Research

We’ve tested the limits on ration sugar levels this year in Florida due to high corn prices. Many diets are 10% sugar, with starch in the low 20’s, forage percent in the 30’s and much of the NDF coming from high sugar byproducts. Components are excellent and milk production has not suffered. Most research recommends 5-7% sugar as an upper limit. However, cows can certainly handle lots of sugar in the diet. Cows grazing lush pasture may be consuming over 20% sugar. Sugar ferments to butyric acid and doesn’t end up as lactic acid so it’s rather benign when it comes to acidosis.

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