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Ration sugars will be critical to maximising feed efficiency and milk from forage this winter, yet most UK dairy diets currently fall short of the required minimum.
Full utilisation of feed and forage in the rumen will only be achieved if additional sugars are included in rations. Although some dry feeds contain reasonable levels of sugars, such as molassed sugar beet feed, it’s high-sugar liquid feeds, such as the cane molasses blends that are most effective.
Liquid feeds also have a very low substitution rate and improve ration palatability – increasing overall intakes – as well as reduce sorting by binding ration ingredients together.
Key facts & figures:
Balanced rumen energy vital to fully support fermentation of forage
Minimum 5-7% ration sugars needed to balance rumen energy supply
Forage-based UK dairy rations typically contain only 3-4% sugars
Losing 3% rumen efficiency could increase total feed costs by 0.3ppl1
Dry feeds like Formula One contain a maximum of 23% sugars
Up to 54-56% sugars in high-sugar liquid feeds like Beetmol Flow or Stockmol 20
1 Based on an average yield of 27 litres/cow/day.
Links to feed information:
- Beetmol Flow (sugar energy + palatability + binding)
- Formula One (starch energy + sugar energy + oil energy)
- Stockmol 20 (sugar energy + palatability + binding)
For more information:
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