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Cited by 246Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive PhysiologyAnimal Nutrition and PhysiologyFood Nutrient Composition and Product Development

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Short communication: Characterization of molasses chemical composition

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Palmonari, A., Cavallini, D., Sniffen, C.J., Fernandes, L., Holder, P., Fagioli, L., Fusaro, I., Biagi, G., Formigoni, A., Mammi, L.·2020·Journal of Dairy Science
DOI 10.3168/jds.2019-17644
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Abstract

Beet and cane molasses are produced worldwide as a by-product of sugar extraction and are widely used in animal nutrition. Due to their composition, they are fed to ruminants as an energy source. However, molasses has not been properly characterized in the literature; its description has been limited to the type (sugarcane or beet) or to the amount of dry matter (DM), total or water-soluble sugars, crude protein, and ash. Our objective was to better characterize the composition of cane and beet molasses, examine possible differences, and obtain a proper definition of such feeds. For this purpose, 16 cane and 16 beet molasses samples were sourced worldwide and analyzed for chemical composition. The chemical analysis used in this trial characterized 97.4 and 98.3% of the compounds in the DM of cane and beet molasses, respectively. Cane molasses contained less DM compared with beet molasses (76.8 ± 1.02 vs. 78.3 ± 1.61%) as well as crude protein content (6.7 ± 1.8 vs. 13.5 ± 1.4% of DM), with a minimum value of 2.2% of DM in cane molasses and a maximum of 15.6% of DM in beet molasses. The amount of sucrose differed between beet and cane molasses (60.9 ± 4.4 vs. 48.8 ± 6.4% of DM), but variability was high even within cane molasses (39.2-67.3% of DM) and beet molasses. Glucose and fructose were detected in cane molasses (5.3 ± 2.7 and 8.1 ± 2.8% of DM, respectively), showing high variability. Organic acid composition differed as well. Lactic acid was more concentrated in cane molasses than in beet molasses (6.1 ± 2.8 vs. 4.5 ± 1.8% of DM), varying from 1.6 to 12.8% of DM in cane molasses. Dietary cation-anion difference showed numerical differences among cane and beet molasses (7 ± 53 vs. 66 ± 45 mEq/100 g of DM, on average). It varied from -76 to +155 mEq/100 g of DM in the cane group and from +0 to +162 mEq/100 g of DM in the beet group. Data obtained in this study detailed differences in composition between sources of molasses and suggested that a more complete characterization could improve the use of molasses in ration formulation.

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Research works printed but not linked: 26

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Metadata

Authors
Palmonari, A., Cavallini, D., Sniffen, C. J., Fernandes, L., Holder, P., Fagioli, L., Fusaro, I., Biagi, G., Formigoni, A., & Mammi, L.
Affiliations
  • University of Bologna (IT)
  • University of Teramo (IT)
Corresponding author
Palmonari, A.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Dairy Science
Publisher
American Dairy Science Association
Published
2020-07
Volume
103
Issue
7
Pages
6244-6249
ISSN
0022-0302 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3168/jds.2019-17644
OpenAlex
W3019855830
Cited by
246
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 38 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 30
FWCI
36.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Dairy Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • UniTERAMO Research Catalog (University of Teramo) (submittedVersion)
  • INFM-OAR (INFN Catania) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food Nutrient Composition and Product Development
Keywords
molasses, sugarcane molasses, sugar beet molasses, chemical composition, crude protein, dry matter, sucrose, glucose, fructose, organic acids, lactic acid, dietary cation-anion difference, ruminant feed, sugar by-products, feed characterization, feed supplements, feed additives
MeSH terms
Molasses, Beta vulgaris, Saccharum

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Short communication: Characterization of molasses chemical composition. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.3168/jds.2019-17644
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Palmonari, A., Cavallini, D., Sniffen, C. J., Fernandes, L., Holder, P., Fagioli, L., Fusaro, I., Biagi, G., Formigoni, A., & Mammi, L. (2020). Short communication: Characterization of molasses chemical composition. Journal of Dairy Science. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17644