Neurological disorders
Molasses fed in large amounts is toxic to livestock (Pérez, 1995;Dunlop et al., 1979). The symptoms of molasses toxicity are reduced body temperatures, weakness (animals have difficulty standing up), rapid breathing and even blindness (Pérez, 1995; Preston, 1986). Molasses seems to cause brain damage when fed at high levels and with low roughage inclusion. These damages might be due to a lack of thiamine, protein and energy available at the brain level (Preston, 1986; Rowe et al., 1977). However, providing thiamine proved to be ineffective in animals which were suffering from molasses toxicity (Blair, 2011). An economical remedy is to provide adequate quantity of high protein content roughage (such as leucaena or gliricidia) (Preston, 1986). Another remedy is to immediately give animals a solution that is rich in phosphorus and sodium, and to take the animals off molasses feeding for a few days (Pérez, 1995). Molasses toxicity can be caused by a scarcity of drinking water or a too rapid switch-over to high molasses diet, so a close access to water and progressive adapation are necessary (Pérez, 1995).
Other problems
In molasses-rich diets with cows grazing succulent pastures, scouring and bloating may occur (Ashwood, 2008). Rumen parakeratosis may also occur in animals fed high levels of molasses (Pate, 1983). Caution must be taken when the spring rains begin because if the molasses is diluted it will rapidly ferment into alcohol and may fatally poison the cattle (Pérez, 1995).
Potassium excess due to molasses can result in nephritis and diarrhoea (Leclerc, 2003).