Abstract:
Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. 1996 Vol. 21 USING MOLASSES AS PART OF THE RATION OF HIGH YIELDING DAIRY COWS R.G. WALKERA, R.I. KNIGHTA and R.T. COWAN B * Dept of Primary Industries, Kairi Research Station, PO Box 27, Kairi, Qld 4872 B Dept of Primary Industries, Mutdapilly Research Station, MS 825, Ipswich , Qld 4306 Molasses is used as an energy supplement in the northern dairy industry because it is generally cheaper than grain-based concentrates. Research has indicated that 1.3 kg molasses is equivalent to 1.0 kg of grain for milk production (Cowan and Davison 1978; Chopping et al. 1980). Production per cow has increased since this research, so 2 experiments were designed to assess the use of molasses in rations for high producing cows. Each experiment was a randomised block design with a 4-week covariate period and a 12-week trial period. Data was analysed by analysis of variance using the data from the first 4 weeks as a covariate. In the first experiment cows calved during summer and grazed tropical grass pastures; in the second experiment cows calved in late autumn and grazed irrigated, nitrogen-fertilised ryegrass pastures. Five treatments based on the percentage of molasses in the diet were fed. Treatment MO was 8 kg/cow.day of a grain-based concentrate, while treatments M6 to M24 were fed 1.3, 2.5, 3.7 or 5.0 kg of fresh molasses with lesser amounts of concentrate. The protein content of each of the concentrates was adjusted so that each treatment offered cows similar amounts of energy and protein. Table 1. Covariate adjusted milk, and milk component per cent for summer and winter experiments 7 to 12 of the feeding period . The Dairy Research and Development Corporation and Bundaberg Molasses supported this project. CHOPPING, G.D., SMITH, L.J., BUCHANAN, I.K. and O' ROURKE, PK. (1980). Proc. Aust. Sot. Anim. Prod. 13: 401-4. COWAN, R.T. and DAVISON, T.M. (1978). Aust. J. Exp. Agric. Anim. Hub. 18: 12-5. 414
