• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.289-293
• /
• 1995

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementary urea molasses block lick with rice straw based diet on the performance of sheep. Six indigenous sheep of about two years of age with an average body weight of 12.88 kg, were selected for this experiment They grouped into two by stratified randomization, and the experiment was conducted for a period of 90 days. Sheep of group A was fed rice straw and group B was feed rice straw with urea molasses block lick, beside this both the groups received 66 g wheat bran and 167 g of Ipil-Ipil leaf meat. The study revealed that the average daily gain of live weight per sheep per day was 41 gm and 70 gm in group-A and group-B respectively. From the analysis of variance it was evident that live weight gain in sheep of group B, supplemented with urea molasses block lick was highly significant (p < 0.01). It was also estimated that group A required 8.12 kg DM to gain 1 kg live weight, whereas group B receiving urea molasses block lick required 5.30 kg DM to gain 1 kg live weight. Therefore, feeding rice straw with urea molasses block lick able to utilize more crop-residues efficiently.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.155-158
• /
• 1996

Seventy two Black Bengal goats on road side grass based diet were fed on 0, 20, 40, 80, 100 or 120 g of fish meal (FM)/goat/day with or without ad libitum access to urea molasses block(UMB). The purpose was to assess the interaction of undegradable protein (UDP) and fermentable nitrogen(N) supplementation on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and growth of goats. Live weight gain of goats increased linearly with the increasing of dietary fish meal as an undegradable protein source. With the increasing level of fish meal the live weight gain(g/day) was 17, 23, 46, 48, 48 and 52 with urea molasses block and 12, 21, 31, 49, 47 and 47 without urea molasses block. It was concluded that the beneficial effects of urea molasses feeding to accelerate the dry matter intake, TDN intake and nutrient digestibility observed could not be exploited in terms of live weight gain.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.1 no.4
• /
• pp.233-239
• /
• 1988

The base of Indian milk production is the millions of nondescript cows and buffaloes in rural areas, fed mainly on crop residues and agro-industrial wastes. The mainstay of the feeding system is straws and stovers. Therefore the approach to increase the fibrous residues utilisation for animal production was ideal and useful. The methods available for the above purpose were not found acceptable in rural areas owing to certain practical problems. The development of urea molasses block was, therefore aimed at solving the practical field problems. Urea Molasses Block has been developed as a feed supplement that can bring forth an effect of rumen manipulation thereby increase the conversion rate of feeds. The formula and process technology were thus developed. Before starting the mass production and popularisation the product was tested in controlled condition in farms and also in villages. Encouraged with the results the feed is now commercially manufactured under Indian Patent No. 156047.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.774-780
• /
• 2000

For this study three types of block such as medicated urea-molasses-mineral block (MUMMB, 7% urea), urea-molasses-mineral blocks ($UMMB_a$ 7% urea) and urea-molasses-mineral blocks ($UMMB_b$ 21% urea) were prepared. Naturally infested 24 indigenous dairy cows with gastrointestinal nematodes were used to study the effect of MUMMB, $UMMB_a$ and $UMMB_b$ on different parameters (body weight, milk yield, serum urea level, milk urea level). The cows were offered normal diet added with 250 g block per cow for every day. Straw and green grasses were used as basal diet in the ration. The managemental facilities for all cows of each group were similar. Cows were stall fed, calves were tied up at night and had free access to their dam during day time. Milking was done once daily in the morning. The daily average live weight gains by MUMMB, $UMMB_a$, $UMMB_b$, and control group (no block) were 52.08 g, 44.44 g, 48.58 g, and 1.41 g respectively. The live weight gain were statistically significant (p<0.01) in comparison to control group. The highest daily milk yield was observed in MUMMB treated cows (2.39 L/d); followed by $UMMB_b$ treated cows (1.82 L/d) and $UMMB_a$ treated cows (2.16 L/d). The lowest milk yield was found in control group (1.54 L/d). This result differs significantly (p<0.05) between treated groups and also with control group. During urea-molasses-mineral blocks $UMMB_a$, $UMMB_b$ licking milk urea level increased from initial $22.76{\pm}2.35mg/dl$ to $35.46{\pm}4.80mg/dl$ and initial $22.86{\pm}2.96mg/dl$ to $40.66{\pm}0.87mg/dl$ respectively. This variation of milk urea level was statistically significant (p<0.001). Similarly during $UMMB_a$, and $UMMB_b$ blocks licking, serum urea level increased in both treated groups from initial $22.76{\pm}2.60mg/dl$ to $32.68{\pm}2.21$ and initial $23.70{\pm}2.78mg/dl$ to $40.48{\pm}3.24mg/dl$, respectively. This variation of serum urea level was also statistically significant (p<0.001). Use of MUMMB instead of UMMB was proved better for milk production and live weight gain in dairy cows under the village condition of Bangladesh where balanced ration for dairy cows are a major scarcity. And various concentration of urea in blocks positively affect milk and serum urea levels of indigenous dairy cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.39-44
• /
• 1992

Twelve male crossbred calves of 18 months of age were divided into two groups of six each. Animals in both the groups were fed wheat straw ad lib. However, animals in group II had free access to urea molasses mineral block (UMMB) lick. Straw DM intake (kg/100 kg B. Wt. and $g/w^{0.75}\;kg$) was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in group II ($1.95{\pm}0.06$; $75.55{\pm}1.79$) as compared to group I ($1.27{\pm}0.08$; $48.77{\pm}2.43$). Straw DM digestibility coefficient was not significantly different in groups I and II. However, DOMI (kg/100 kg B. Wt.) was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in group II ($0.986{\pm}0.05$) as compared to group I ($0.615{\pm}0.03$). Digestibility coefficient of DM, OM and CP were significantly higher in group II as compared to group I. However, digestibility coefficients of EE, CF and NFE were non-significantly different between the two groups. Animals in group II exhibited significantly (p < 0.01) higher and positive N, Ca and P balances as compared to group I which exhibited negative balances. Total-N, ammonia-N and urea-N in the blood plasma of animals in group II were significantly (p < 0.01) higher as compared to group I.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.9
• /
• pp.1300-1306
• /
• 2002

Fourteen non-descript zebu cattle calves of about 1 year and 6 months age and 111 kg average body weight were used in this experiment. Grazing (5 h daily) animals were supplemented with urea-molasses blocks with and without Yucca, while the control group was without any supplementation i.e. grazing only. The feeding trial continued for a period of 70 days (November to February). At the end of trial three animals per treatment were slaughtered to compare carcass traits. Group no. 1 was fed block with yucca, group no. 2 was fed block without yucca and group no. 3 was on grazing only. Block intake was found to be 724 g/h/d and 1,239 g/h/d for group no. 1 and group no. 2, respectively (p<0.05). Feed efficiency of blocks was found to be 2.71 kg and 4.86 kg for group no. 1 and group no. 2, respectively (p<0.05). Block intake per kg $BW^{0.75}$ was found to be 14.75 and 26.05 gram for group 1 and group 2, respectively (p<0.05). Average daily body weight gain was found to be 267 g/h/d, 255 g/h/d and 169 g/h/d for group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Carcass traits among the three treatments were found to be statistically similar. Thus urea-molasses blocks supplementation improved body weight gain and addition of yucca in the blocks further improved body weight gain, feed efficiency and economics. Environment (ambient temperature, rainfall, wind and humidity) had no significant effect on three treatments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.193-198
• /
• 2004

Eighteen water buffalo calves of Nili-Ravi breed (about 15 months age and of $147{\pm}12$ kg average body weight and mixed sex) were used with six animals on each treatment. All the animals were fed long wheat straw for ad libitum intake as the basal ration. Animals in group-I were supplemented with ad libitum amount of urea molasses block having cotton seed meal (CSMB) while the animals in group-II were supplemented with ad libitum urea molasses block containing sunflower seed meal (SFMB) and group III animals were supplemented with a fixed amount of commercial concentrate feed (CCF). The experiment lasted for a period of 80 days (April to June). Results revealed a significantly decreased total feed intake (wheat straw+supplements) in group-III ($1,666{\pm}52$ g/h/d) as compared to group I ($2,299{\pm}194$ g/h/d) and group-II ($2,193{\pm}230$ g/h/d). Average daily supplement intakes were $891{\pm}87$; $666{\pm}104$ and $593{\pm}0$ grams per head in group I, II and III, respectively. Supplement intakes among groups were different (p<0.05). Average daily body weight gains (g/h) were $214{\pm}25$, $174{\pm}23 $and $183{\pm}24$ for group I, II and III, respectively. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was found to be $10.74{\pm}1.12$, $12.60{\pm}0.88$ and $9.90{\pm}1.33$ grams for group No. I, II and III, respectively. The economic net benefit of live weight gain of calves were 7.63, 6.11 and 7.33 rupees/h/d for group No. I, II and III, respectively. Thus SFM can replace CSM and urea molasses blocks can replace commercial concentrates as supplement to basal ration of wheat straw.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.421-426
• /
• 1994

Twelve cross bred cows ($300{\pm}20kg$) were fed a basal ration consisting of 1 kg concentrate and untreated or urea treated rice with or without urea-molasses-wheat bran lick block supplementation. The lick blocks were prepared locally using cement as a binding agent. The experiment lasted for 48 days consisting of a preliminary period of 14 days and a measurement period of 34 days. Daily dry ma tter intake (DMI) of straw and lick block, and daily milk yield were recorded during the measurement period. Intake of lick block when fed with untreated straw (US) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than with urea treated (TS) straw (397 vs 307g $100kg^{-1}$), but lick block supplementation did not significantly affect the in take of US (1.80 vs 1.83kg $100kg^{-1}day^{-1}$) or TS (2.27 vs 2.17kg $100kg^{-1}day^{-1}$). Both urea treatment and lick block supplementation significantly increased (p < 0.01) the milk yield of cows, and the increase due to urea treatment was higher than that due to lick block supplementation. Benefit/cost ratio obtained for feeding US or TS with 1 kg dairy concentrate was similar (5.4), but the marginal return favours TS (5.4:1.0). The benefit/cost ratio for US and TS supplemented with lick block was 3.4 and 3.7. respectively, but the marginal return with US was higher than with TS (1.6:1.0 and 0.9:1.0, respectively).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.219-223
• /
• 1990

Sixtyfour Baluchi lambs about 5 months of age were divided into four groups with 16 lambs each. All the animals were grazed together. Group No.1 (G-1) was kept as control i.e. on grazing only; while group No. 2 (G-2) was offered barley grain @ 200 g/head/day as supplement to grazing; Group No. 3 (G-3) was offered ad-lib urea-molasses block (UMB) with 6% cement and group No.4 (G-4) was fed ad-lib IMB having 8% cement. These UMB were fed as supplement to grazing. Experiment lasted for 105 days (July to October) in arid zone of Baluchistan. Daily per head consumption of block No.1 was found to be 92.71 g; while that of block No.2 was observed to be 90.77 g. Growth rate (g/head/day) was found to be 10, 50, 33 and 15 in G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-4 respectively. Expenditure/kg bodyweight gain was found to be rupees 12.00, 3.64 and 7.74 for G-2, G-3 and G-4 respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.113-118
• /
• 1995

Eighteen Holstein Friesian ${\times}$ Native heifers with an average live weight of $175.4{\pm}27.8kg$ were allotted to 3 dietary groups. All animals were kept individually in a stanchion barn with free access to water and urea-treated rice straw (UTS). The supplemented feeds were as follows: Group (Gr) 1 - concentrate mixture (15% CP) at 1% body weight (BW), Gr 2 - concentrate mixture at 0.7% BW + free licking of multinutrient block (MNB), Gr 3 - as Gr 2 + 0.3% BW ground com. Multinutrient block composed of 20% mineral mixture, 10% urea, 18% molasses, 20% soybean meal, 22% sesame meal, 10% cement, 0.15 million IU and 50 IU/kg MNB of vitamin A and E. The experimental period lasted 12 weeks. The result revealed that MNB enhanced intake of UTS and total dry matter intake. Animals in Gr 3 consumed a higher amount of feed than the other 2 groups, thus resulting in the highest live weight gain and tended to possess the best feed conversion ratio. Heifers in Gr 2 also performed better than Gr 1 although the difference was not significant. Average MNB intake found to be 0.65 kg/day. Feed cost per kg gain was not significantly different amon groups. However if the cost of MNB could be lower, it would benefit the production cost of animals. The advantage of MNB is the safety of using a high level of urea. Although it was supplemented to UTS which also contained non-protein nitrogen (NPN), no toxic sign was shown. The results indicated that MNB could be partially substituted to concentrate mixture and it was even better when used incombination with soluble carbohydrate feed.