Twelve multiparous cows in early to mid lactation
(702.8 ± 77 kg of BW, 96.5 ± 43 DIM, and 39.9 ± 4.62
milk yield; average ± SD) were blocked into 4 groups
of 3 by parity and milk yield. Dietary treatments were
a control diet without dried molasses and 3 and 6%
dried molasses diets. Cows were housed in tie-stalls
with free access to water. Three isonitrogenous diets
were formulated, with a 68:32 forage:concentrate ratio
to meet the nutrient requirements of dairy cows in early
lactation (NRC 2001; Table 1). Diets were offered ad
libitum twice daily at 0800 and 1600 h. Experimental
periods (n = 3) consisted of 14 d of diet adaptation and
7 d of data collection. Cows were milked 2 times daily
at 0500 and 1700 h, and milk yield and feed intake
were recorded daily. Individual milk samples were collected
2 times per period. Diets were sampled daily
and composited by period. Orts were measured daily to
determine daily feed intake for each cow.