F1 Molasses – A range of high-energy liquid feeds
Why Feed Molasses?
It is a common misunderstanding that having too much sugar in the diet can lead to sub-clinical and clinical acidosis, and all of the problems that come along with it. But using a quality molasses product in the correct way can be highly positive.
Dr Gregory B Penner (University of Saskatchewan) showed us that the use of sugar at around 7% of dietary dry matter had many beneficial effects.
Sugar was more positive at maintaining a healthy glucose uptake than starch (twice as good). When sugar replaces starch in the diet it does not reduce the rumen Ph.
Part of this response is due to the rumen microbes and protozoa accumulating glycogen.
The complex sugars (like those in molasses) produce acetate, propionate and butyrate. Butyrate is important to maintain the health of the papillae in the gut and stimulating insulin production which in turn increases both glucose uptake and amino acid uptake.
Sugars have been shown to have a positive effect on milk solids, in particular butter fats. There are several theories as to why we see this, and is probably linked to a combination of improved rumen health through improved fibre digestibility, increased butyrate production and importantly a more stable rumen pH compared to diets reliant on starch. A healthy rumen pH reduces the risk of supressed butter fats.
Facts About Molasses
- Sugars have variable fermentation rates. The rumen benefits from a wide spread of short and long chain sugars.
- Liquid sugars ferment rapidly. 95% in 2 hours and 100% in 4 hours. This is very beneficial when the diet contains non-protein nitrogen, peptides and plenty of ERDP.
- Molasses increases VFA production (Whey does not really do much). Molasses also increases the absorption of butyrate. Molasses also promotes better lactate capture.
- The use of molasses improves fibre digestibility by promoting cellulolytic bacteria.
- The use of molasses increases palatability by up to 2 kilos of dry matter.
- The use of molasses reduces sorting.
- Cane molasses consists of 6-carbon sugars from stored photosynthetic plant energy, which ferment in the rumen, producing energy for the cow through VFA’s. 5-carbon sugars found in many syrup products are the by-product of a previous fermentation and therefore don’t behave in the same positive way in the rumen.
Mega Pro Molasses
Cane Molasses is used to supply a significant quantity of 6-Carbon sugars to the diet, we have used this as the base for our range of high performance liquid feeds. Utilising the patented Timed Release Protein from QLF allows us to mimic the release of ammonia into the rumen, to that from plant based dry proteins.
By incorporating this vital ERDP in a molasses product we not only reduce ration costs compared to feeding sugar and protein separately, but also maximise space within the diet for increase forage or other feeds such as quality bypass proteins.
Mega Pro 30 & 50
Product Features
- 6 carbon sugars.
- Timed release protein.
- Liquid feeds.
- Consistent formulation.
Product Benefits
- Available for fermentation by the microbes – increase sugar percentage in diet.
- Improve fibre digestibility leading to increased DMI and a healthy rumen environment.
- Improvement in milk qualities.
- Allows release of ammonia into the rumen consistently over time – complements maize silage.
- No displacement of forage, minimises sorting, drive intakes.
- No variation in DM, sugar or protein content.
Optimiser Dry Cow 25
Optimiser Dry Cow 25 is a fully mineralised liquid supplement specifically for dry cows. This product has been used extensively by QLF in the USA and the vitamins and minerals have been specified in collaboration with several UK mineral specialists.
Key Characteristics
Molasses provides very palatable 6 carbon sugars which help to promote dry matter intakes. A 1kg DMI increase pre-calving, results in 0.86kg DMI post calving. Molasses also helps to promote regeneration of rumen papillae.
Glycerine is a glucose precursor and as such is very palatable and high in energy.
The specially designed vitamin and mineral pack includes chelated (protected) Zinc, Copper, Selenium and high levels of Vitamin E for the cow’s immunity system at calving. Magnesium is included to reduce the risk of Milk Fever by helping the ability of the cow to regulate Calcium blood concentrations.
Optimiser Dry Cow 25-2 also distributes nutrients and additives (minerals) uniformly. This is important where feed additives are fed at very low levels, are required on a daily basis in specific quantities and are a significant part of the daily ration cost. Including these additives within a liquid feed ensures uniform dispersion as shown in the graph below which compares crude protein in a TMR mix analysed at points
along a feed trough.
Product Features
- 6 carbon sugars.
- Full dry cow mineral pack including chelated Zinc, Copper, Selenium and high levels of Vitamin E.
- Glycerine.
- Magnesium.
- Timed release protein.
- Liquid feeds.
- Consistent formulation.
Product Benefits
- Improve fibre digestibility leading to increased DMI during vital period pre-calving.
- Increase Butyrate from fermented sugar lengthening rumen papillae for the next lactation leading to a healthy rumen environment.
- Designed to maximise cow health and immunity around calving.
- High in energy and acts as a glucose pre-cursor.
- Highly palatable.
- Helping the cow to regulate Calcium blood concentrations.
- Allows release of ammonia into the rumen consistently over time.
- No displacement of forage, minimises sorting, drive intakes, simple system.
- No variation in specification.
Typical Analysis
| As Fed | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein % | Sugar % | Mag % | DM |
| 25 | 18 | 2 | 63 |
| Dry Matter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein % | Sugar % | Vit & Min | Litres/Te |
| 40 | 29 | DC Opt | 769 |
RECOMMENDED FEEDING RATE (KG/HEAD/DAY)
This unique product contains a Vitamin and mineral pack and requires feeding at the recommended rate of 2kg per head per day to fully enable the included Vitamins and minerals. Please follow the advice of your FAR trained QLF advisor or Merchant.