TY  - JOUR
T1  - Nutritive Value of Urea Molasses Block  Containing Acacia Erubescens or<I> Dichrostachys cineria</I> as Natural Protein Sources
AU - , A.A. Aganga AU - , C.B. Motshewa 
JO  - Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
VL  - 6
IS  - 11
SP  - 1280
EP  - 1283
PY  - 2007
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1680-5593
DO  - javaa.2007.1280.1283
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2007.1280.1283
KW  - Nutritive value
KW  -urea molasses block
KW  -natural protein sources
KW  -ADF
KW  -ADL
AB  - This study was aimed at developing Molasses-urea Blocks (MUB) for purposes of providing supplementary feeding that will supply crude protein and minerals to ruminant livestock during drought periods. In order to accomplish this, urea, molasses, sorghum bran, <I>Acacia erubescens </I>or<I> Dichrostachys cineria </I>as local browse trees in Botswana and dicalcium  phosphate as a commercial mineral ingredient, salt and cement were used. Cement was used as a cold binder and roughages such as grass hay or  Lucerne were also used  in some MUB and their nutritional contents were compared to those containing browse plants. Dry matter, crude protein and mineral contents were analyzed using proximate analysis. All the 4 blocks hardened within 5-7 days and yielded dense blocks. MUB containing Acacia erubescens and Lucerne had  higher  nutrient contents than MUB containing  <I>Dichrostachys cineria </I>and grass hay. All the macro mineral contents were within the normal range required for maintenance by grazing animals. Dry  Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP),  Ash,  Neutral  Detergent Fiber  (NDF),  Acid  Detergent  Fiber  (ADF), Acid  Detergent Lignin (ADL) and <I>in vitro </I>DM digestibility differed (p< 0.05) between MUB types evaluated. All the MUB had crude protein content varying  from 11.83-26.58%. Average mineral content  (%) of all MUB were 16.33, 9.35, 5.38, 1.09 and 0.27 for P, Ca, Mg, Na and  K,  respectively. Also some of the trace minerals Fe (%), Mn and Zn (ppm) had average values of 0.098, 0.018 and 0.002, respectively.
ER  -