A Review Regarding the Use of Molasses in Animal Nutrition

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 115
• Main Authors: Mordenti, Attilio Luigi, Giaretta, Elisa, Campidonico, Luca, Parazza, Paola, Formigoni, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01-01-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Agribusiness; Agricultural economics; Agricultural production; Amino acids; Animal husbandry; Animal nutrition; animal production; Animal welfare; Animals; Beef; Bioavailability; Byproducts; Carbohydrates; Cattle; circular economy; Conservation; Dairy cattle; Economic impact; Feeds; Fermentation; Food chains; Food industry; Food processing industry; Food supply; Food waste; Glucose; Livestock; Livestock feeds; Livestock production; Meat; Meat quality; Milk; Milk production; Nitrogen; Nutrition; Nutritive value; Principles; Product quality; Review; Sheep; Silage; Sucrose; sugar beet molasses; sugar cane molasses; Sugarcane; Sulfur content; Supply chains; Swine; Swine production; Syrups & sweeteners; Vitamin deficiency; Waste disposal; Wildlife conservation; Italy; sugar cane molasses; animal nutrition; sugar beet molasses; circular economy; animal production
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani11010115

In the past fifty years, agriculture, and particularly livestock production, has become more resource-intensive, with negative implications regarding world environmental status. Currently, the circular economy 3R principles (to reduce, reuse and recycle materials) can offer many opportunities for the agri-food industry to become more resource-efficient. The closed-loop agri-food supply chain has the great potential of reducing environmental and economic costs, which result from food waste disposal. To meet these principles, the use of crop byproducts, such as molasses, in animal nutrition improves the nutritive value of coarse and poorly desired feedstuff, which could present a real opportunity. The aims of this study were to summarize the possible applications of molasses for animal nutrition, to improve hay and silage quality for beef and dairy cattle, to enhance industrial byproduct values using liquid feed in swine production, and to improve extensive livestock production with feed blocks. The study focused on both feed characteristics, based on molasses, and on ruminal fermentation of its carbohydrates; the techniques of the production, conservation and administration of molasses to animals have been widely described as being capable of positively influencing animal performance, milk and meat quality.