INCREASE YOUR PROFITS
WITH MOLASSES
Liquid
Products
Ireland Ltd.
BACKGROUND
Gallons per cow per day
Herd lactation yields as a rule of thumb range
from 180 times to 200 times their peak daily milk
yield. The former multiplier applies to late calving
creamery milk herds and the latter to winter milk
and early calving creamery milk herds. To maximise
the milk output potential of dairy herds it is crucial
to ensure that cows milk to their maximum potential
6 to 8 weeks after calving. A yield increase of 2
litres/cow/day at that stage of lactation increases
lactation yield by between 360 litres (79 gallons) and
400 litres (88 gallons) depending on calving date.
This is achieved by feeding 1kg of molasses/cow/day.
The graphs below represent the response obtained
over a full lactation for the average cow, in the first
8 weeks of lactation. Feeding more molasses for
longer will increase yield further.
potential over its full lactation, its diet in early lactation
must of necessity include molasses.
This is because molasses:
l
Increases diet palatability and intake.
l
As a liquid feed, it fills the gaps in the rumen left
by solid feed. Hence molasses can be fed when
the rumen would otherwise be full. This gives rise
to a further increase in dry matter intake.
l
Accelerates the overall rate of digestion and in
doing so boosts dry matter intake yet again.
l
Reduces the sorting of feed giving rise to
feed uniformity and a better balanced diet
throughout the day. When sorting occurs, the
herd bullies consume disproportionate quantities
of the more nutritious diet ingredients and the
law of diminishing returns kicks in. Meanwhile,
the herd’s timid cows must make do with the less
nutritious leftovers, become undernourished and
have their fertility impaired.
l
Stimulates milk protein production. Ruminants
produce their own protein and increasing sugar
levels in the rumen increases production.
l
Is predominantly sucrose. Sucrose is a most
effective form of sugar when it comes to
stimulating protein production.
l
Acts faster and is better utilised by rumen
microbes than sugars contained in forages and
other raw materials.
l
Lowers the amount of protein sources required
in a ration as a result of the higher production of
vmicrobial protein in the rumen.
l
The sugar content of a dairy cow’s diet should
be at least 6% of its dry matter content.
Normally, forages and other feed materials contain
2 to 3% sugar.
l
Raises the level of milk solids.
l
Reduces early lactation metabolic problems.
l
Reduces waste i.e. valuable less palatable diet
components are consumed. This facilitates the
inclusion of highly nutritious, less palatable feed
constituents in a herd’s diet.
l
Reduces lactating cow weight loss, which
improves cow fertility. This leads to less culling
and lower cow replacement costs.
l
Shortens the calving interval and the feed wasteful
dry cow period.
Daily Milk Production Pattern
7
Molasses
6
5
4
3
No Molasses
2
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Lactation Stage - Weeks
Lactation Aggregate Production
1,400
Molasses
1,200
Lactation Gallons
360 litres
increase
1,000
Dry
Cow
Period
800
600
400
No Molasses
200
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Lactation Stage - Weeks
WHY USE MOLASSES?
Herds whose levels of milk output are restricted by
below par levels of feeding in early lactation have their
full lactation yield potentials permanently damaged and
underperform. To ensure a herd realises its maximum
HERD HEALTH
Feeding molasses to dairy herds has a wide range
of health benefits. Among the benefits are reduced
incidences of ruminal acidosis, ketosis, milk fever
and lameness.
ECONOMICS
l
The real cost of the tank to a high rate taxpayer
after capital allowances are claimed is less than
50% of the cost of the original investment.
l
Based on the foregoing, providing the
infrastructure to store molasses as a feed and as
a silage additive represents a relatively low level
of capital investment that will generate a large
ongoing return, well into the future.
Feeding molasses at a rate of 1.5kg per head per day
increases milk yield by 3 litres per head per day. Based
on current molasses and milk prices, that represents 84
cents per head per day increase in net profit. Between
now and turn-out to grass, it is imperative that cows
reach their full peak output potential to ensure that they
maximise of the potential that is in cheap grass. Upon
turn-out, the net profit per head per day will increase.
Over a full lactation, the strategy described if adopted
will increase net profit per cow by a minimum of €150.
In a herd of 70 cows that represents a minimum net
profit improvement of €10,500 per annum.
BEEF HERDS
While the profitability of beef production
substantially lags that of dairy farming, using
molasses both as a feed and a silage additive in beef
herds increases their levels of profitability more
dramatically in relative terms than the increases
achieved in dairy herds.
MOLASSES STORAGE TANKS
l
Purpose-built molasses storage tanks are readily
available at modest prices.
l
A self-contained dairy herd comprised of 50
cows and 10 followers, fed 1.5kg of molasses per
livestock unit per day for 150 days will consume
13.5 tons and fully utilise a 15 ton capacity tank,
allowing for a small reserve between refills.
l
Tanks are dual purpose i.e. serve as stores for
molasses as a feed and as a silage additive.
At the end of the day, facts
trump opinion every time
No serious farmer should ignore the
advantages of molasses both as a dietary
supplement and a silage additive
For more information contact your local Merchant or Co-op
or Tel: 045 481070