Bail-feeding of detergent in molasses for bloat control in dairy cows

Abstract

An experiment was done at Kyabram, In 1978, to develop a bail-feeding method of bloat control for dairy cows. The maximum concentrations of a number of detergents in molasses that were acceptable to more than 95% of 40 dairy cows were determined. These were 7, 39, 56 and 56% for the detergents Terics 18M10, 15A11, 12A23B acetate ester and 12A23B, respectively. Teric 12A23B was acceptable to at least 95% of cows on a routine basis at a concentration of 50% in molasses. This mixture prevented bloat: 99 instances of bloat were recorded among 22 cows receiving molasses alone compared with no bloat among a similar number of cows consuming a prophylactic dose of Teric 12A23B in molasses.