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Citrus molasses

Datasheet

Description
Click on the "Nutritional aspects" tab for recommendations for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
Common names 

Citrus molasses

Species 

Citrus × floridana (J. Ingram & H. Moore) Mabb. ; Citrus × limon ; Citrus × paradisi Macfad. ; Citrus × sinensis (L.) Osbeck ; Citrus × tangerina Tanaka ; Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle ; Citrus limetta Risso ; Citrus reticulata Blanco ; Citrus spp. [Rutaceae]

Taxonomic information 
  • Oranges: Citrus × sinensis (L.) Osbeck
  • Tangerines: Citrus × tangerina Tanaka
  • Mandarin oranges (mandarins, mandarines): Citrus reticulata Blanco
  • Lemons: Citrus × limon
  • Limes: several species, including key lime Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle, limequat Citrus × floridana (J. Ingram & H. Moore) Mabb., Citrus limetta Risso etc.
  • Grapefruits: Citrus × paradisi Macfad
Feed categories 
Related feed(s) 
Description 

Citrus molasses is a by-product of citrus juice extraction. The fresh pulp obtained after pressing the fruit is mixed with lime and pressed to remove moisture. The resulting liquid (press juice) is screened to remove the larger particles, sterilised by heating and concentrated. The resulting product contains 71-72% dry matter and 60-65% sugars (Crawshaw, 2004). Citrus molasses is a thick viscous liquid, dark brown to almost black, with a very bitter taste (Göhl, 1978). It is often sold to distilleries or reincorporated in the dried citrus pulp, but can also be fed directly to animals, or added to grass silage (Grant, 2007; Hendrickson et al., 1965).

Nutritional aspects
Nutritional attributes 

Citrus molasses contains about 45% sugar (as fed) and 4% protein (as fed) and is comparable to sugarcane molasses. Its main constraint as a feed is its bitterness (Hendrickson et al., 1965).

Potential constraints 

Citrus molasses from some citrus varieties and species may contain naringin, a bitter flavonoid (Hendrickson et al., 1965).

Ruminants 

In spite of its bitter taste, citrus molasses is readily accepted by beef and dairy cattle (Crawshaw, 2004). It was found to be more palatable than sugarcane molasses and can be used in the same way (Crawshaw, 2004; Göhl, 1978). It may be mixed with pressed pulp prior to drying, thus increasing the ratio of total digestible nutrients to crude fibre in the dried product without lessening the keeping quality of the pulp. When fed free-choice to cattle, they consume up to 3 kg/day (Göhl, 1978). It can replace 50% of ground maize in the diet of fattening steers without reducing live-weight gain, slaughter weight and quality (Hendrickson et al., 1965).

Pigs 

Citrus molasses is not palatable to pigs but they can become accustomed to it after 3-7 days. Citrus molasses can replace 10-40% of the maize in the diet depending on the age of the pig (Hendrickson et al., 1965).

Poultry 

Citrus molasses was reported to be included at 5-10% in poultry diets (Babafunso Sonaiya et al., 2004). It could be used as a binding agent in poultry pellets to replace sugarcane molasses (El Boushy et al., 2000).

Nutritional tables
Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value 

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Dry matter % as fed 71.0 1
Crude protein % DM 5.8 1
Crude fibre % DM 0.0 1
Ether extract % DM 0.3 1
Ash % DM 6.6 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 16.5 *
 
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Calcium g/kg DM 11.3 1
Phosphorus g/kg DM 0.8 1
 
Pig nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Energy digestibility, growing pig % 90.1 *
DE growing pig MJ/kg DM 14.9 *

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Hendrickson et al., 1965

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:00

References
References 
Babafunso Sonaiya, E. B. ; Swan, S. E. J., 2004. Small-scale poultry production: Technical guide. FAO Anim. Health Manual, 1. FAO, Rome web icon
Bampidis, V. A. ; Robinson, P. H., 2006. Citrus by-products as ruminant feeds: A review. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 128: 175–217 web icon
Crawshaw, R., 2004. Co-product feeds: animal feeds from the food and drinks industries. Nothingham University Press web icon
El Boushy, A. R. Y. ; van der Poel, A. F. B., 2000. Handbook of poultry feed from waste: processing and use. Springer-Verlag New York, 428 p. web icon
Göhl, B., 1978. Citrus by-products for animal feed. In: Ruminant nutrition: selected articles from the World Animal Review, FAO, 1978 web icon
Grant, E., 2007. Citrus world. Angus Journal, February 2007, 234-238 web icon
Hendrickson, R. ; Kesterson, J. W., 1965. By-products of Florida Citrus. Composition, technology and utilization. Bulletin 698, October 1965. Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Florida web icon
7 references found
Datasheet citation 

Tran G., 2016. Citrus molasses. Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/681 Last updated on April 13, 2016, 11:32

English correction by Tim Smith (Animal Science consultant) and Hélène Thiollet (AFZ)
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