Molasses and urea as a supplement to low quality pasture hay for cattle

Abstract

Three groups of four Hereford heifers were fed individually in stalls for 16 weeks on rations of low quality hay, hay plus molasses, and hay plus molasses and urea. Hay was fed ad lib., molasses at 1.5 lb. per day and urea at 3.6 oz. per day. The hay was low in crude protein (3.5 per cent.) and high in crude fibre (38.5 per cent.). Body weight losses in the group receiving molasses and urea were negligible. The average daily body weight losses in the groups receiving hay alone and hay plus molasses were 1.20 and 0.85 lb. respectively. There was no significant difference between these two rates but both were significantly greater than that in the group receiving molasses and urea (P<0.01). This last group made slower weight gains on pasture after the conclusion of the experiment. Molasses had little effect on hay intake, whereas molasses plus urea increased hay intake by 38.8 per cent. (P<0.01). Both molasses and molasses plus urea tended to increase the apparent digestibility of the hay. Apparent urea nitrogen digestion was 85-90 per cent.