HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tillman, A. D. Articles by Bray, C. I. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Tillman, A. D. Articles by Bray, C. I.

Methods of Feeding Cane Molasses and Urea to Beef Cattle¹

Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station^,3

Abstract

Two feeding trials involving 9,184 steer days were conducted to study methods of feeding molasses to growing and fattening beef cattle. In the first trial 40 young steers were divided into 5 equal groups. Four of these lots received molasses and one lot received a control ration containing no molasses. Two of the molasses-fed lots received liquid molasses and the other two received dehydrated molasses feeds. One of the dehydrated mixtures contained cottonseed hulls as an absorbent and the other bagasse. All animals receiving liquid molasses made satisfactory gains. The gains of those receiving the dehydrated molasses were not satisfactory.

The control and one molasses ration (ration 4) of the first trial were also included in the second trial. Similar results were obtained in either experiment, indicating the same value for these rations. The study was extended by adding urea to the rations of two other lots. Urea was dissolved in the molasses of either ration. In one ration urea supplied 51.3 percent of the protein in the concentrate and 43.2 percent of the protein in the total ration. Comparable figures for the other ration were 62.7 and 53.2.

Similar gains were made by the lots receiving either level of urea. These gains were lower than those made by lots receiving the control ration. The difference, however, was not significant at the five percent level. More feed or energy was required to produce a unit of gain by the animals receiving urea. The urea did not alter the palatability of the molasses, i.e., feed refusals were no more frequent with the urea-fed animals. No harmful physiological effects of urea were apparent in any of the animals receiving it in their ration.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Stations.

² Deceased March 23, 1950

³ The authors wish to express their appreciation to Professors S. E. McCraine and T. M. DeRouen and to Mr. Charles Alsbrooks of Louisiana State University for assistance in handling the experimental animals. They also wish to express their appreciation to Dr. M. F. Gribbins of the E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company who made available the urea used in this experiment.