Molasses is used as a common source of energy in feed rations as well as an appetizer, binder and a method to provide vitamins and minerals. Molasses is a by-product of the sugar cane, sugar beet and citrus industries. Citrus molasses differs from beet and cane molasses in that it is substantially lower in sugars, (beet 48%, cane 45%, and citrus 41%) and is higher in moisture with 27 to 30% in citrus as compared to 21 to 22% in beet and 24 to 25% in cane molasses. Protein content also varies, with citrus molasses containing 14% as compared to 10% in beet molasses and 3% in cane molasses.

Although protein varies between kinds of molasses, it is largely made up of compounds of low quantitative value and when provided in large amounts may even reduce digestion of protein and other nutrients. However, digestibility trials have shown that small amounts up to 10-15% of the diet do not affect digestibility and may enhance digestion. Beet molasses is comparable to that of cane molasses. However, it is much more laxative than cane molasses. Citrus molasses is very similar to cane molasses in energy and is readily eaten by cattle, sheep and horses when fed in a pelleted or cubed form (Ensminger, Olentine 1978, Morrison 1959, and Ott et al. 1979). However (Kirk & Koger, 1970) noted variations of intake of citrus products from different sources.

Materials and Methods:

A 9-day palatability trial was conducted using ten mature mixed breed and gender horses. Mean body weight was 1256 lbs. Horses were screened for age and temperament and then randomly selected from a pen of 25 horses. Test animals were housed in a 100 x 200’ pen with ad libitum access to water and trace mineralized salt. Two feed bunks 4’ wide by 16’ long were placed in the center of the pen and 25’ apart to allow access to all sides of both feeders by all animals. All feedings were conducted cafeteria style. Horses were preconditioned for six days on cubed alfalfa hay containing no molasses. A meal duration of three hours was established during previous trials. This three-hour feeding time was kept constant during the entire data collection period. On day one of the trial, horses were fed at 1.8% of body weight with the daily ration divided into two equal feedings, one at 7:30 a.m. and the second at 2:30 p.m. At each feeding throughout the trial, a one half daily ration of both the citrus and beet molasses treated alfalfa cubes was offered. Different treatment rations were placed in separate bunks during feeding bouts and bunks were alternated each time to minimize conditioning to location of each feed. All animals were pushed away from the feed bunks and then allowed to choose a ration. Both rations were formulated at the Montana Pride Plant in Dillon Montana. Rations were made with alfalfa hay from the same field with one having 4% beet-cane (50/50) molasses and the other 4% citrus molasses. Cubes were extruded through a 1 3/8” die and then cooled in a dryer. All horses were weighed on day one of the trial and again on day nine. Animals were given 3 hours at each feeding bout and then refusals were weighed and recorded. Feed refusal data was analyzed using the paired T-test procedure of SAS.

Results:

There were 18 feeding periods conducted during this trial. Table 1 is the T-test summary statistics showing the mean consumptions and standard errors of citrus molasses treated cubes and beet/cane molasses treated cubes. Horses consistently chose the citrus molasses treated cubes over the beet/cane molasses treated cubes (P <.05). Animals on trial had a mean weight gain of 17.30 lbs. during the 9 day experimental period or a 1.9 lb. average daily gain.

Discussion:

This study concluded that horses preferred 4% citrus molasses treated cubed hay over 4% beet/cane molasses treated cubed hay. As shown in Table 2 horses started out eating both rations but soon showed and maintained a preference for the citrus treated ration. Physical characteristics of the two rations differed in color, size and smell. Cubes made with citrus molasses and pressed through the 1 3/8” die measured 1 3/8” x 2-3” in length, while those made with the 50/50 beet/cane molasses appeared to shrink to a 1 ¼” x 2-3”. Cubes also differed in that those made with citrus molasses were a brighter green and smelled like fresh cut alfalfa hay. Those using cane and beet molasses were dark (army) green and had a smell more like stored hay. Both cube types were transported and fed from 2000 lb. tote bags. Cubes were bucketed from these bags, weighed and transported in wheel-barrows to feed bunks. There appeared to not be any difference in degradation of cube integrity between rations. Density and tensile strength of the two kinds of cubes is being conducted. Although the time for a ration to be consumed was not recorded, horses on this trial tended to finish sooner than those on earlier trials. This is just an observation and may be due to the severe cold at the time and not the ration (Table 5). Also noted was an increase in total intake of cubes as the trial progressed. Horses would consume some beet/cane molasses cubes when the citrus was gone. This might explain the mean weight gain of 17.30 lbs. as shown in table 3. Horses were not exercised, thus were consuming more than a maintenance ration. Feed analysis as shown in table 6 indicates a significant difference between the two rations with a higher protein content in citrus than the beet/cane cubes. Also the citrus cubes appeared to be more digestible than the beet/cane cubes with a significantly lower NDF & ADF. Ether extract figures show little difference between rations. Beet and cane molasses are higher in lignin than citrus as well as lower in protein and could contribute to these differences between rations. But at a 4% level they would not influence them as much as seen here. The differences are probably due to sample size from which analysis was made.

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