Urea-molasses Blocks Research Articles

Revolutionizing Farming: Innovative Feeds and Techniques at Di Bambo Farm and Cattle and Goat Group in Jambula, Ternate Island

The Partner Farmers are increasingly experiencing a reduction in livestock feed resources in their environment over time. This is due to the conversion of lands, where these feed resources used to grow, into residential areas. Such conditions have made it somewhat challenging for the farmers to find adequate livestock feed. Additionally, the farming practices have not fully embraced technology for management. These conditions have led to a qualitative decline in the productivity of cattle, particularly in terms of body weight, even though the population has increased quantitatively. The objectives of this Community Partnership Program (PKM) are as follows: To establish a robust institution and ensure that the cattle are legally registered with the relevant department; To enhance farmers' understanding of cattle reproduction, including the ability to recognize estrus, productive age, and post-mating care; and to provide knowledge and skills to the partners regarding the production of Urea Molasses Blocks. The approach involves three methods: Lectures and discussions, Demonstration plots, and activity evaluation. The results of this PKM show that the partners' knowledge has improved, especially in the areas of livestock reproduction and the development of new Urea Molasses Blocks (UMB) feed.

Evaluation of multi-nutrient block supplementation on nutrient intake and growth performance of Yankasa rams fed based diet of cowpea shell and maize offal

The effects of supplementing different urea molasses blocks to Yankasa Rams fed maize offal-based diet on nutrient intake, growth performance and economics of production were evaluated. Yankasa rams fed cowpea shell and maize offal-based diets mixed in a ratio of 1:3 supplemented with urea molasses block (UMB). The supplementary blocks were formulated to contain 0, 5, 10 and 15% urea. Twenty Yankasa rams were used for the experiment with initial body weights range of 16-20kg and randomly allocated to four treatment groups of five animals each in completely randomized designed. Data on feed and water intake, body weight change were measured. Rams were fed both the basal diet and supplements ad libitum. The result revealed no significant (P>0.05) difference in basal feed (579.38-595.18g/day), UMB (60.78-96.50g/day) and dry matter intakes (584.36-609.33 g/day) among the treatments. Rams on treatment 3 recorded the highest average daily weight gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (101.43 g/day, 5.93) than those on treatment 2 (48.57 g/day, 12.37) with the least. The cost of UMB/kg was least in treatment 3 (N 46.66) compared to those on treatment 1(N 83.66), 2(N 113.05) and 4(N 50.39). Supplementation of urea molasses block improved growth performance and FCR. Urea up to 15% may be included in urea molasses blocks without any detrimental effects on performance. However, including urea at 10% in UMB gave the highest ADG and FCR and therefore may be recommended for growing Yankasa rams

Supplementing Tropical Cattle for Improved Nutrient Utilization and Reduced Enteric Methane Emissions.

Simple SummaryQuality supplementation of roughage-based cattle diets is recommended to improve the animals’ production in tropical regions. We tested the effects of two widely suggested high-quality low-cost feed supplements on feed intake, nutrient utilization and enteric methane emissions of growing female cattle. While free access to urea-molasses blocks did not effectively improve the key variables, sweet potato vine silage, a by-product of sweet potato cultivation, improved diet digestibility as well as the animals’ retention of nitrogen and lowered their methane emissions per unit of digested feed. Supplementing productive cattle with sweet potato vine silage can thus concomitantly contribute to better animal performance and lower environmental impact. Given their high nitrogen (N) concentration and low costs, sweet potato vine silage (SPVS) and urea-molasses blocks (UMB) are recommended supplements for tropical regions; therefore, they were investigated in this study. Six heifers were allocated to three diets: the roughage diet (R) consisted of wheat straw (0.61) and Rhodes grass hay (0.39; on dry matter (DM) basis); R + SPVS combined R (0.81) and SPVS (0.19); and with R + UMB animals had access to UMB. During two experimental periods, feed intake, feces and urine excretion, digesta passage, and rumen microbial protein synthesis were determined during seven days and methane emissions during three days. There was no treatment effect (p > 0.05) on DM and N intake. Apparent DM digestibility of R + SPVS (510 g/kg) was higher (p < 0.05) than of R (474 g/kg). Digesta passage and duodenal microbial N flow were similar for all diets (p > 0.05), while N retention was highest with R + SPVS (p > 0.05). Methane emissions per unit of digested feed (g CH4/kg dDM) were lower (p < 0.05) for R + SPVS (55.2) than for R (64.7). Hence, SPVS supplementation to poor–quality roughage has the potential to increase diet digestibility and N retention while reducing CH4 emissions.

Relative economic benefits of tactical anthelmintic treatment and urea-molasses block supplementation of Boer goats raised under extensive grazing conditions at Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa

The potential economic benefits of combining tactical anthelmintic treatment for gastrointestinal nematodes and nutritional supplementation with urea-molasses blocks were examined in Boer goats raised under extensive grazing conditions in the summer rainfall area of South Africa. Eight groups of nine goats were monitored over a 12-month period from 1 October 2002 to 9 October 2003. Ad libitum nutritional supplementation with urea-molasses blocks was provided when the goats were housed at night, during the summer (wet season--December 2002 to February 2003), and/or the winter (dry season--June 2003 to August 2003). All the goats were treated symptomatically for Haemonchus contortus infection when deemed necessary by clinical examination of the conjunctiva for anaemia using the FAMACHA system. Half the groups were tactically treated for gastrointestinal nematodes in mid-summer (28 January 2003). Under the symptomatic treatment, climatic and extensive grazing conditions encountered during the trial, feed supplementation in the winter dry season had the greatest economic benefit and is therefore recommended. Tactical anthelmintic treatment afforded no additional advantage, but the nematode challenge was low.

Effect of urea-molasses block supplementation on grazing weaner goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes

The influence of feeding urea-molasses blocks (UMB) on growth and gastrointestinal (GI) nematode parasitism of weaner goats grazing the same pasture was investigated on a farm in Nyandarua District, Kenya. Thirty female Small East African goat kids at an average age of 5 months were initially treated with albendazole orally (5 mg kg(-1) body mass) and randomly assigned into one of two groups: group I were fed UMB prepared using a cold process and group II kids (controls) received no block supplementation (NBS). The UMB were given in the evening when the animals returned from grazing and were consumed during the night at a rate of 95.0 g head(-1) day(-1). Supplementation was undertaken for 3 consecutive months from July to September 2001 and January to March 2002. Body mass of the kids and faecal egg counts were measured monthly and larval cultures were performed on positive faecal samples of kids of each group. Five goats from each group were randomly selected for slaughter and total counts and identification of worms at the end of June 2002. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in cumulative mass gains of kids in group I from September compared with those in group II. On termination of the study kids in group I had gained an average of (+/- SD) 20.4 +/- 1.4 kg while those in group II had gained 11.8 +/- 1.1 kg. From January 2002, faecal egg counts of the kids in the UMB group differed significantly (P < 0.05) from those of the NBS group and at slaughter, the mean (+/- SD) worm counts for the UMB group was 482 +/- 299 while that of the NBS group was 1 302 +/- 410. In all the goats, Haemonchus contortus was the predominant nematode recovered. These results indicate that UMB had significant effects in the control of GI nematode parasitism and enhanced growth of the young goats.

Effects of dietary protein supplementation and infection with gastrointestinal nematode parasites on some nutritional and metabolic parameters in Ethiopian Menz and Horro sheep

The effect of subclinical artificial nematode parasite infection on dry matter intake (DMI), apparent digestibility (AD), efficiency of feed utilisation (EFU), plasma protein (PPC) and albumin concentrations (AC) was examined in lambs of the Horro and Menz breeds. The factorial experimental design involved two breeds, two infection treatments (infected vs. noninfected) and three nutrition treatments [hay plus wheat bran (basal diet), hay plus molasses urea block (MUB), hay plus cotton seed cake (CSC)]. Diets were formulated to be isocaloric but with varying protein and/or nitrogen sources. At the start of the study, 152 lambs (103 Menz and 49 Horro) were assigned to the 12 treatment combinations each in a separate pen, with an average of about 13 animals per pen. Challenge with endoparasites involved three infection periods each separated by an anthelmintic treatment. The first two infections were with Haemonchus contortus while the third infection was with a mixed infection of H. contortus, Longistrongylus elongata and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Infected lambs had lower total DMI, EFU (not significant in third infection), AD (significant only in third infection) and total PPC and AC than noninfected lambs. Horro lambs had higher DMI and EFU but lower AD than Menz lambs. PPC was significantly higher in lambs supplemented with CSC compared to those on the basal diet or supplemented with MUB in the primary and secondary infections; but during the tertiary infection, no significant differences were found. AC was significantly greater in CSC-supplemented lambs than those on the basal diet or supplemented with MUB. It was concluded that subclinical nematode infection had an adverse effect on feed intake, efficiency of feed utilisation and apparent digestibility. Infection was also found to cause hypoproteinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. Protein supplementation would help mitigate the effects of infection on total plasma protein and albumin concentrations, especially in the low-input systems typified by the Ethiopian highlands.

The influence of supplementation with urea-molasses blocks on weight gain and nematode parasitism of dairy calves in central Kenya.

The effect of feeding urea-molasses blocks (UMB) on the growth and gastrointestinal nematode parasitism of dairy weaner calves grazing on the same pasture was investigated on a farm in Thika District, central Kenya. Twenty-six female calves, with an average age of 9 months, were initially treated orally with albendazole (10 mg/kg body weight) and assigned into two groups: animals in group I were fed urea-molasses blocks (UMB) prepared using a cold process and those in group II were the controls. The UMB were given in the evening, when the animals returned from grazing, and were consumed during the night at a rate of 550 g/head per day. Supplementation was undertaken on three occasions for three consecutive months, between July and August 1999, and between January and March and July and September 2000. The body weights of the calves and the faecal egg counts were measured monthly and larval cultures were performed on positive faecal samples from each group. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the cumulative weight gains of the two groups of calves from September onwards. The UMB group averaged (+/- SD) 311.2 +/- 14.9 g/day over the study period, while the control group averaged 235.7 +/- 23.5 g/day; the UMB group also reached breeding weight earlier (p < 0.05) than the control group. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the faecal egg counts between the groups, the predominant genera of gastrointestinal nematodes in faecal cultures being Haemonchus spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. Other nematodes were Cooperia spp., Bunostomum spp. and Oesophagostomum spp.

Mulberry-Fruit-Based Feed Blocks

Chitral is an isolated mountainous tract of 14,850 km2 in the northernmost part of Pakistan, bordering on Afghanistan to the north and west, and surrounded by the high ranges of the Hindu Kush and Karakoram. As only about 18% of Chitral is cultivable, its people are heavily dependent on livestock for their livelihood. Generally, livestock in the area are undernourished owing to the diminishing supply of feed on deteriorating rangelands. Local livestock feed resources in Chitral include grazing (78.1%), crop residues (20.76%), fodder crops (0.81%), and cereal bran (0.32%). Fluctuating nutrient supply caused by extreme weather conditions has considerably reduced livestock productivity. Feed is scarce during the long winters extending from November to April, during which animals subsist entirely on stall-feeding consisting of mature grass, hay, and crop residues. Concentrate supplements are expensive and not affordable by poor farmers. Molasses-urea blocks, although highly relevant to the feed situation in Chitral as a strategic supplement, cannot be prepared locally due to unavailability of molasses in the area. High transportation costs for molasses and feed blocks from plains areas are additional prohibitive factors. The present study explores the use of mulberry fruit, abundantly available in Chitral (Figure 1), to make solidified multinutrient feed blocks.

Effect of feeding urea-molasses blocks with incorporated fenbendazole on grazing dairy heifers naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes.

Between June 1999 and August 2000, the effects of feeding medicated urea-molasses supplement blocks on the growth of dairy heifers in a marginal area of central Kenya were assessed by comparing the live-weight gain of supplemented and unsupplemented heifers grazing the same pasture. Thirty-nine heifers with an average age of 9.6 months were initially treated orally with albendazole (10 mg/kg body weight) and assigned to 3 groups: group I was fed urea-molasses blocks with incorporated fenbendazole (MUMB), group II was fed urea-molasses blocks (UMB) and group III heifers (control) received no block supplementation (NBS). Body weights of the heifers and faecal egg counts (FECs) were measured monthly and larval cultures were made of positive faecal samples of each group. The mean cumulative live-weight responses of the MUMB and UMB groups were significantly greater than the NBS group (P < 0.05). However, at the end of the experimental period, the mean weight gain of the MUMB group did not differ from that of the UMB group (P > 0.05). The FECs were moderate to low in all groups and decreased progressively with increasing age of the animals; FECs for the urea-molasses-supplemented groups remained significantly lower than those of the NBS group throughout the experimental period (P < 0.05). Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus were the predominant nematode genera found in the heifers, but Cooperia, Bunostomum and Oesophagostomum were also present. These results indicate that feeding of urea-molasses blocks substantially reduced production losses attributable to nematode infection of young grazing cattle, and confirms previous observations that well-fed animals are better able to overcome the effects of helminth infections.

Effects of breed and dietary protein supplementation on the responses to gastrointestinal nematode infections in Ethiopian sheep

The effects of breed and dietary protein supplementation on the development of resistance and resilience to gastrointestinal nematode parasites (endoparasites) were examined in artificially infected Horro and Menz lambs from 4 to 12 months of age. The factorial design involved two breeds, two infection treatments (infected vs non-infected) and three dietary protein treatments (hay and wheat bran (basal diet), hay plus molasses urea block (MUB), hay plus cotton seed cake (CSC)). At the start of the study, 152 weaner lambs (103 Menz and 49 Horro) were assigned to the 12 treatment combinations each in a separate pen. Endoparasite challenge involved three infection periods (primary, secondary and tertiary) each separated by an anthelmintic treatment. The first two infections were with Haemonchus contortus, while the third infection was a mixed infection of H. contortus, Longistrongylus elongata and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. During the entire study, infected lambs gained significantly less weight and had a lower blood packed cell volume (PCV) than the non-infected lambs. Protein supplementation of lambs with CSC resulted in lower faecal egg counts (FEC) and higher PCV and growth rates than lambs fed the basal diet. In the first two infection periods there was no significant effect of infections in lambs supplemented with MUB, probably due to low intake of MUB. In the tertiary infection period MUB was fed ad libitum which resulted in MUB-supplemented lambs having significantly higher PCV than lambs on the basal diet, with CSC-supplemented lambs intermediate. During the primary infection, naive Horro lambs had a significantly lower FEC than Menz lambs, but there was no significant breed difference for PCV. In the secondary infection period there was no significant breed difference for FEC or PCV in infected lambs. However, during the tertiary infection, while there was no significant breed difference for FEC, the Menz had a significantly higher PCV than Horro irrespective of infection status. At the end of the tertiary infection, the Menz lambs ( n=26) had significantly lower adult worm burdens for H. contortus and L. elongata than Horro lambs ( n=18), but there was no significant difference between the breeds for T. colubriformis worm burdens. Both the worm count and PCV data suggest that Menz lambs acquire the ability to resist and tolerate endoparasite infections better than the Horro lambs.

Assessment of molasses-urea blocks for goat and sheep production in the Sultanate of Oman: intake and growth studies.

The goal of this study was to develop a molasses-urea block (MUB) for purposes of supplementing trace minerals to domestic ruminant livestock in Oman. To accomplish this, the utility of molasses and date syrup as fermentable energy sources, of straw, date flakes and wheat bran as fibre sources, and of cement and lime as binders were evaluated. The proportion of cement needed for adequate hardening of the block was also studied. Molasses- and date syrup-based blocks hardened equally well. However, the higher cost of date syrup precluded its use. Wheat straw yielded a low-density block that hardened slowly. Date fibre retained moisture and hardened extremely slowly. Wheat bran-based blocks hardened quickly and yielded dense blocks. Hence, wheat bran was judged to be the superior source of fibre. Lime did not effectively bind the blocks. A cement content of 15% allowed hardening of the blocks within 2-3 weeks. A level of 10% cement in the block reduced the hardening rate by about 50%. Sheep and goats consumed both the straw- and wheat bran-based blocks but at different rates. Consumption of the straw-based block by sheep ranged from 50 to 179 g/head per day, whereas the denser wheat bran-based block was consumed at a rate of 8-20 g/head per day. Consumption of the straw-based block by goats was low (8 g/head per day) compared to that of wheat bran-based blocks (16-24 g/head per day). On the basis of the intake of the bran-based block by sheep, a block was designed that would provide approximately 50% of an animal's trace mineral requirements per day. This block consisted of 45% molasses, 10% urea, 5% trace minerals, 2.5% NaCl, 22.5% wheat bran and 15% cement. Sheep consuming this block gained more weight than sheep fed a conventional mineral block or sheep receiving no mineral supplementation. MUBs are inexpensive (9.5 US cents/kg). We conclude that MUBs have utility for providing trace elements in ruminant diets.

Effect of Supplementing Grazing Cattle Calves with Urea-molasses Blocks, with and without Yucca schidigera Extract, on Performance and Carcass Traits

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-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 9 : 1300-1306)

Effects of Different Foliages and Sugar Cane in the Diet in Late Pregnancy on Ewe and Lamb Performance

Thirty mature pregnant ewes of the Phan Rang breed with an initial live weight of 30 to 45 kg were used to compare the effects of three different diets in late pregnancy on ewe and lamb performance. All diets contained 20% of whole sugar cane, 16% rice bran, 26% cassava root and 6% molasses urea block. The remaining 32% of dry matter consisted of Jackfruit (JF diet), 16% each of Jackfruit and Cassava foliage (JF+CS diet) or Jackfruit and Flemingia foliage (JF+FM diet). The diets were fed at 3.5% of actual BW of the individual animal. The foliages were offered at 120% of the amount decided in the diets of the requirements. The JF+CS diet resulted in significantly higher feed intake than the JF diet, and also a higher feed intake than the JF+FM diet, but this difference was not significant. The ewe weight changes during the last 8 weeks of pregnancy, or from start to 24 h after lambing, were significantly different. The highest weight gain was obtained from the ewes fed the JF+CS diet. Diets had no effect on weight changes of ewes during 3 weeks after lambing but a significant effect on the litter birth weight, with the JF+CS diet giving the highest litter birth weight. There was, however, no effect on the litter weight at 21 days or litter growth rate from birth to 21 days due to the experimental diets. (Asian- Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 6 : 828-833)

Effect of chopping and level of inclusion of whole sugar cane in the diet on intake and growth of goats

A total of 156 crossbred goats (F1 of India×Bachthao) with an initial weight of 10.2–11.9 kg and ages ranging between 3.5 and 4 months were used in studies to examine how physical form and inclusion level of sugar cane influenced intake. In the intake study whole sugar cane was divided into leaves, tops and stalks. The leaves were offered chopped into five different lengths (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 cm) and a control group was given whole leaves. The sugar cane tops were chopped into: (i) slices (1–3 cm), (ii) 15-cm lengths and split into two parts, (iii) 20-cm lengths and split into four parts. The sugar cane stalks were chopped in three different ways: (i) slices (1–3 cm), (ii), 20-cm lengths and rind removed, and (iii) 15-cm lengths and split into four parts but with the rind remaining. The goats were given a basal diet of concentrate and molasses–urea blocks. The results of the intake study showed that slicing the sugar cane stalks into small pieces (1–3 cm) resulted in a significant increase in feed intake, while there were no important differences between the different methods used for processing sugar cane leaves or tops in terms of voluntary dry matter (DM) intake. In the rate of inclusion study the goats were fed a basal diet of concentrate, a molasses–urea block and jack fruit leaves. Chopped whole sugar cane (CWSC) was combined with guinea grass at different ratios to provide 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75% sugar cane on a DM basis. The actual intakes achieved were 0, 13, 23, 26, 37 and 51% CWSC, respectively, of DM. The results showed that when using CWSC in the diet for growing goats, an inclusion of 30% total DM resulting in a consumption of 23% of DM was optimal in terms of liveweight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed costs. DM digestibility was not significantly different for the treatments in the latter study (62.2–66.7%), but crude fibre digestibility was highest for the treatment without sugar cane and lowest for the treatment with the highest consumption of CWSC. A weak negative relationship was identified between the digestibility of crude fibre ( Y) and the proportion of CWSC ( X) in the diets represented by equation: Y=0.597–0.0017 X, r 2=0.016

Effect of Supplementation of Molasses/Urea Blocks and Graded Levels of Concentrate on Growth Performance of Grazing Arsi Bulls

Sisay, A., Hassen, A. and Alemu, T. 1999. Effect of supplementation of molasses/urea blocks and graded levels of concentrate on growth performance of grazing Arsi bulls. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 16: 47–52. Thirty grazing Arsi bulls (24m, 130kg) were used in a 120 day trial to evaluate the effect of Molasses/urea block (MUB) with graded levels of concentrate supplementation on growth performance. These were divided into five groups and randomly allocated to five treatments in a completely randomized design. Animals on treatment 1 (T1) were grazed for 8 hours, whereas those in T2 T3, T4 and T5 were grazed for 8h and supplemented with ad lib MUB plus 0, 0.5, 1 and 2kg concentrate/head/day, respectively. Daily MUB and concentrate intakes and initial and final body weights were recorded. Growth rate of bulls were higher (P<0.05) in MUB supplemented than un-supplemented groups. Inclusion of concentrate with MUB further improved the growth rate of the bulls while MUB intake was reduced (P<0.05). Cost of supplement per unit of gain was lower (P<0.05) in T4 than in the rest of the treatment groups. It was concluded that MUB with 1kg concentrate supplementation is an economical and simple way of improving the growth performance of Arsi bulls grazing in the mid rift valley of Ethiopia.

Effects of cooked molasses blocks on intake and digestion by steers fed brome hay with or without alfalfa (1999)

This study was conducted to determine how cattle fed medium to high quality forages respond to supplementation with cooked molasses blocks. Responses to blocks were measured for steers fed each of three different hays ad libitum: 1) brome containing 8.4% CP and 72% NDF, 2) alfalfa containing 19.2% CP and 52% NDF, and 3) brome fed ad lib and supplemented daily with 5 lb/day of the alfalfa (MIX). Eighteen steers (622 lb) were used for two periods. Six steers received each of the forages, and each steer was supplemented with the block in only one of the two periods. Blocks were fed once daily and removed after the appropriate amount had been consumed. Block intakes averaged .66 lb of dry matter daily (.55 lb OM) and were similar among forages. Forage organic matter (OM) intake was not affected by the block when brome (9.8 lb/day) or MIX (11.6 lb/day) was fed, but it decreased from 15.4 to 14.4 lb/day when the block was supplemented to alfalfa. Digestibility of OM was greater (P<.05) for alfalfa (61.0%) than brome (55.7%) or MIX (57.5%) and was not impacted by block supplementation. Digestible OM intake was greater (P<.05) for alfalfa (9.3 lb/day) than brome (5.6 lb/day) or MIX (6.8 lb/day) and was not greatly impacted by block supplementation. Thus, supplementation with a cooked molasses-urea block had only small effects on intake and digestion of medium to high quality forages.

Effect of molasses-urea-block (MUB) on dry matter intake, growth, reproductive performance and control of gastrointestinal nematode infection of grazing Menz ram lambs

The effect of urea-molasses feed-supplement blocks (MUB) on feed utilisation and the inclusion of anthelmintic medication into the blocks at strategic times to control nematode parasites was studied in lambs grazed on low quality tropical pasture. 120 Menz ram lambs of 5–7 months of age were divided into six groups for methods of treatment against internal parasites and urea molasses supplementation. The benzimidazole anthelmintic fenbendazole was administered at the rate of 10 mg kg −1 liveweight as a drench or via medicated MUB. Animals grazed in two lots during the day and had access to grass hay in night pens ad libitum. Groups 1–3 comprised a non-supplemented (NOSUP) lot that only grazed while groups 4–6 consumed, in addition, an average of 80 g per head per day of molasses-urea-block (SUPP) supplement. The MUB supplement was provided daily for nine months but medicated MUB was used only for strategic prophylactic treatment against nematodes. SUPP animals had higher daily DM intakes (568 ±11 versus 532 ± 11 g DM per head per day, P < 0.05), the advantage being greatest in the wet season when there was also a concomitant increase in herbage digestibility ( P < 0.001). SUPP animals were 4kg heavier (25.7 ± 0.5 versus 21.7 ± 0.5 kg, P < 0.05) and had deposited more body reserves as judged by condition score (3.2 ± 0.1 versus 2.4 ± 0.1) after 6 months. The level of infection with endoparasites was lower in the dry than in the wet season. Medicated MUB was as efficient in treating against endoparasites as drenching. Similarly, the MUB supplement mitigated the effect of endoparasitism. Anthelmintic treatment did not improve testicular size or semen quality ( P> 0.05). Testicular growth increased faster during the first 3 months to highest values of 26.9 ± 0.3 and 25.3 ± 0.3 cm, respectively in SUPP and NOSUP animals ( P < 0.001) at 6 months. Semen quality improved with age and was better in SUPP than NOSUP males ( P < 0.05– P < 0.001). It is concluded that MUB supplementation is a suitable method for supplementing the nutrition of grazing sheep in Ethiopia, and that MUB feeding can help alleviate the effect of endoparasitism.

Measurement of the variability in intake by sheep of oat grain, hay and molasses-urea blocks using chromic oxide as a marker

Two experiments are described. In experiment 1, penned sheep were fed oat grain, hay and molasses-urea block prepared with added chromic oxide (Cr2O3). Recoveries of the marker calculated from measured intakes and faecal outputs were: oats 98.0 � 5.1%, hay 97.5 � 3.2%, molasses-urea block 89.2 � 11.5%. The lower and more variable recoveries of marker from the block were attributed to uneven mixing of the marker. In experiment 2, three groups of 15 mature Corriedale wethers were allowed to graze freely, and supplements of oats, hay or molasses-urea blocks, prepared with added chromic oxide, were offered to each group in rotation during three 4-week periods. During the first two weeks of each period the group offered molasses-urea block was confined in a small yard with a block, and fed hay, to accustom the sheep to the block and to ensure that all sheep in the group were licking it. Total faecal collections were made during 14 days from the time of commencement of feeding of the prepared supplements, and the intakes of the supplements were calculated from the total amounts of marker excreted. The mean intakes over three periods (uncorrected for Cr2O3 recoveries) were : oats 1851 � 434, hay 3326 � 1014, molasses-urea block 11 7 � 1 6 8 g/head week-1. Intakes by individuals ranged from 1086 to 2679 g week-1 for oats, from 1508 to 6048 g week-1 for hay, and from 0 to 732 g week-1 for molasses-urea block. Of the 45 sheep used, 8 sheep did not consume any of the block within the measurement period, despite having consumed some block in the preceding 2-week period

Responses to molasses-urea blocks of grazing sheep and sheep in yards

A total of 11 88 sheep in seven flocks on five farms were offered molasses-urea blocks under grazing conditions. After 3 weeks, 50% of the sheep had licked the blocks but there was wide variability between flocks in the proportion of sheep that licked and their average intakes. Sheep that did not lick the blocks while grazing were confined in yards and offered the blocks plus 350 g hay/sheep day-1. After 3 weeks, 81% of the sheep had licked the blocks. A second confinement period of from 2 to 4 weeks was imposed upon those sheep that had still not licked, and this resulted in 88% of them licking. The remaining seven sheep consumed the block only after being penned individually. It is concluded that special management procedures may be required to encourage grazing sheep to lick molasses-urea blocks.

Effects of some management procedures on the responses of sheep to molasses-urea blocks

A total of 960 sheep were used in a factorial experiment to test the effects of four treatments aimed at improving responses to molasses-urea blocks. The treatments were (a) 200 g oat grain sprinkled on the top of the blocks once daily for the first 7 days, compared with the absence of oats; (b) the inclusion, for the first 2 days, of four additional sheep that had previous experience with blocks and were regular consumers of them, compared with the absence of such sheep; (c) the use of quiet, handled ('tame') sheep, compared with sheep that were relatively nervous and frightened ('wild') ; (d) the use of three differently-constituted blocks, containing 0, 5 and 10% urea, compared with three blocks of the same formulation, containing 5% urea. Each group comprised 20 sheep confined in yards and fed hay in addition to the molasses-urea blocks. The intakes of blocks, and the number of sheep licking the blocks during 3-week periods were measured. In general, the treatments had no consistent effects on the responses of the sheep, but some groups of sheep were more responsive to particular treatments than others. There were no obvious reasons for such variability, Intakes of blocks increased with time (3660, 6373 and 81 25 g group week-1 for weeks 1, 2 and 3, respectively), and the percentage of groups that had consumed a block by the end of each week increased with time (86, 89 and 96% in weeks 1, 2 and 3 respectively). It was concluded that it is extremely difficult to influence the behaviour of sheep by management procedures such as those used in this experiment.