Although molasses is being used by
dairy farmers, particularly certified organic
dairies, as a lower cost energy alternative
to corn, little research currently
exists evaluating the effects of molasses
as the sole supplement on the ruminal
fermentation of grazing dairy cows. This
study evaluated the effects of pasture
supplementation with molasses, corn
meal, or a combination of molasses and
corn meal, on ruminal nutrient digestibility
and bacterial N synthesis in continuous
culture fermenters. Experimental
treatments were 1) orchardgrass (Dactylis
glomerata L.) pasture only (control;
70 g DM/d); 2) molasses plus orchardgrass
pasture (MOL; 3.5 g DM/d of
molasses plus 66.5 g DM/d of pasture);
3) corn meal plus orchardgrass pasture