Feeding Molasses
The Premier Molasses range of liquid feeds are suitable for all types of stock – dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, pigs and horses.
Feeding Molasses
For ruminants, microbes break down the sugars in our liquid feeds quickly and extensively. This rapid release of energy make molasses blends ideal for supplementing diets containing excessive levels of protein (spring grass, silage) and fibre (old grass sward, straw). Additionally, the high palatability and unique aroma of molasses promotes appetites and masks unpalatable straights, with this being especially evident in total mixed ration (TMR) diets. Including molasses blends into the (TMR) not only supplies energy and protein to the diet, but also facilitates the carrying of nutrients and minerals uniformly throughout the mixer wagon.
Due to its versatility, molasses can be included in diets through a number of different methods outside of the TMR. Top dressing of forages and feeding through lick wheel feeders are the most common of these alternatives. The size of the lick wheel feeder will be dependent on the type, quantity and size of the livestock fed. For top dressing on forages, molasses blends enhance poorer quality forages, thus, increasing animal intakes and overall dietary energy levels.
Regarded as a natural feed ingredient for horses, molasses sweetens and increases the palatability of feeds. Comprising of sugars similar to that of forage crops, molasses enhances these feeds, with this being especially evident for hay. Described as a source of “fast energy”, used in moderation, molasses is ideal for horses of a higher energy requirement. Additionally, molasses is a good source of potassium, a vital constituent for preventing deficiencies and abnormalities in young horses including reduced growth rate, appetite and hypokalemia.
Molasses Handling
Simplicity and ease of handling are key to molasses use on farm. Molasses pumps and lick wheel feeders are key to this. Providing a low-cost solution to molasses handling, our hydraulic molasses pumps allow for precision application throughout the TMR. Furthermore, these pumps are ideal for molasses addition to silage clamps, where their mobility allows for uniform molasses coverage throughout the forage pit.
Molasses Storage
From IBC’s to mild steel or plastic tanks, the options for molasses storage on farm are numerous.
For receiving tanks, we recommend a storage capacity of 12-13 tonnes. This capacity, not only allows for a minimum molasses delivery of 10 tonnes, but also for an on farm-feeding buffer of 2-3 tonnes prior to the next resupply.
IBC tanks have a maximum storage capacity of 1.4 tonnes. For IBC storage, it is advised that a minimum number of eight IBCs should be held on farm, thus, facilitating the minimum Premier Molasses delivery of 10 tonnes.
