Dry Period/Transition/Early Lactation

1. Dry Period
 

In early winter, when there is a lack of good quality pasture, cows fed with molasses will be healthier, well prepared for calving and in better condition to face winter.

Why feed molasses during the dry period

• Provide energy to maintain cow condition precalving  
• Act as a carrier to supply other nutrients and minerals to help balance other feeds in the diet 
• Ideal for at-risk cows to aid in the prevention of metabolic disease e.g. Hypocalcaemia (milk fever), hypomagnesemia and ketosis  
• Stimulate appetite ready for calving

 

What to feed to get the best results

Liquid Feeds

• Feedgrade Molasses — liquid energy
• Himag — molasses + magnesium
• Rumag300* — molasses + magnesium + Rumensin®

Other Products

• Grapple, Hyfat, Magnesium, Rumensin® Premix, Maize Mineral Mix, Xtracal, Magnesium, Rumensin® Premix, Salt

 

Recommended molasses feeding

500g-1kg per cow per day

 

Molasses balancing

Hay, silages, palm kernel and pasture and grains  
 

2. Transition
 

It is important to fully feed the springing cow. Cows fed molasses in transition diets before calving, helps drive appetite after calving to maximise milk production.

 

Why transition feeding is important

• Supplies an energy dense feed for neonatal calf energy  
• Helps prepare the rumen for milking type feeds  
• Drives appetite to encourage higher feed intakes post-calving  
• Optimises Dietary Cation Anion Difference (DCAD) to aid in the prevention of metabolic disease in at-risk cows, e.g. hypocalcaemia (milk fever), hypomagnesemia and ketosis

 

What to feed to get the best results

Liquid Feeds

• Feedgrade Molasses — liquid energy
• Himag — molasses + magnesium
• Rumag300* — molasses + magnesium + Rumensin®
• Rumol300* — molasses + Rumensin® 

Other Products

Grapple, Hyfat, Magnesium, Rumensin® Premix, Maize Mineral Mix, Xtracal, Salt

 

Recommended molasses feeding

1-1.5kg per cow per day

 

Molasses balancing

Hay, silages, palm kernel, pasture and grains
 

 

3. Early Lactation

In early spring, pasture quantity and quality can vary greatly. Cows fed molasses during this time will have increased energy and more efficient utilisation of feed.

 

How molasses helps during early lactation

• Acts as a carrier for either calcium or magnesium  
• Drives appetite to maximise feed intakes  
• Balances other feeds in the diet 
• Improves rumen function 
• Provides liquid energy to aid in the prevention of Ketosis  
• Maintains energy level pre and during mating  
• Helps maintain body condition

 

What to feed to get the best results

Liquid Feeds

• Feedgrade Molasses — liquid energy
• Himag — molasses + magnesium
• Rumag300* — molasses + magnesium + Rumensin®
• Rumol300* — molasses + Rumensin®
   

Other Products

Biochlor, Grapple, Hyfat, Magnesium and Xtracal, Salt
 

Colostrum Products

Calcium Enriched Molasses — Molasses + Calcium Chloride, MPG — Mono Propylene Glycol, Hyfat

Recommended molasses feeding

1-1.5kg per cow per day

 

Molasses balancing

Sugars to balance starch, protein and fibre. Dilute high protein in spring pasture.