What You Should Know About Molatek Molasses Meal

Molatek molasses meal is the by-product of the sugar-making process in the form of a thick, sweet syrup. Usually this by-product comes from sugar cane or sugar beets and is used in animal feeds at low levels. These levels are about 20-25% of feedlot cattle diets and 15% of feedlot sheep diets. Molatek molasses may also be fed to horses, dairy cows and young animals as a supplement.

Nutritional advantages of feeding Molatek molasses meal to livestock

• It is high in easily digestible energy and unlike refined sugar, has a higher nutritional value.
  • Increasing nutrient density in feed of pregnant cattle is important when voluntary feed intake is reduced before calving
  • Promotes growth and development of young stock
  • Prevents pregnancy toxemia in sheep and goats
•  Minerals like calcium, copper and iron are found in Molatek molasses meal, along with trace elements that are vital to the health of your livestock. Certain B-vitamins can also be found in molasses meal.
  • Promotes animal health by combating certain nutritional deficiencies
• Drought-feeding strategies often use a mix of Molatek molasses and urea as a way to increase feed intake of animals on low quality veld which helps to maintain body condition and appetite. Intake of complete feeds is also increased since livestock find Molatek molasses meal highly palatable.

Other advantages of Molatek molasses meal:

• Molatek molasses meal has the added advantage of binding dustiness and minimises the loss of small feed particles to the wind.
• Reduced feed waste
• Part of the grain component can be replaced with Molatek molasses meal as an energy source in self-mixed concentrates, as well as in complete feeds and licks
• Reduces ability of selective feeding in goats, sheep and horses
• Molatek molasses meal may increase milk yield

Higher levels of molasses may be used in animal feeds, but care should be taken when doing so as livestock may develop nutritional conditions.

There are 3 main nutritional diseases associated with over-feeding molasses, namely molasses toxicity, urea toxicity and bloat/acidosis.

See the Molatek Molasses Meal guidelines here