OpinionNutrition
Molasses in young pigs' diets
• Isn’t sucrose toxic for young pigs?
In a series of trials we conducted some time ago (time flies fast!) at Kansas State University, we replaced pure crystalline lactose with molasses and sucrose in practical diets for early weaned piglets. Not surprisingly, piglets did not scour, not even when molasses was included at 20% of the diet! Not only that, but piglets on diets with molasses actually grew faster than piglets on lactose or sucrose. Whether this was an effect of taste or because of higher energy availability (fructose is being absorbed from a channel parallel to that of glucose) is unknown. What was clear is the fact that piglets thrived on diets with very high levels of molasses.
Since then, I have often created diets with high levels of molasses, so here are some practical tips.
• Second, make sure such high levels of molasses can be physically mixed in at the feed plant you’re using for your piglet diets.
• Third, when pelleting diets with molasses , always lower the pelleting temperature (less steam) as pellets burn quite easily (Maillard reaction).
• Fourth, if scours do occur with high-molasses diets, check the electrolyte balance and consider adding extra fiber.
• Fifth, and final comment, don’t start using high levels of molasses immediately – experiment with 5-10% levels using your locally available source of molasses and existing diets!
http://www.e-nutritionist.com/publications/Sugars.pdf
- Author: Dr Ioannis Mavromichalis
- Post a comment
Comments (10)
• Honey and glucose are also simple sugars and nutritionaly, they should behave like lactose giving comparable performance.
• Quality in molasses is usually measured in terms of concentration of inverted sugars, total sugars, and of course, non-protein nitrogen, which should be minimal. Ash content should also be minimal.
• Raw, unfermented molasses, has no alcoholic effect on pigs. I don’t know about how molasses fermenation by-products behave on this aspect, but it should depend on residual alcohol content.
• In our trials, we used up to 20% molasses without adverse effects. But, do pay attention to the precautions described above before using such high levels of molassses.
• Molasses contains free glucose, free fructose, and sucrose. So, all these compunds should behave the same, from a nutritional point of view. Molasses, also contains other nutrients/substances that require special attention, as described above.
• The perceived ‘scour’ effect of molasses is nutritional (secretory diarrhea) and not pathogenic. Unless there are secondary pathogenic complications, diets without antimicrobial agents should be (or not) equally prone to secretory diarrhea as diets with such agents.
I have picked interest in using molasses for pigs but here in Uganda it is used to make local spirits known as Waragi. cant it have an alcoholic impact on pigs as it happens when by product of breweries? i would be interested in the answer before i start using.
I have been using molasses now for some time in weaner diets and I find the weaners blossom on this diet. what i would like to know is what honey will do to the pig Will it increase the weight of the pig at a greater weight or will it advance at the same rate as the molasses? Honey is readity available and easily usable, and this is also so with molasses. Also the use of glucose which is also readily available for the same reason in weaner diets could be an option to gain weight quicker. I would be interested in as answer to some of these ideas and questions
