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Academic Research Journal of
Agricultural Science and Research |
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Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research Vol. 6(2), pp. 52-61. February, 2018. ISSN: 2360-7874 DOI: 10.14662/ARJASRD2017.062 Full Length Research Supplementary Feeding of Urea Molasses Multi-Nutrient Blocks to Ruminant Animals for Improving Productivity
Gezahegn Mengistu1 and Wasihun Hassen2
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University P.O.Box .307, Jimma, Ethiopia
Accepted 25 September 2017
The productivity of the livestock in most of the developing countries is much below the potential productivity. The main constraint to livestock development in developing countries is the scarcity and fluctuation of the quality and quantity of the year-around animal feed supply. In developing countries including Ethiopia, Livestock feed depend on Fibrous feeds mainly crop residues and low quality pasture that are deficient in crude protein, minerals and vitamins. Urea Molasses Multi-nutrient Block is an excellent supplementary feed that can be formulated and used to increase digestion of roughages, provide protein, energy and minerals to ruminant animals. Urea Molasses Multi-Nutrient Blocks (UMMB) are lick blocks containing urea, molasses, vitamins, minerals and other multi-nutrients. Urea molasses multi-nutrient urea block feed helps the growth of microorganism in the rumen, increases the digestion and consumption of fibrous feeds, allowing the animal to maintain, and often increase productivity of ruminant animals. UMMB supplementation is an effective means of correcting nutrient deficits in poor quality roughages. The encouraging significant positive effect on rumen microbial growth, feed intake, digestibility, live weight gain, growth rate and (1-1.5 kg/ day) milk production nutrient production and utilization further justify the need for the use of the multi-nutrient blocks as supplements for cattle ,sheep and goat. In developing countries like Ethiopia, commercializing (UMMB) in livestock feed industry technology as business and job opportunities for the producers and feed benefits for the farmers through proper strategic direction to make it a reality. Considerable additional research is still needed in order to fully exploit the benefits of the blocks.
Key words: Fibrous feed, Ruminant, UMMB, Utilization
How to cite this article: Mengistu G, Hassen W (2018). Supplementary Feeding of Urea Molasses Multi-Nutrient Blocks to Ruminant Animals for Improving Productivity. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 6(2): 52-61
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