North Dakota State Univ. scientists used a total of 144 crossbred steers to assess the effects of supplemental cooked molasses blocks with or without flax on newly received calf health and subsequent performance over a period of 6 weeks. There were three treatments: 1) control (no block); 2) block without flax (WOF); and 3) block with ground flax added (WFA). Calves were fed a basal diet of 48% corn/52% roughage.

There were no differences among treatments for body wts. taken at days 14-15, 26-27, or at conclusion of the trial; nor was avg. daily gain (3.2 lb/day) different between treatments. Furthermore, dry matter intake and feed efficiency did not differ among treatments. Block intake (0.35 lb/day) did not differ between WOF and WFA. Number of calves treated for sickness did not differ between treatments. The authors concluded that providing a supplement in the form of a molasses block, with or without flax, did not improve calf performance or health (Larson et al. 2005. J. Anim. Sci. [Suppl. 1] Abstract 609).