The effects of three main sugars in cane molasses were investigated systematically to prepare a cost-effective medium for butyric acid bioproduction. Additionally, 30 g/L corn steep liquor was screened out as the suitable nitrogen source. In the batch fermentation of free cells, when 60 g/L glucose was the only carbon source, 21.28 g/L butyric acid was achieved after 30 h cultivation. Similar product concentration, productivity and yield were obtained when 60 g/L fructose was applied. The utilization of sucrose would bring about lower productivity (0.29 g/L·h) and product concentration (18.15 g/L), but the yield of butyric acid/sucrose (0.34 g/g) is almost the same as that from glucose or fructose (0.35 g/g). Finally, the sugar mixture (15 g/L glucose, 20g/L fructose and 35 g/L sucrose) was employed to produce butyric acid in a fibrous-bed bioreactor (FBB), and 40.11 g/L butyric acid was produced with one simple fed-batch strategy.