Use of densified complete feed blocks as ruminant feed for sustainable livestock production: A review

Livestock play a central role in the natural resource-based livelihood in developing countries. The area under green forage crops is shrinking due to increase in human population and urbanization. As a result, the bulk of feeds available for ruminants in these regions are the crop residues. Manufacture of Densified Complete Feed Blocks (DCFBs) is an innovative technology to supply balanced feeds to livestock in the tropics. The first step in the process of making DCFBs is the grinding and mixing of concentrate ingredients separately. This is followed by adding concentrate components to chopped straw in desired proportions along with molasses in a mixer, taking care that mixing is uniform and ingredients are not separated due to gravity. Finally, the desired quantity of straw-concentrate mix is transferred to a hydraulic press to convert the mix into a block. Based on the productivity levels of animals, DCFBs could play an important role in providing balanced rations to livestock in the tropical regions of green forage scarcity. The technology offers a means to increase milk production, decrease in environmental pollutants, increase in income of farmers, decrease in labour requirement and time for feeding and reduction in transportation cost of straw. The technology also has the potential to provide complete feed to livestock under emergency situations created by natural calamities.