Summary
The Meat Research Corporation's three-year Feediot Consistency & Sustainability Key Program, initiated three studies in response to an identified likely increase in the real cost of energy dense feedstuffs and the resultant effect on the long term prosperity of the Australian feedlot industry. Other studies examine alternative energy dense feedstuffs for the Australian cattle feedlot industry and the expanded use of high ME based silages. This study examines the expanded use of sugarcane by-products.
Australia has an expanding sugarcane industry located principalIy in coastal Queensland, but also in northern NSW and at the embryo stage in northern Western Australia. The principal by-product of interest is molasses. Lesser by~products are bagasse, and dunder - a by-product of the fermentation industries. Molasses is recognised as a valuable and convenient source of metabolisable energy (ME) and minerals for much of the Australian intensive cattle feeding industries. The conventional ration inclusion rates are in the range 3% to 8%. These may occasionally be higher, particularly in starter rations when favourably costed. Some 670,000 tonnes, or 569'0 of Australian molasses production, was exported in 1996 at prices less than those achieved selling into the domestic market. The greatest exported surplus came from Queensland, in particular from the northern, Herbert-Burdekin and central regions. Molasses has frequently been a competitiveIy costed source of ME and nutrients for much of the Australian feedlot industry. However, it has been generally under utilised.
Research and industry experience indicate molasses can be beneficialIy incorporated at higher inclusion rates in balanced production rations, at least higher than have been generally practised in Australia. When favourably costed, a 15% inclusion rate is feasible, and there are indications that rates of 25% or higher are possible and practical. At these higher inclusion rates molasses may assist significant sectors of the feedlot industry financially, aiding long term prosperity, and possibly underpinning an expanded industry. Principal reasons for the relatively low inclusion rates in the Australian industry, other than when cost considerations exist, include the following: . its impact on ration texture; . the physical handling and feed distribution difficulties sometimes experienced at higher rates; . the perception that current molasses inclusion rates are at their maximum; and occasionally, . the belief that molasses as a nutrient source is associated with decreasing efficiency above current (practised) rates. There is at present insufficient data on inclusion rate responses to assist local and overseas commercial feedlot operators develop the optimum molasses ration inclusion rates for a range of feedstuff costs and production scenarios. This is particularly so in the high (15% to 50%)range. The Australian industry would benefit if the animal production response to a range of molasses inclusion rates were available and better understood. This would assist the cost!'benefit decisions optimising molasses use in production rations. It is suggested that the primary objective of research should be to define the animal production response to a range of molasses inclusion rates.
Research should be conducted in the commercial feeding environment where its application can be most meaningfulIy evaluated. It should also address the issues related to molasses handling. The secondary area for research would be a detailed examination of the factors influencing production and associated with its possible decline at the higher commercial inclusion rates defined above. This research should define and consider how these factors may be ameliorated. Molasses, it is concluded, can contribute further to much of the existing established industry if greater knowledge of its value at higher inclusion rates than normally practised in Australia is available. In addition, when coupled with crop by-products and/or purpose-grown crops, it may substantially underpin an expanded industry in northern Queensland and possibly northern Western Australia. Bagasse, untreated, is virtually worthless as a feedstuff for the intensive feeding industry. Treated, it has low to medium energy values and may be a roughage source in high concentrate diets, where freight is minimal, and suitable alternatives are scarce. Dunder has little direct application in the intensive feeding industries, but is apparently constructiveIy used to enhance the handling capability of white cotton seed (WCS) which with an expanding cotton industry will be of increasing importance. It is concluded the maximum return from a research investment will be in the area of molasses inclusion rates, and further knowledge of molasses as a commercial ruminant feedstuff. Research is riot suggested to be warranted on aspects of bagasse or dunder. Detailed assessments of the by-products are provided with research and development recommendations outlined.
