Growth and Nitrogen Balance with Steers Fed Hi-N-Molasses

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Abstract
The nutritive value of a high-nitrogen-containing molasses for beef cattle was studied in a palatability-toxicity test, a feeding trial, and two metabolism trials. The molasses appeared to be palatable when offered ad libitum to eight steers on a chopped hay diet during an 84-day test period. An average of 6.4 lb. of molasses and 12.5 lb. of hay was consumed per steer per day with no apparent ill effects to the nervous or digestive systems. During a 168-day group feeding trial, the eight steers per treatment performed similarly whether they were fed a ration containing 30% hi-N-molasses or 30% molasses plus urea. In the first metabolism trial, there were no differences in the digestibility of the nutrients with the exception of crude protein, which was less (P<.01) digestible in the ration containing the hi-N-molasses. Estimates of digestibility determined in the feedlot using the chromic oxide method confirmed the trends observed using metabolism crates. In the second metabolism trial, when 40% of the ration was a high-nitrogen molasses, molasses plus urea or molasses plus cotton-seed meal, the dry matter and calories were less digestible in the high-nitrogen molasses ration than in the molasses plus urea rations. Fiber digestibility was less in the high-nitrogen molasses ration than in the cottonseed meal molasses ration and crude protein was more digestible in the urea containing rations than in those rations containing no urea. Results from both metabolism trials indicated that there were no ration differences related to nitrogen retention when expressed as grams/day or as percent of the nitrogen consumed. Copyright © 1964. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1964 by American Society of Animal Science

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