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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #270121
Title: Molasses versus grain: what the research says

Author
item Soder, Kathy
item BRITO, ANDRE - University Of New Hampshire
item HOFFMAN, KAREN - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2011
Publication Date: 8/1/2011
Citation: Soder, K.J., Brito, A., Hoffman, K. 2011. Molasses versus grain: what the research says. GRAZE magazine. 18(7):8-9.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: This article summarizes the results of a three-tiered research approach (case study, two continuous culture fermenter studies, and two controlled research farm studies) to evaluate molasses as an alternative supplement source for grazing dairy cows. A two-year case study of a New York organic dairy farm showed that increasing the energy content of the diet (with the addition of starch such as corn) would have resulted in increased milk production and body condition score, since energy was the first limiting nutrient. Continuous culture fermenter studies conducted at University Park, PA, resulted in little difference in ruminal fermentation of pasture diets supplemented with molasses, corn, or a combination of molasses and corn, indicating that there may be other management and feeding factors that impact response to molasses supplementation, resulting in the variable anecdotal responses observed on organic dairy farms. The results of the controlled research studies at the University of New Hampshire where grazing Jersey cows were supplemented with either molasses or corn indicated that baleage intake increased slightly with molasses supplementation, possibly due to increased palatability of the molasses top-dressed on the supplemental baleage. Pasture intake was slightly higher for cows supplemented with molasses. However, there were no differences in milk production, milk composition, or nitrogen utilization. A second study at the UNH organic dairy where cows were supplemented with either molasses or corn meal during the winter feeding season showed that feeding molasses resulted in lower feed efficiency, lower milk protein production, but improved nitrogen utilization compared to corn meal. The decision to feed molasses or corn meal as an energy supplement to grazing dairy cows should be based on the cost of each feed on a dry matter basis. Grazing management, genetics, environment, and other farm-specific characteristics are most likely to influence the success or failure of cow performance rather than energy source.