MOLASSES FOR FOWLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23228, 23 December 1938, Page 4

MOLASSES FOR FOWLS

THE OPTIMUM PERCENTAGE USE WITH MASH RATION The Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station has recently published a bulletin dealing largely with the use of molasses in the mashes of poultry and described a number of experiments carried out over several years at the station and recorded by Mr. C. W. U PPThe investigation covered the uso of molasses in chick rations, laying rations and in finishing rations for fattening broilers. Generally it was determined that molasses in excess of 5 to 10 per cent, replacing rice bran or maize b meal, was too laxative. The authors of tho bulletin recommend not more than 5 to 7 per cent of molasses in all-mash ehiek rations. In laying rations molasses paused an increased consumption of water, and it was evident that 10 per cent molasses in an all-mash .laying ration was a maximum, if not an excess, that it is advisable to use. However, apart from this laxative effect this molasses proportion did not impair tho health or laying ability of the liens, and the authors suggest that where it is abundant and relatively cheap it can well be used to replace maize meal or other carbohydrate feed to the extent of 15 per cent of a laying mash to bo fed with grain, or 7\ per cent of an allmash ration.

In tho case of broilers being fattened good gains were made with finishing rations containing up to 15 per cent molasses.