Assessment of molasses- @entity1133 blocks for @entity1237 and XXXX production in the Sultanate of Oman: intake and growth studies.

@entity742 @entity1133 @entity1219 @entity1746 @entity3505 @entity1237
The goal of this study was to develop a molasses- @entity1133 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 @entity3505 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. @entity3505 straw yielded a low-density block that hardened slowly. Date fibre retained moisture and hardened @entity1746 slowly. @entity3505 bran-based blocks hardened quickly and yielded dense blocks. Hence, @entity3505 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%. @entity742 and @entity1237 consumed both the straw- and @entity3505 bran-based blocks but at different rates. Consumption of the straw-based block by @entity742 ranged from 50 to 179 g/head per day, whereas the denser @entity3505 bran-based block was consumed at a rate of 8-20 g/head per day. Consumption of the straw-based block by @entity1237 was low (8 g/head per day) compared to that of @entity3505 bran-based blocks (16-24 g/head per day). On the basis of the intake of the bran-based block by @entity742 , 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% @entity1133 , 5% trace minerals, 2.5% @entity1219 , 22.5% @entity3505 bran and 15% cement. @entity742 consuming this block gained more weight than @entity742 fed a conventional mineral block or @entity742 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.
