Uromin lick (UML)/urea-molasses-multi-nutrient blocks (UMMB)

Problem statement

An assessment of the nutritional status of dairy animals showed these animals were being offered highly imbalanced diets, deficient in protein; energy and minerals. The deficiency in minerals and salt reflected in the reproductive problems of animals in these areas.

Executive summary

UMMB is a convenient and inexpensive method of providing a range of nutrients to animals. It can improve the digestion of low-quality roughages by satisfying the requirement of rumen microorganisms, creating a better environment for fermentation and increasing production of microbial protein and volatile fatty acids. Urea, after hydrolysis to ammonia in the rumen, provides a nitrogen source for the rumen microbes, while molasses acts as a source of readily-fermentable energy.

Technology description

The conventional UMMB weighing 3 kg contains (g): molasses 900, urea 300, mustard cake 300, de-oiled rice bran 300, wheat flour 450, mineral mixture 450, calcium oxide 120, salt 120 and guar gum 60. The required quantity of molasses and urea are weighed and mixed in a 25 kg capacity iron pan. The guar gum is added to the urea-molasses mixture as a binder. A premix of other ingredients is prepared; calcium oxide is the last ingredient to be added to this premix in the iron pan with rapid stirring. Two to eight UMMBs may be prepared at a time, either in a manually operated (for small/marginal/landless dairy farmers) or electrically powered (for commercial production) block-making machine.

Market deployment considerations

Market is available

Environmental considerations

The hardness of the blocks affect intake