea.
6. On occasion a pasture forage may have relatively good digestibility, but low crude protein. This is
possible for hemarthria (Hemarthria altissima) or pangola digitgrass (Digitaria decumbens) in the fall or
early winter. In this situation 1 to 2 lbs of a molasses mixture containing 30 to 35% crude protein can be
fed.
7. Study the feed label when selecting a molasses-based supplement. Place major emphasis on energy
and crude protein content when comparing mixtures as to nutrient quality and cost. Indicators of high
energy are high sugar levels, high Brix, added fat and low moisture. The better crude protein is from
natural protein. If not given on the label, a good indicator of percent natural protein is the difference
between percent total protein and percent equivalent protein from non-protein nitrogen.
8. Be careful when feeding mixtures containing high levels of urea (more than 15% crude protein from
non-protein nitrogen). Never allow starving cattle free access to these mixtures, fill them up with forage
or other feed first. It is advisable to feed high-urea mixtures in a lick tank to prevent over consumption.
9. Molasses-based mixtures fed at 3 to 5 lbs/head/day can be fed twice weekly in open troughs with
good success. Each feeding will usually last one or more days, allowing all cows access to the
supplement, even with limited trough space.
LITERATURE CITED
NRC. 1984. Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle. 6th Ed. National Academy
Press, Washington, D.C.
Pate, F. M., J. R. Crockett, and J. D. Phillips. 1985. Effect of calf weaning age and cow
supplementation on cow productivity. J. Anim. Sci. 61:343-348.
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