The Sugars and Various Cations Present in Cane Molasses and Their Effect on Diarrhea in Chickens

Abstract

A series of three experiments employing 610 day-old chicks was conducted to determine the effect of the principal cations and of the various sugars found in molasses as causative agents of diarrhea.In the first experiment the sulfate salts of sodium, magnesium and potassium were fed individually and in all possible combinations. The results indicated that neither sodium nor magnesium administered individually produced a laxative effect. However, an appreciable laxative effect was obtained when potassium was administered.The second experiment was conducted to study the effect of feeding potassium and magnesium in the sulfate and chloride forms. The maximum fecal moisture was obtained when a combination of the potassium, magnesium, chloride and sulfate ions were fed. The administration of either potassium or magnesium alone in either the sulfate or chloride form did not appreciably affect fecal moisture compared to a 15% sugar control. These data were interpreted to indicate that the total ions present in molasses are more important than any of the individual ions as a causative agent of diarrhea.In the third experiment fructose, glucose and sucrose were fed individually and in all possible combinations to determine the effect of the various sugars present in molasses as causative agents of liquid feces. The results indicated that the sugars present in molasses are not the primary cause of diarrhea when high levels of molasses are fed.