Department of Animal Nutrition and Forages, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Various formulae advocated in the preparation of urea-molasses-mineral block (UMMB) have been delineated. The major variable in the preparation of UMMB is the molasses which ranges from 25 to 75%. Urea as a source of N has been added from 10 to 20%. Other variables are mineral mixture, common salt and the binding material. Ingredients like GN cake and higher levels of molasses have made the preparation of UMMB uneconomicalj whereas cheaper ingredients like high levels of brans and cement render the product brittle and rough in texture, thus adversely affecting the intake of UMMB by the animal. The product as advocated by PAU is hard, better in nutritive value and economical too. It has 31.15% DCP and 43.50% TDN and produced a body weight gain of 540g/d in growing buffalo calves.
