How to add feed molasses to cattle pellet feed

In the field of ruminant nutrition, the application value of feed molasses as a functional additive is becoming increasingly prominent. Based on the principles of animal nutrition and feed processing practice, this article systematically explains the physical and chemical properties, nutritional advantages and scientific addition scheme of molasses in cattle pellet feed, and provides technical reference for optimizing feed formula in farms.

Understanding feed molasses

Feed molasses is a by-product of the sugar industry. It is a viscous brown liquid with the main components of sucrose (about 45-60%), reducing sugar (10-25%) and a small amount of minerals. According to the raw materials, it can be divided into three types: sugarcane molasses, beet molasses and citrus molasses. Among them, sugarcane molasses is the most widely used in ruminant feed because of its good palatability and low cost. Its dry matter content is usually maintained at 70-80%, pH value 5.0-6.5, and it has natural sweet characteristics.

Four core advantages of feed molasses

Energy supplement

Contains 12-14MJ of digestible energy per kilogram, which can quickly increase the energy concentration of the diet

Palatability improvement

Sweet substances can increase feed intake by 15-20%, especially suitable for young animals and lactating cows

Dust control

The sticky properties reduce dust generation by 5-8% during feed pellet processing

Cost-effectiveness

It is 30-40% cheaper than energy raw materials such as corn, and contains trace elements such as potassium and magnesium

Adding technology in pellet feed

 Pretreatment points

Dilution treatment: It is recommended to dilute with warm water at a ratio of 1:3, and the viscosity is reduced from 8000-12000cps to below 3000cps

Mixing order: It should be mixed with roughage before feeding the feed pellet machine to avoid direct contact with urea in the concentrate

Anti-corrosion measures: Add 0.1% sodium benzoate in summer to prevent fermentation

Processing parameter control

Adding ratio:

Fattening cattle: 3-5% (dry matter basis)

Lactating cows: 5-8% (not exceeding 10% of the dry matter in the diet)

Feed pellet machine manufacturing:

Tempering temperature is controlled at 75-85℃

The compression ratio of the ring die is recommended to be 1:8 to 1:10

After adding, the pellet durability index (PDI) can be increased by 12-15%

 Quality monitoring

Regularly check the mixing uniformity (CV≤10%)

The moisture content of the pellets must be controlled within 12.5%

The humidity of the storage environment does not exceed 65%

Solutions to common problems

Agglomeration problem:
Install a molasses spray device at the feed inlet of the feed pellet machine

Nutritional imbalance:
The addition of 2-3% of grain in the formula needs to be reduced accordingly

Equipment maintenance:
Flushing the mold with hot water every week can extend the service life of the feed pellet machine by 20%

Conclusion

Practice shows that the rational use of molasses can increase the daily weight gain of beef cattle by 6-9% and improve the feed conversion rate by 4-7%. It is recommended to start with 2% addition when using for the first time and gradually adjust to the optimal ratio.