title: Dietary interaction of cane molasses with source of roughage: intake and lactation effects.
abstract: Effects of cane molasses at 0, 4, and 8% of DM in complete mixed diets were evaluated when molasses was fed to lactating dairy cows with cottonseed hulls, alfalfa haylage, or both combined. Thirty-six mature Holstein cows from mid to late lactation were used in a partially balanced incomplete block design with three 28-d periods. Variables measured were DM intake, milk yield, and composition. With cottonseed hull diets (30% of DM), molasses improved milk yield, milk fat percentage, solids-corrected milk, and feed efficiency. Dry matter intake was not affected by molasses. With alfalfa haylage diets (35% of DM), 8% molasses depressed actual milk yield and solids-corrected milk, DM intake, milk fat percentage, milk protein percentage, and feed efficiency. Milk fat percentage was increased with 4% molasses. With 65% alfalfa haylage diets, most variables measured were unaffected by molasses; however, with 8% molasses, DM intake increased and milk protein percentage decreased. In diets with both roughages combined, molasses did not affect any variable measured; however, these diets gave highest solids-corrected milk yields. Results show clearly that molasses effects depend on percentage molasses and type and amount of roughage in the diet.
authors.affiliation: Dairy Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Van Horn
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003369:Cottonseed Oil; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000378:metabolism*; D004435:Eating; D005223:Fats / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D016014:Linear Models; D000455:Medicago sativa; D008892:Milk / Q000032:analysis; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008965:Molasses; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D003369:Cottonseed Oil; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005223:Fats; D008894:Milk Proteins