Molasses Users

[lokes]

Some of you may know this, some may not. I recently switched to using molasses and had read a thread that feed grade molasses works fine for our uses.

Called a few feed stores and found a 5gal bucket for $21. If that's to much for you, share it with friends, or mix it with some feed for the squirrels and birds.

 

[Bullfrog44]

what is the other 50% made out of?

 

[lokes]

what is the other 50% made out of?

Ingredients Used In Molasses-Based Mixtures

Molasses is the component used most often in liquid feeds and the two forms commonly fed in Florida are produced in the state. Sugarcane molasses (blackstrap) is a by-product of the manufacture of cane sugar. Standard sugarcane molasses contains 79.5° Brix (percent solids by weight) and not less than 48% total sugars expressed as invert sugar. Heavy millrun blackstrap is more concentrated and contains 85° to 90° Brix. Blackstrap molasses is the ingredient most often used in molasses-based feeds fed in Florida. Citrus molasses also is produced in Florida from concentrated press liquor obtained from the manufacture of dried citrus pulp. It contains not less than 71° Brix and 45% total sugars as invert sugar.

A number of other liquid ingredients are often used in molasses-based feeds. These include phosphoric acid, ammoniated polyphosphate, lignin sulfonates, fish solubles, whey, and various fermentation products (Table 1). The wide variety of other ingredients used in molasses-based liquids (Table 1) and their value is proportionally related to the quantity of nutrients they contribute to the mixture (crude protein, energy, minerals, and vitamins). The extent to which a specific ingredient is used is influenced by nutrient content, availability, and cost.


This is made for feed supplement for livestock, so I'm sure your microherd won't mind.

 

[CC_2U]

At least it's molasses from sugar cane (a grass). In many other parts of the country where sugar cane is not grown the majority of 'molasses' sold for livestock, pest control (fire ants) is a by-product from processing sugar beets (a tuber) and has no commercial value outside of fixing sh*tty hay/straw so that cattle will eat it. Even horses are smarter than this - damned with faint praise indeed, eh?

The 'other' 50% of on the label is water.

CC_2U

 

[supuradam]

At least it's molasses from sugar cane (a grass). In many other parts of the country where sugar cane is not grown the majority of 'molasses' sold for livestock, pest control (fire ants) is a by-product from processing sugar beets (a tuber) and has no commercial value outside of fixing sh*tty hay/straw so that cattle will eat it. Even horses are smarter than this - damned with faint praise indeed, eh?

The 'other' 50% of on the label is water.

CC_2U

And now that the USDA is allowing unregulated production of Monsanto's GMO sugar beets (among many others), it's a sad state of affairs for sure

 

[CC_2U]

And now that the USDA is allowing unregulated production of Monsanto's GMO sugar beets (among many others), it's a sad state of affairs for sure

Yep - read how sugar beet 'molasses' is extracted and now one with more than $.02 of common sense would even consider it.

Unless they're joined at the wrists, hips and ankles with Monsanto.

CC_2U

 

[dirrtyd]

I see Livermore Feed on the Lid so I will assume this is sold in Livermore CA. dirrtyd

 

[h.h.]

Feed grade may also carry an abundance of sodium as well as an excess of surfer and potassium added as preservatives. I bought some without reading the label and found it had all kinds of shit in it.

 

[lokes]

I see Livermore Feed on the Lid so I will assume this is sold in Livermore CA. dirrtyd

You are correct. Its sold wholesale in Stockton and purchased by these guys.

 

[Baba Ku]

Feed grade may also carry an abundance of sodium as well as an excess of surfer and potassium added as preservatives. I bought some without reading the label and found it had all kinds of shit in it.

That is the reason I will never use feed grade molasses.
But, the arguments will continue even though there is good evidence that feed grade can be detrimental to a grow due to the additives. Additives that are never used in food grade blackstrap.

Miracle grow soil is cheap to buy...you can get much more for your dollar...do you use it?

 

[mad librettist]

Feed grade may also carry an abundance of sodium as well as an excess of surfer and potassium added as preservatives. I bought some without reading the label and found it had all kinds of shit in it.

how much sodium? how much K in what form? how much sulfur? do you still have it?

 

[paulo73]

I would not use those on my grows.

 

[supermanlives]

thanks but its not very expensive from the health food store

 

[Eatatjoes]

thanks but its not very expensive from the health food store

At the local store they sell it in bulk by the pound, I think it was $.62 a pound. Very cheap.

 

[tony clifton]

.

 

[Baba Ku]

BG Foods makes Brer Rabbit brand BS and it is fairly cheap @~$3, and goes a long way.
Wholesome Sweeteners provides an organic certified model of unsulphered BS that has even higher nutritional numbers than the Brer Rabbit, but is about $5 a half pint. @1tsp/gal a half pint goes a long way.
These are example of food grade products. Food grade products are produced under that highest scrutiny.

Feed grade products are basically floor sweep. In the tobacco industry, and trust me I know what I am talking about here, there is always tobacco that is swept up from the floors, from the undersides of silos, etc...this "floor sweep" is not thrown away, it is used to make other than Class A cigarettes.
If you look at an American pack of Marlboros, you will see that they state Class A.
Look at the seemingly same pack in Europe or Asia and it may state Quality instead of Class A. The designation of "Quality Cigarettes" means that other than first cut clean tobacco was used. It is basically floor sweep.
Ever wondered why Euro Marlboros taste completely different than US Marlboros?
This is why...less than the best is used.
Other obscure tidbits...Kalua the mexican liquor, keeps the first cut in Mexico and imports all of the rest.
Jim Beam whiskey used to sell only 7 year aged in their home state of Kentucky, and ALL other Jim Beam that went out to other states and countries was aged only 5 years.
They still do this but don't advertize it anymore.

Same with feed grade molasses. It is not very scrutinized because it is going to be fed to livestock, not people. Sure, there are controls in place for that industry too, but you can bet they are not that scrutinized. They sure aren't worried about introducing preservatives and the like. In fact, the farmer better not see his sweet feed going all moldy fast. He wants them to put the chemicals to it so it lasts.
I can tell you also from experience that if you sweeten horse feed up with store bought molasses, you better feed it today because tomorrow it will be all molded. A bag of "sweetfeed" that has feed grade already in it will last for months in the sack.

 

[jaykush]

ive used a whole 5 gallon of feed store molasses with no ill effects before. i used to get the 5 gallon bucket for 10$ what a deal! used it for soil drenches, ACT, FPE and BIM.

 

[mad librettist]

Food grade products are produced under that highest scrutiny.

not in the USA, bro.

The FDA is just starting to become an agency worth noting. Quality is better predicted using a given producer's actual record.

 

[Scrappy4]

I like and use the Earth Juice hi-brix. I think it's reasonably priced at around $14-18 per gallon on the net. And for me, and my little garden, I split a gallon with a friend and it still will last me for years. I've used grandma's, beir rabbit, But i feel the hi-brix works mo betta, maybe it's just me, or maybe now i'm getting my teas dialed in more, i did not do any detailed comparrison tests.......shredder

 

[s13sr20det]

is there anything to look out for on the label when buying molasses at a feed store? those little 3 dollar bottles of grandmas are adding up and im thinking about either getting some from a feed store or 20 lbs of dried molasses from a local garden center. both are around $20