Dr.Waqas Nawaz PMAS arid agriculture university rawalpindi pakistan

2. GENERAL
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

3. IMPORTANCE
Brings +ive changes in Rumen Fermentation
Increases Feed Intake
Increases DM Digestibilty
Appropriate Supplement with poor quality
roughages
Increases Milk Yield
Improves Reproductive Efficiency

4. Cont…..
Stimulates Growth Rates
Prevents from various Diseases e.g.
Pica,Heamoglobinurea,Ataxia etc

5. BASIC COMPONENTS

6. INGREDIENTS
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

7. Cont…..
Cereal Bran
Provides protein
Holds the block together
Salt
Supply minerals
Control the rate of consumption

8. Cont…..
Cement
Makes the block hard
10-15% is sufficient.Higher levels make the
block too hard
Provides Ca
Clay can be mixed with it to improve
hardness & reduce drying time

9. MAKING OF UMB
The manufacturing can be divided into 4 stages
1) Preparation of the components
2) Mixing
3) Molding
4) Drying

10. Cont…..
Preparation Of The Components
The amount of the different ingredients
depends on the size of the block to be
manufactured & the formula to be used

11. Cont…..
Mixing
1) Weigh the amount of ingredients based on the formula of the
block
2) Add urea to the molasses while continuously mixing
 Urea & molasses are stirred for about 20 minutes
 Never add water to molasses
3) Add bran & mix thoroughly
4) Make the cement into a paste with water prior to adding to the
rest of the ingredients
5) Mix the salt with cement.It accelerates hardening

12. Cont…..

13. Cont…..
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

14. Cont…..
Wooden Mold PVC Tube Mold Metal Sheet
Mold

15. Cont…..

16. Cont…..
Molding Using Molding Using Removing
Wooden Bars Small Tin Cans Molded Blocks
For Drying

17. Cont…..
Step 1
Filling

18. Cont…..
Step 2
Compacting

19. Cont…..
Step 3
Opening

20. Cont…..
Step 4

21. Cont…..
Step 5

22. Cont…..
Drying & Storage
Remove the blocks from the molds after 24
hours and place on racks to dry
Leave the blocks to dry for at least 5 days
depending upon the weather condition

23. Cont…..

24. CHARACTERISTICS 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

25. PRECAUTIONS WHILE FEEDING UMB
Never form the Main Diet
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
Never supply in Ground Form or Dissolved in water
Supply sufficient Amount Of Water
Supply block to an animal After Feeding