Hoard's Dairyman, March 2021 article.  As calving neared, cows consuming diets with molasses had greater and more consistent intakes and ate more frequently.

  Adding sugar to the diet changes the population of microbes and can increase the production of microbial protein. This microbial protein is then used by the cow as it is an excellent source of amino acids (protein) that can be used for milk production.

Providing the right amount of amino acids to the udder for milk protein synthesis is the main objective of a feeding program. Since ruminal microbial protein is similar to the amino acid composition of milk protein, maximizing microbial protein synthesis in the rumen is the most effective approach to boost milk protein production. This article discusses three feeding management practices and nutritional strategies for improving milk protein yield and content.

One way to enhance DMI and lessen the risk of ruminal acidosis through the diet is to increase the proportion of sugar in the diet. Sugar, in particular molasses, is known to be very palatable and has the potential to improve rumen function and health.

 

 

Does molasses increase the palatbility of rations? It is difficult to measure palatabiltiy. When dry matter intake increases after adding molasses to the total mixed ration (TMR) it may appear it does. However, digestibility may have been increased due to the ration not falling apart and decreasing the risk of cows sorting out the fines in TMRs, thus driving up dry matter intake.

Researchers from the University of Guelph found that feeding mid-lactation cows a molasses-based liquid feed (~4% dietary DM) within a TMR has the ability to increase DMI, milk yield, and component yields of lactating cows.

Distiller’s grain contains high levels of fat, especially unsaturated fatty acids.  Excessive level of unsaturated fatty acid is one of the most important risk factors of milk fat depression

Molasses-based liquid feed supplements are still available and adding these supplements to TMRs is the recommendation of many dairy specialists. These products provide some moisture but it's more the sticky quality of the molasses that binds forages and grains together in the TMR, making it harder for cows to sort.

If you want your dairy herd to produce 100 pounds of milk per day, then you must consider the following principles. Each additional pound of peak milk will yield 239 pounds of milk over a 305-day lactation. First-lactation animals need to produce 75% of the expected mature cow production. Second lactation animals need to produce 90% of the

LIQUID FEEDS ARE MORE THAN MOLASSES Registered and customized Liquid Feed products, contain molasses, protein from corn solubles and additional sugar sources. Molasses contains sucrose, glucose, fructose, organic acids including lactic and malic etc. other carbohydrates and is a rich source of B Vitamins. Adding custom blend molasses products to