Molasses in early-weaning rations for calves

Abstract

An experiment was conducted with 50 male, Friesian calves from 2 to 11 weeks of age. There were two basal diets, one containing meat meal and the other containing meat meal and urea as protein supplements to concentrate diets. The diets were fed with and without the addition of 5 per cent dried molasses. The addition of molasses to the diets increased the feed intake of both diets by 11 to 16 per cent. This resulted in increased weight gains of calves and increased nitrogen retention. The digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen was not affected.