The second step is having grown the grass, to maximise its utilisation. A rotational or paddock system is the most effective way of utilising grass as it ensures a consistent supply of quality grazing, with the aim of achieving energy levels of 12 MJ/kg DM. The principles of the system are to ensure fresh grazing is available after each milking and to shut off paddocks once grazed to allow recovery and subsequent growth.


Countryside Stewardship Capital Grant Scheme - DEFRA has announced a new grant scheme to deliver specific environmental benefits. It’s a two-year grant for capital works in three areas or groups:


1. boundaries, trees and orchards; 2. water quality and 3. air quality


Each farm business can only submit one application up to the


maximum grant available of £60,000 although there is a limit of £20,000 for each of the 3 groups. The window for application is from 9 February - 30 April 2021 although some applications require Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer support, which must be requested by 19th March. There are 67 capital items available including items such as:


hedges, tracks, concrete yard renewal, roofing, automatic slurry scrapers, low ammonia emission flooring for livestock buildings, tree planting and slurry store covers. The UK Government’s published ‘Clean Air Strategy’ outlined


proposals to reduce emissions from farming, specifically ammonia emissions. Although the detail is under consultation, the proposals include a requirement to cover slurry stores in England by 2027 so the opportunity to apply for grant funding towards this will undoubtedly be attractive for some producers.


Scientifically Speaking …


By Matthew Wedzerai THE VALUE OF MOLASSES IN PIG FINISHER DIETS


Where lactose is scarce or expensive, molasses has proven a valuable alternative feed ingredient in piglet diets. However, not much has been said of its value in replacing cereals in pig finisher diets.


Researchers from Dankook University and Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea, evaluated the effect of molasses as a partial substitute for maize in pig finisher diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immunity, faecal noxious gas emission, and meat quality. Before looking into their study results, let us have a revisit of what we know about molasses.


WHAT WE KNOW Molasses is rarely used in piglet diets, but mostly in low quantities as a pelleting aid and perhaps as a sweetener. It contains mainly simple sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose). The protein content of molasses is low, especially in cane molasses as compared to beet molasses; beet molasses protein is also more digestible than cane. Molasses has limited fat-soluble vitamins, but rich in water-soluble vitamins such as niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and vitamin H. A recent study published in the Animals Journal reviews the differences in the composition of molasses from different sources. Studies show that sucrose is toxic for piglets, but only during the


first week of their life. After the first week, they can metabolize sucrose normally. As a result, several studies have seen the use of molasses in nursery piglets of up to 20% or even more without compromising


production parameters. Molasses can be used to partially replace the energy source in feed


formulations and diets for all categories of pigs. Several researchers have pointed out that doses of molasses can even be as high as 50%, but this requires precise knowledge of the chemical composition, nutritional value, and dietary properties of molasses itself and all the other components of the diet. Compared to cereals, the gross energy of molasses is lower, which is related to both the high water and ash contents and the low lipid level. In practice, regarding the energy supply, it can be estimated that 100 g of maize can be substituted by 140 g molasses, and 100 g of barley by 125 g molasses.


THE STUDY The study aimed at evaluating the effect of molasses as a partial substitute for maize in diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immunity, faecal noxious gas emission, and meat quality in finishing pigs. A total of 120 pigs with an average initial body weight of 54 kg were used in this study. The experiment was divided into two phases: 0-5 weeks and 6-10 weeks. Pigs were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatments which were as follows: Control: basal diet, no molasses Control + 2.5% cane molasses Control + 5.0% cane molasses


• • •


GROWTH AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY A dose-dependent improvement in growth, and the digestibility of


Table1. Effect of molasses on growth performance, feed utilisation efficiency, and nutrient digestibility in finishing pigs


Parameter ADG (g) Gain: Feed ratio


Digestibility (%) N


GE Control 803 0.343


76.27 74.67


Molasses diets (%)


2.5 % 814


0361


76.02 76.16


5.0 % 823


0362


77.32 74.91


FEED COMPOUNDER MARCH/APRIL 2021 PAGE 23


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