Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
HIGH PROTEI~ A~IMAL FEED BLOCK
This invention relates to a high protein animal
feed block and in particular a substantially rigid high
protein animal feed block comprising molasses, magnesium
oxide and legume seeds and to a process for the
manufacture thereof.
The term "rigid block~ is used herein to mean a
feed block which does not undergo any appreciable
plastic flow under its own weight and retains its shape
over long periods of time in the field exposed to climatic
conditions~
It is known in the art that the condition of
ruminant animals feeding on low protein content feedstuffs
can be maintained by ensuring a supply of non-protein
nitrogen. ~on-protein nitrogen such as urea provides
nutrition for bacteria in the rumen which in turn
provide the animal with a source of bacterial protein.
As a result, it has become common practice in areas
where the natural feedstuffs have a low protein content
and in drought areas, to supplement the diet of ruminants
with a source of non-protein nitrogen~ Feed blocks
have proved particularly suitable f~r this purpose
because they enable non-protein nitrogen to be readily
incorporated into a palatable product ~hich can be
easily handled and which offers the advantage of enabling
control of consumption through control of block hardness
and palatability.
While animal conditions can be maintained through
supply of non-protein nitrogen, in order to promote
animal growth, meat production, milk production and
fertility, ruminant animals need a supply of protein
which will reach the second stomach of the animal. One
of the problems in supplying protein to ruminant animals
is that much of the protein may be degraded to amino
acids in the rumen and as a result is not used to the
best advantage of the animal.
`` 9~2~
-- 2
Therefore, it would be of considerable benefi~
to the rural industry ~o have available a high protein
animal feed supplement which was easily handled,
palatable, and which supplied natural protein in a form
which could by-pass the rumen.
It has now been found that the combination of
ingredients comprising molasses" ma~nesium oxide and
legume seeds provides a high protein feed block which
is highly palatable to ruminant animals and which
provides them with a source of by-pass protein.
Accordingly the invention provides a rigid, high
protein, animal feed block comprising molasses, finely
divided magnesium oxide and lsgume seedO
Any of the sugar containing molasses may be used
in the preparation of the compositions of the present
invention. Examples of such molasses include cane or
blackstrap molasses, sugar beet molasses, converted
molasses, wood sugar molasses, hydrosyrup and citrus
molasses.
Typically the amount of molasses used in the
preparation of the compositions of the present invention
ranges from 8 to 70% by weight by weight of the final
feed block. Preferably the amount of molasses is in the
range of from 20 to 50~ by weight of the final feed
block.
If the proportion of molasses in the lower part
of the range is used from 0 - 50% water may be added to
provide a suitable blend mobility when a substantial
amount of powders are present. Powders include for
example dicalcium phosphate and ~eed meals~ The water
may be replaced by any aqueous nutrient such as whey
liquids.
The magnesium oxide used to prepare the compositions
of the present invention is preferably of a sufficiently
active grade that under the reaction conditions it
reacts substantially completely with the molasses within
a reasonable length of time, for example 6 hours.
Whils~pu~e magnesium oxide may be used the cost of such
material is comparatively high. The small amounts of
impurities which are normally found in commercially available
grades of active magnesium oxide can be tolerated in the feed
blocks prepared by the process of our invention and therefore
commercially available grades of magnesium oxide are suitable
for use in the process of the invention.
Typical of such commercial grades of magnesium oxide
suitable for use in the compositions of the invention are
those known as caustic-burned magnesias produced by
calcining magnesite, dolomite or magnesium hydroxide at
temperatures less than 900C. Particularly suitable magnesium
oxides are "Causmag" grades XLF, AL3 and AL4 ("Causmag" is a
registered Trade Mark of a proprietary brand of magnesium
oxide available from Causmag Ore Co. Pty Ltd. of Young,
N.S.W. Australia); standard magnesite MgO types 369, 469 and
569 from Martin Marietta Chemicals, Hung Valley, Marylandl
U.S.A.; and "~Iagox" types 95, 90 and Feed Grade ("Magox" is a
registered Trade Mark of Basic Incorporated, Cleveland, Ohio,
U.S.A.). The more active grades of magnesium oxide have a
low bulk density but high specific gravity and are obtained
by relatively low temperature (around 400C) calcination of
magnesium hydroxide or magnesium carbonate.
Typically the amount of magnesium oxlde used in the
preparation of the compositions of the present invention
ranses from 2 to 30~ by weight of the final feed block.
Preferably, the amount of magnesium oxide ranges from 3 to
15~ by weight of the final feed block.
The main source of natural protein used in the
compositions of the present inventian may be chosen from
any of the legume seeds. Suitable legume seeds include lupin,
bean and pea. Preferably, the legume seeds should be
varieties known to be palatable ~
~6368
-- 4 --
to animals, for example certain strains of lupins
are bitter and less palatable than other strains
which are sweet flavoured.
The use of legume seeds as the main source of
protein in the compositions of the present in~ention
has many advantages. The more obvious advantages
include the high protein content of legume seeds,
especially in comparison to cereal grains, and the
availability of legume seeds at prices which allow the
economic manufacture of high protein feed blocks.
In addition to the more obvious advantage~, the
use of legume seeds as the main source of protein in
the feed block compositions of the present invention
has some very important and unexpected advantages.
Surprisingly, it has been found that the use of legume
seeds enables the preparation of palatable feed blocks
containing a very high percentage of protein. For
example, whereas only a relatively low proportion of
feed meals can be blended into molasses to give a
palatable feed block, for example a maximum of around
25~ by weight of the composition, very high proportions
of legume seeds, for example up to 50% by weight of
the composition, may be blended into molasses to give a
palatabley high protein content feed block. Moreover,
completely unexpectedly it has been found that the
incorporation of high proportions of legume seeds into
feed blocks provides a high protein feed block which is
highly palatable to animals and which provides ruminants
with protein in a form which substantially avoids
degradation in the rumen thereby providing the animal
with by-pass protein which significantly improves the
growth rate and general well being of the animal.
Typically the amount of legume seed used in the
preparation of the compositions of the present invention
is in the range of from 10 to 50% by weight of the
final feed block. Preferably the amount of legume seed
ranges from 20 to 40% by weight of the final feed blockO
To obtain a high bypass of the protein through the
rumen the physical form of the legume seed is important.
Finely ground legume seed such as legume flour is
unsatisfactory as it is digested to a large extent by
the rumen. We have ~ound that if the seed is either
whole or broken into relatively coarse fragments then
the proportion bypassing the rumen is satisfactory.
Crushed or chipped legumes seeds which substantially
all pass through a 8 mm screen and which 85~ are retained
by a 2mm screen have proved satisfactory. Crushing or
chipping the seed exposes the interior of the seed to
the action of the rumen and increases digestion in the
rumen. This may be overcome by treating the broken seed
with a chemical capable of denaturing the surface of
the seedO We have found a dilute solution of formaldehyde
to be satisfactory.
A suitable treatment consists of treating broken
seed with a dilute aqueous solution of formaldehyde
(say a concentration of 15 - 25% by weight). The amount of
formaldehyde added should be from 0.5 - 2.5% by weight of
seed preferably from 1 - 1.5% by weight Excess formaldehyde
will prevent the seed from being absorbed efficiently
by the animal and too little formaldehyde will allow a
high proportion of absorption in the rumen.
~5 The compositions of the present invention may
compriss a wide range of additional components which
may be of benefit to the animal consuming the feed
block and/or aid in the preparation of the feed block.
For example, the compositions of the invention may
comprise animal medicaments, further animal nutrients
and/or agents such as dicalcium phosphate, water, acids
and surfactants.
Suitable animal medicaments include vitamins, trace
elements, additional sources of magnesium, sources of
phosphatel sources of calcium, sources of sodium,
sources of sulphur and medicaments for treating animals
diseases or killing or repelling animal pests.
ILZ~63~;~
-- 6
Sources of vitamins, trace elements, sodium, sulphur,
phosphate, calcium and additional sources of magnesium
may be incorporated into the feed blocks of the invention
where there is a deficiency of these materials in the
available feed or where the animal's state of health
would benefit from the ingestion of such therapeutic
materials. Animal medicaments suitable for the treatment
or prevention of animal diseases or to kill or repel
animal pests also may be incorporated into the feed
blocks of the invention where such medicaments are
required .
Vitamins which may be incorporated into the feed
blocks include Vitamin A, preferably in the stabiliæed
acetate form, vitamin E and Vitamin C. Preferably vitamins are
added to the reaction mixture as a slurry with a small
amount of water towards the end of the blending operation.
Trace elements which may be incorporated into the
feed blocks include trace minerals such as iron, cobalt,
copper, zinc and manganese which are preferably added
in the form of the sulphate salts.
Iodine as stablized potassium iodide or ethylene
diamine dihydroiodate may be also be incorporated into
the feed blocks. Preferably trace elements are added
to the reaction mixture towards the end of the blending
operationO
Other animal medicaments which may be incorporated
into the animal feed blocks of the invention include:
suitable anthelmintic preparations useful in the
prevention or treatment of infestation of animals by
parasites including, for example, gastrointestinal
parasites, liver fluke and lungworm; suitable preparations
which act systemically to kill or repel pests including
insect pests such as nuisance flies and endoparasites
such as ixodes; suitable growth promoting agents; and
other animal medicaments suitable for oral administration.
~2JG~i8
Suitable animal nutrients include tallow, additional
protein and/or carbohydrate sources such as the feed
meals including barley meal, blood meal, dried buttermilk,
cotton seed meal, linseed meal, mea~ and bone meal,
wheat middlings, soya bean meal, dried whey, liquid whey,
peanut meal, rice meal and sunflower meal, carbohydrate
sources such as mai~e germ, roughage, crushed grain, millet
seed, molasses cane, wheat dust, sucrose, glucose,
fructose and sorbitol and non-protein nitrogen sources
such as urea, biuret, me~hylene diurea, urea phosphate,
urea sulphate, crotonylidene diurea and isobutylidene
diurea.
Calcium oxide may be used in place of some of the
magnesium oxide in ~he preparation of the compositions
of the present invention. Howe~er, the use of calcium
oxide may lead to difficulties in the control of the
reaction temperature and to inferior physical properties
in the blocks produced.
Feed blocks wherein all the magnesium oxide has
been replaced completely by calcium oxide are unsatisfactory
as the blocks remain soft even though the pH is above 7.
It has been found that the use of dicalcium
phosphate in addition to magnesium oxide and optimally
calcium oxide as a hardening agents results in the
~5 promotion o~ block hardening and an increase in the
block hardness. It has also been found that the use of
dicalcium phosphate in addition to magnesium oxide as a
hardening agent allows the minimum amount of magnesium
oxide necessar~ for block hardening to be reduced.
Therefore, it is preferred that dicalcium phosphate be
used in the preparation of the feed blocks of the
present invention.
The nature of the`dicalcium phosphate, also known
as dicalcium orthophophate, used in the preparation of
the preferred feed blocks of the present invention is
;3;~
~ 8
not narrowly critical. Commercially available grades
of dicalcium phosphate are suitable, but preferably
finely divided, defluorinated calcium phosphate is
used. Typically the amount of dicalcium phosphate used
in the compositions of the present invention is in the
range of from 0% to 20% by weight of the final feed
block. Preferably the amount of dicalcium phosphate
used in the preparation of the compositions of the
present invention ranges from 2 to 10% by weight of the
final feed block.
We have found that in the presence of from 2 to
10~ by weight dicalcium phosphate and/or from 2 to 10%
by weight calcium oxide the minimum amount of magnesium
oxide required to produce a block of sa~isfactory physical
properties may be reduced to 2~ by weight.
Depending upon the end use of the block and thus
the required rate of consumption of the block it may be
desirable to vary block hardness and palatability. For
example, it may be desirable to have a low consumption
rate of a therapeutic feed block whereas it is usual to
require a high consumption rate of a feed supplement
block.
Block hardness may be controlled by varying the
block ingredients. For example, by varying the molasses
and magnesium oxide content of the block. Block hardness
may also be varied by the addition of water to the
cGmposition and by the addition of acids~ for example
organic acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid and
butyric acid and inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid
and phosphoric acid, to promote block hardening. We
have found that the presence of butyric acid in the
animal feed blocks of the present invention greatly
enhances their acceptance by animals. The reason for
the improved palatability of the animal feed blocks of
the present invention is not understood but the greatly
enhanced acceptance of the feed blocks by animals, and
~21~;3~
particularly ruminant animals such as sheep and cattle,
can be readily demonstrated in the field.
Accordingly, in a further embodiment, the invention
provides a process for improving the palatability of
animal feed blocks which process comprises incorporating
in the said feed block butyric acid or a salt thereof.
The pH of the reaction mixture of our blocks must
be grsater than 7 and preferably in the range ~
Hence the amount of acid added is limited by this
constraint. Acid salts may be substituted, for example
sodium sulphate.
Block palatability may be improved by the inclusion
of: humectants such as glycerol in order to soften the
block surface; surfactants such as alcohol ethoxylates;
sweetening agents such as sorbitol and fruit juices;
and other additives which are attractive to animals.
While the use of legume seeds as the main source
of protein in the compositions of the present invention
offers the unique advantages of the preparation of a
highly palatable feed block containing a very high
percentage of protein, the preparation of such blocks
presents certain technical difficulties.
In the past it has been common to utilize finely
divided materials in the preparation of molasses feed
2S blocks. Blending such finely divided materials into
molasses to form a uniform mixture has presented little
if any difficulty and ~he mixtures so obtained set to
give a feed block having uniform composition.
In the compositions of the present invention it
has been found that the use of whole or broken legume
seeds enables a significantly higher percentage of
protein to be incorporated into molasses feed blocks
and the protein thus incorporated is a good source of
by-pass protein. However, whole or broken legume
seeds, for example lupin seeds, bean seeds, pea seeds,
~63~i8
-- 10 --
are comparatively large in size and they are difficult
to blend into the react.ion mixture to give a uniform
composition and the large seeds tend to separate out
when the reaction mixture is transferred to a mould to
complete the reaction to give a rigid molasses feed
block.
It has now been found that the problem of separation
of the legume seeds, which gives rise to a non-uniform
molasses feed block, can be overcome by first blending
together the legume seeds and the majority of the
molasses and then adding and blending in the hardening
agents and any other optional ingredients.
Accordingly in a further embodiment the invention
provides a process for the manufacture of a rigid, high
lS protein, animal feed block comprising~ molasses, finely
divided magnesium oxide and legume seed, which process
ccmprises: forming a uniform mixture comprising the
legume seeds and at least a major proportion o~ the
molasses at a temperature in the range of from 20C to
90C, adding to said mixture a hardening agent comprising
finely divided magnesium oxide and blending the mixture
at a temperature in ~he range 45~C to 95C for a
sufficient length of time to obtain a substantially
uniform reaction mixture; optionally blending into ~he
mixture any additional solid or li.quid components;
~lending into the mixture the remainder of the molasses
if any transferring said reaction mixture to a mould;
and maintaining said reaction mixture in said mould
at a temperature in the range 45 - 9~C until the
reaction is substantially complete and the reaction
~ixture becomes rigid.
A preferred feed block composition of the present
invention comprises from 20 to 50% by weight of molasses
from 2 to 5~ by weight of magnesium oxide, from 2 to
10% by weight of dicalcium phosphate, from 0 - 5%
calcium oxide, from 20 to 40% by weight of legume seeds
and from 5 to 15~ by weight of urea.
In a preferred process a feed block composition of
the present invention, the legume seeds and a major
portion (51 - 100%) of the molasses are blended together
at a temperature in the range of from 20C to 95C,
preferably 50C to 54C, to form a thick paste. The
hardening agent comprising finely divided magnesium
oxide and finely divided dicalcium phosphate is blended
into the mixture. Any other insoluble components, for
example feed meals, are blended into the reaction
mixture. Then the viscosity of the mixture is lowered
by blending in any remaining molasses, any water~ and
any soluble components such as urea, sodium chloride,
sodium sulfate, trace elements, vitamins, surfactants
and organic or inorganic acids. The mixture is then
transferred into a mould.
The temperature must be maintained between 45 and
90C preferably 75 ~ 95 during the setting process until
the block is reasonable hard. The presence of urea
enables a high level of seed to be included by its
effect of reducing the viscosity of the molasses
slurry
Heat is evolved during the the setting process
and hence external heating is not required to maintain
the desired temperature range. However to avoid the
risk of overheating we prefer to use a hot air circulating
oven to maintain temperature during the se~ting process~
The hot air does not have to provide heat to the
blocks but has an insulating affect to stop the outer
blocks ~urfaces from cooling and to allow the exotherm
to increase the mixture temperature It also prevents
excessive temperatures which can cause swelling, over
hardening and ammonia formation due to degradation of
the urea.
63~
All blocks can be produced by using partial insulation.
The degree of insulation depends on the mixing temperature,
the quantity and activity of the magnesium oxide and the
conductivity of the mixture. Perfect insulation is not
desired since the block will increase quickly in temperature
due to the egothermic reaction and require close monitoring
to provide a suitable block if the texture is important
~or a required animal intake~ If it is necessary to
vary the position of blocks during the insulating
period due to a mixture being sensitive to high temperatures
for extended periods then the insulating method may
prove more costly. Some heat losses occur with the
insulating methods used to maintain the mixture temperature
in the range 75 to 95. The amount of insulation required
depends on the ambient temperatures and the proximity
of the boxes to air draughts.
The boxes used as moulds may be made from carboard
in which case the block may be fed to animals without
removal of the box as the animals will eat cardboard without
ill effect.
~ further preferred feed block composition of the
present invention comprises from 8 to 15% molasses, from
2 to 5~ by weight of maynesium oxide, from 2 to 10~
dicalcium phosphateO from 0 - 5% of calcium oxidef from
2S ~0 to 40% of legume seeds and from 30 to 40% liquid whey.
The invention is now illustrated by, but in no way
limited to, the following Examples in which all parts
are expressed as parts by weight unless otherwise
stated.
Example 1
Molasses (2300 parts) and lupin seed (3200 parts)
were charged into a jacketed vessel and heated to a
temperature of 60C with stirring to give a uni~orm
:-,
~;~Vf~3~i~
- 13
mixture in the form of a thick paste. Magnesium oxide
(750 parts of "Causmag" AL4), dicalcium phosphate (400
parts) and cotton seed meal (400 parts) were blended
into the mixture. Agitation was continued and sodium
chloride (300 parts), anhydrous sodium sulfate (200
parts) and trace elements (130 parts) were blended into
the reaction mix~ure. The viscosity of the mixture was
then lowered by blending into the reaction mixture urea
700 parts), water (400 parts), "Teric" 12A23 (25 parts;
"Teric" is a Registered Trade Mark and "Teric" 12A23 is
a nonionic surface active agent prepared by condensing
one mole of a linear aliphatic monohydric alcohol of
average chain length of 12 carbon atoms with approximately
23 moles of ethylene oxide) and the remaining molasses
~1195 parts). The mixture was then run off into moulds
in the form of polyethylene film lined cardboard boxes
or edible gussetted carboard boxes which were then
placed in an oven at a temperature of 70C. After a
period of two hours the reaction was essentially complete,
the reaction mixture having become rigid, and the
moulds were removed from the oven and stacked to allow
them to cool to room temperature. Upon cooling the
reaction product was released from the polyethylene film
lined moulds in the form of rigid block of uniform
consistency. The product in the edible gussetted carbon
boxes was used for animal feeding without demoulding
Example 2
The above procedure was repeated using the following
proportions of ingredients:
Molasses 3395 parts
Lupin Seed 3500 parts
Magnesium Oxide 750 parts
Dicalcium Phosphate 500 parts
Cotton Seed Meal 200 parts
Sodium Chloride 300 parts
Anhydrous Sodium Sulfate 200 parts
Trace Elements 130 parts
~ZI~b;3~
- 14 -
Urea 700 parts
Water 300 parts
~Teric" 12A23 25 parts
Upon cooling the reaction product was released
from the moulds in the form of a rigid block of uniform
consistency.
Example 3
Molasses (2300 parts) and lupin seed (3200 parts)
were charged into a jacketed vessel and heated to a
temperature of 60C with stirring to give a uniform
mixture in the form of a thick paste. Magnesium oxide
(750 parts of ~Causmag" AL4), dicalcium phosphate (400
parts) and cotton seed meal (400 parts) were blended
into the mixture. Agitation was continued and sodium
chloride (300 parts), anhydrous sodium sulfate (200
parts) and trace elements (130 parts) were blended into
the reaction mixture~ The viscosity of the mixturs was
then lowered by blending into the reaction mixture urea
(700 parts), water (400 parts), butyric acid (50 parts),
"Teric" 12A23 (25 parts) and the remaining molasses
(1145 parts). The mixture was then run off into moulds
in the form of polyethylenP film lined cardboard boxes
which were then placed in an oven at a temperature of
70C.
After a period of two hours the reaction was e~sentially
complete, the reaction mixture having become rigid, and
the moulds were removed from the oven and stacked to
allow them to cool to room temperature. Upon cooling
the reaction product was released from the moulds in
the form of rigid block of uniform consistency.
63~;~
- 15 -
Example 4
The procedure of Example 3 was repeated using the
following proportions of ingredients:
Molasses 3345 parts
Lupin Seed 3500 parts
Magnesium Oxide 750 parts
Dicalcium Phosphate 500 parts
Cotton Seed Meal 200 parts
Sodium Chloride 300 parts
Anhydrous Sodium Sulfate200 parts
Trace Elements 130 parts
Urea 700 parts
Water 300 parts
Butyric Acid 50 parts
"Teric" 12A23 25 parts
Upon cooling the reaction product was released
from the moulds in the form of a rigid block of uniform
consistency.
Examples 5 - 11
The procedure of Example 1 was repeated using the
proportions by weight shown in the attached table.
rc
~ ~ A V V ~ V A
h~ 11 1111~
4 ~ I I I I I I 0
'4
~ ~rl
Il, ~:
1:4 R ~ O ~ O O r~ ~
r) r~
~o
r~
O
c~
~ ~ ol e ~1
~ ~ ~ O ~ o~ h U
~ U~ o
~U~3~
- 17 -
The chipped lupins had been passed through
a 8 mm screen and were 85% retained on a 2mm screen.
The chipped seeds were treated with 1.2% by weight of
formaldehyde sprayed onto the seed as a 20% aqueous
solution and kept in contact with the seed for 24
hours. Excess formaldehyde was removed by an air
current prior to use.
Examples 7, 8 , 10 were acid blocks and gave a soft
unsatisfactory block not of our invention. The blocks
of Examples 5, 6 and 11 were alkaline and were hard and
had good physical properties. Example 9 was an alkaline
block but was soft and unsatisfactory and not of our
invention
Example 12
The procedures of Examples 1, 2, 5 and 6 were repeated
except that the blocks were not placed in an air circulated
oven during the setting process.
The blocks were put onto masonite sheets (6 per
sheet) on a roller table in single and double stacks.
The ~op stack rested either on another masonite sheet
or an open wooden separator. The whole batch was
covered by a sheet of bubble plastic (packaging type)
which was prevented by canite, wooden or masonite boards
from touching the liquid in the open boxes. The plastic
was cut to hang down the sides of the stack.
The insulation was removed when the blocks were of
a similar hardness to when an oven was used. The blocks
were then placed under cooling fans.
In each case satisfactory blocks were obtained.
Example 13
Example 5 was repeated using chipped field peas
treated with formaldehyde in place of the lupin seed.
The chipped peas were of a similar size range to the
chipped lupin seed.
The block was satisfactory.
~Z~
Example 14 - 15
The procedures of Example 1 was repeated using the
proportions shown below:-
Example Whey Mo.lasses MgO Urea Salt ASS DCP Chipped Cotton pH
Lupin Seed
Neal
14 36.2~ 10.2 7.5 7 3 3 3 30 - >8
15 30.7* 9 8 - 3 3 ~ 35 7 >8
* Whey contained 40% solids
** Whey contained 20% so7ids
The bloc~s in both cases were satisfactory
,~
1;~11~3~
- l9 -
Feedin~ Trials
The objective of this trial was to compare molasses
blocks containing either urea or urea plus protein as a
supplement to sheep fed a low quality roughage diet.
The level of protein in the roughage diet was sufficient
to maintain bodyweight of mature sheep and also the
protein level was likely to be sufficient to meet the
nitrogen needs of the rumen microflora without the need
for ureaO These dietary levels of protein simulate the
levels found in dry feed over the summer months.
Eighteen mature wethers housed in metabolism cages
were fed a low protein roughage diet of oaten chaff/lucerne
chaff (6.4 ME, MJ/kg DM, 1.06 ~ DM basis) ad libitum.
The animals were provided with nil supplement, or with
continuous access to a molasses block containing ether:
(i) urea (7.0%),
(ii) cottonseed meal (20%) + urea (7%),
(iii) lupins + urea. (block of example 6)
The animals were fed the supplemen~ during a
preliminary period of three weeks followed by a three
week collection period. Measurement of feed intake,
and faecal and urine output were made and samples were
obtained daily, then bulked for subsequent nitrogen and
dry matter determination.
Results
A significant increase in nitrogen retention
~p<0.05) was observed with sheep fed the lupin block.
Slight but non-significant increases in nitrogen
retention were recorded for the urea and ~he cottonseed
meal block.
~Z~ i8
. .
-- , o --
Table 1: The effect of block supplementation on nitrogen
halance, dry matter digestibility.
..
Treatment No. of g/N/day Feed Supplement Dry ~atter
Blocks AnimalsConsumption Digestibility
_g/DM/day _ _
Control 6 +4.2 B 1604 - 5~.7
~Urea~ 3 +4.9 B 14Z4 43.1 59.6
Cottonseed 4+5.1 B 1477 5Z.5 59.2
Meal
Lupins 5 +7.8A1698 88.3 60.4
NS NS
Means with different subscripts are significantly
different at p<0.05. NS means not significant.
The dry matter digestibility was enhanced slightly
with lupin blOcksr
The crude protein level (6~6%) of the roughage diet
used in this experiment was selected to reflect the
protein levels available to sheep and cattle grazing
dry summer pastures in southern Australia.
supplementation of these diets with a urea bloc~
produced only A slight increase in nitrogen retention.
By contrast, the blocks containing lupins produced a
substantial increase in nitrogen retention. If we
examine the efficiency with which the supplementary
nitrogen was utilized by the sheep (Table 2) we find
that the lupin block supplement was utilized with almost
double the ~fficiency of the other two supplements.
- 21 -
Table 2: Comparison of the efficiency of the utilization
_ .
oi the supplementary nitrogen.
Treatments N intake from Total N retained *Efficiency of
supplement g/N/hd/day retention of
g N/hd/day supplemental N
Control 0 4.21
Urea Block 2.0 4.85 32.0
Cottonseed 3.02 5.13 3015
meal block
Lupin Block 6.35 7.78 56.2
*Efficiency of retention Treatment N balance - Control N balance x 100
of supplemental N ~%) Supplemental N intake
The previous experiment provided evidence that lupin blocks were
utilized efficiently by mature sheep fed a low quality roughage diet. The
objective o~ this experiment was to determine the effect of block
supplementation on growth rate of weaner sheep fed the same poor guality
roughage diet.
Seventy-six crossbred weaner lambs initially weighing 24 kg were
allocated to treatments on a weight basis. The animals were housed
individually in pens and were fed ad libit_m a low quality diet of oaten
chaff and lucerne chaf~ ~90:10) (1.05% N on DM basis) 25 used in Experiment
1. The animals ~ere fed either a nil supplement or molasses blocks
continuously containing either urea ~7%) or urea (7%) + cottonseed meal,
or urea (7S) ~ lupins. ~Same blocks as used in previous trial~0 The
blocks were iso-nitrogenous. Feed inta~e was recorded daily, block
consumption twice weekly and liveweights were obtained weekly.
- 22 -
Supplementation with lupin blocks significantly increased l.iveweight
gains over the six week period of the trial (Table 3). Lupins blocks
and urea blocks increased feed intaXe slightly but the effects were
non-significant. A slight increase in wool growth was also observed
with the lupin and urea blocks.
Table 3~ The effect of block supplementation on performance o~ weaner
lambs - 6 weeks
No. of Liveweight~kgJ Mean block Nean feed Wool growth
-
-animals Initial Final Change consumption intake ng/cm2/day
+ kg (g/day) g/h/day
Urea blocks 19 24.7 28.5 3.80AB 35.1 BC 900 0.5665
Control 19 24.5 27.3 2.80 B - 872 0.5286
Urea + lupins 19 23~7 28.5 4.8 A 51.0 AB 892 0O5575
Urea ~ CSN 19 24.1 27.9 3.8 AB 28.1 C 853 0.4969
NS
Means with differing subscripts are significantly different at
p<0.05.
CSM = cottonseed meal
