Does anyone else use molasses water to prevent ketosis in cows and goats? When I tell people about it, they look at me funny. But I read about it somewhere, and it works. When my cows are near to calve or my goats to kid, I make sure I have plenty of molasses on hand. I used to buy at the local grain mill, but they have discontinued selling it by the pound. There was not enough demand for it, they said. So I buy unsulphured molasses at the grocery store. I mix about half a bottle with a couple gallons of warm water, and offer it when the animal is in labor. They will drink some, but after the birth my cows will readily drink at least four gallons, and my goats a gallon or two. I've never had a problem with ketosis so far.

-- Lela Picking (Stllwtrs55@aol.com), July 30, 2000

Answers

In A Venterinary Guide for Animal Owners, Dr. Spaulding mentions using molasses as a treatment for ketosis for both cattle and goats.

-- Ken S. (scharabo@aol.com), July 31, 2000.

Lela I always mixed molasses in my does water for a few days before and after kidding and like you, I have never had any problems with ketosis either. I can't say for sure that it is the molasses, but I figure it is a cheap preventative and the does love it.

-- Marci (ajourend@libby.org), July 31, 2000.

Check this article out, I think it will explain much as to what is happening to your goat(s) http://home.earthlink.net/~lureynolds/care.html

-- JerryR(La.) (jwr98@hotmail.com), July 31, 2000.

Truthfully, I don't think there is anything magical about molasses in and of itself. Karo syrup; propylene glycol, dextrose, or even honey would all work just as well. Unfortunately, my goats won't drink molasses water, so I go with karo syrup...it is the simple, readily available carbohydrates that do the trick...ketosis is a metabolic condition caused by the body's digestive system not supplying enough "energy" to birth, milk, feed kid, etc so the body starts using stored fat and ketones are released into the blood and toxemia occurs...a loose definition, but close enough for a forum. ;-))

-- JimR (jroberts1@cas.org), August 03, 2000.

Dr. Spaulding also mentions diced up raw potatoes (as someone else said - Dan, that is with an "e") as a good source of carbohydrates. Might be cheaper than other sources if you grow your own.

Did anyone else notice Danny boy didn't seem to be at the convention? Worse mistake President Bush made was not to dump him on his reelection bid.

-- Ken S. (scharabo@aol.com), August 04, 2000.

Molasses is good,but as the others said,other sources can be used to raise the blood sugars and carb levels. My grandfather talked of people around here mixing a corn and sugar mash with water to give cows at calving ( since this was "shine country" I,ve wondered where they got the mash)

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), August 06, 2000.