Survival feeding of cattle with molasses. 2. Feeding steers with molasses/urea plus either sorghum grain (Sorghum vulgare) or cottonseed meal (Gossypium hirsutum)

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out on yearling steers to measure the potential of various molasses/grain combinations as survival feeds in (a) controlled weight-loss situations, and (b) in critical starvation situations. In the first experiment, groups of steers with a mean � s.e. initial fasted liveweight of 174 � 1.8 kg were fed for 77 days on rations ranging from 100% molasses/urea to 40% molasses/urea and 60% sorghum grain at rates equivalent to 1.5 or 3.0 kg of molasses/urea per animal per day. Sorghum grain substituted for molasses/urea in the ratio 1.0:1.4 (w/w as fed). Mean growth rates were - 0.49 kg/day at the low level of feeding and -0.17 kg/day at the high level. In the second experiment the steers were fed ad libitum for 29 days on molasses/urea, molasses/ urea plus sorghum grain (60:40 or 40:60) and molasses/urea plus cottonseed meal (85:15). Feed intakes increased as the proportion of grain in the diet increased and there was an approximately four-fold range of energy intakes. A supplement of 1 kg/animal per day of hay had little effect on feed intake or on liveweight change. All groups except those fed molasses/urea without added grain or cottonseed meal made significant gains in liveweight. Molasses/grain and molasses/cottonseed meal combinations should be suitable for 'crisis' feeding.