Balance study on sheep fed with beet molasses solubles

A balance study was carried out to investigate digestibility and retention of major nutrients in wethers fed rations in which condensed beet molasses solubles (CBS) formed 27% of the dietary DM. Results showed that CBS contained 8,3 MJ of ME and 19 g ruminal degradable protein-nitrogen and should be included in rations containing components with high ME contents. CBS with sugar beet pulp and hay in the ratio 27:57:16 on a DM basis stimulated crude fibre digestibility. The adverse effect of high levels of potassium can be offset by the inclusion of 10 g MgO per kg CBS.