The Effect of Molasses Based Liquid Supplements Containing Fibrolytic Enzymes and Bypass Methinoine on the Performance of Growing Calves

Fibrolytic enzymes and bypass methionine were fed in molasses slurries in an evaluation of growing cattle performance. Eight fibrolytic enzyme treatments were offered and consisted of control (molasses only), 1.5 or 3.0 g/hd/ d of Cattle-aseTM “HR” (C1X and C2X), 0.12 g/hd/d of LodestarTM Biocellulase A20 (A20), 0.12 g/hd/d LodestarTM Biocellulase A20 and 0.06 g/hd/d LodestarTM Biocellulase X20 (A20X20), 2.0 or 4.0 g/hd/d of Promote N.E.T.TM (P1X and P2X), and 15 g/hd/d of Fibrozyme (FIB). Cattle were randomly assigned to 32 pens (2 ac) with 5 cattle/ pen for the 112-d trial. Each treatment was randomly assigned to 4 pens. Additionally half of the pens (16 or 2 pens/treatment) received 12.5 g/hd/d of Alimet® providing about 4 g/d of bypass methionine. Calves averaged 627 lb at the start of the trial. Bermudagrass hay was offered ad libitum and and molasses slurries were limit fed at 6 lb/hd/d twice weekly. Effects of daily gain, hip height, and intake were monitored. Supplementation with fibrolytic enzymes had no effect (P=0.62) on gains as compared to control (0.49 kg/d vs 0.50 kg/d). Supplementation of cattle with Alimet® had no effect (P=0.58) on weight gains as compared to unsupplemented cattle (1.1 vs 1.08 lb/ d). Supplementation with A20 and A20/ X20 tended to increase (P=0.08) gains over cattle supplemented with CAT at 1.5 g/d and 3 g/d (1.19 vs 1.03 lb/d). Supplementation with A20 and A20/X20 also tended to increase (P=0.05) gains over cattle supplemented with PRO at 2 g/d and 4 g/d (1.19 vs 1.01 lb/d). Supplementation with enzymes had no effect (P=0.50) on change in height as compared to control (2.61 vs 3.35 in). Cattle not supplemented with Alimet grew more (P=0.04) in height than cattle supplemented (2.83 vs 2.31 in).