Urea Molasses Block

CONTENTSCONTENTS

Composition

Making

Characteristics Of Good UMB

Precautions While Feeding UMB

GENERALGENERAL

Blocks are a convenient way to Make & Store Molasses & Urea & also feed to animals

They can easily be made & used in villages

A person may make & sell blocks to farmers as a Source Of Income

BASIC COMPONENTSBASIC COMPONENTS

INGREDIENTSINGREDIENTS

Molasses

Used to give a sweet taste to block

Provides energy & other minerals i.e. sulphur

Don’t exceed 40-50% otherwise block will break too easily & take too long to dry

Urea

Limited to 10% to avoid poisoning

Improves digestibility & provides protein

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Cereal Bran

Provides protein

Holds the block together

Salt

Supply minerals i.e Na,Cl

Control the rate of consumption

Accelerates hardening of block

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Cement

Makes the block hard

5-7% is sufficient

Higher levels make the block too hard

Provides Ca

Clay can be mixed with it to improve hardness & reduce drying time

If lime is used it should be finely ground

IMPORTANCEIMPORTANCE

Brings +ive changes in Rumen Fermentation

Increases Feed Intake

Increases DM Digestibilty

Appropriate Supplement with poor quality roughages

Increases Milk Yield

Improves Reproductive Efficiency

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Stimulates Growth Rates

Prevents from various Diseases e.g. Pica,Heamoglobinurea etc

MAKING OF UMBMAKING OF UMB

The manufacturing can be divided into 5 stages

1) Preparation Of Feed Ingredients

2) Mixing

3) Molding

4) Cutting

5) Drying

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Preparation Of Feed Ingredients

The amount of the different ingredients depends on the Size of the block to be manufactured & the Formula to be used

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Mixing1) Weigh the amount of ingredients based on the formula of the

block

2) Add urea (pressed) to the molasses while continuously mixing Urea & molasses are stirred for about 20 minutes Never add water to molasses

3) Mix the salt with cement

4) Make the cement into a paste with water prior to adding to the rest of the ingredients

5) Add bran & mix thoroughly

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Molding

After mixing,place the mixture into molds

Any local container,such as Tin Cans or Small Buckets can be used as a mold

Using a plastic sheet to line the molds will make block removal from the mold easier

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Step 1

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Step 2

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Step 3

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Step 4

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Step 5

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Cutting

Cutting is necessary when using large molds

Cutting is done with a flat spade

Spade should be wetted in a bucket between each cut to avoid mixture from sticking to it

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Drying & StorageRemove the blocks from the molds after 24 hours and place on racks to dry

Leave the blocks to dry for at least 2-3 days depending upon the weather condition

After 24-72 hours,the blocks are dry enough to be transported for storage

Blocks must not be exposed to direct sunlight in case of UMMB

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CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD UMBCHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD UMB

Ingredients are Well Distributed throughout the block

It does not have Lumps Of Urea & Lime

It is Hard Enough not to be squashed between our fingers

It should be Resistant Enough not to break when a person steps on it

Our hands should feel the Sticky molasses when we hold the block

PRECAUTIONS WHILE FEEDING UMBPRECAUTIONS WHILE FEEDING UMB

Never form the Main Diet

Fed only as a Supplement

Feed to Ruminants Only Don’t feed to monogastrics i.e. horses,donkeys,pigs Don’t feed to young ruminants less than 6 months of age

Never give to an animal with Empty Stomach

Supply block to an animal After Feeding

Gradually offers to the animal

Never supply in Ground Form or Dissolved in water

Supply sufficient Amount Of Water

UMB CONSUMPTIONUMB CONSUMPTION

Large Ruminants = 700g/day

Small Ruminants = 100g/day

Licking 65%

Biting 35%

Fed In Pieces 17%

Started Licking On Day 1 60%

Started Licking On Day 7 30%

Never Licked 10%

Self Licking 58%

Induced Licking 25%