Comparison of Supplementing Urea-Molasses Blockand Urea-Atela Blocks on Feed Intake and Digestibility of Male Blackhead Ogaden Sheep Fed Natural Pasture Hay

Abstract

The experiment consisted of ninety days of feeding trial and seven days of digestibility trial at the end of the experiment with the objectives of the study were: (a) to evaluate the effect of supplementation with urea molasses block and urea-atela blocks on feed intake (b) digestibility of male black head ogaden sheep fed natural pasture hay (c) the physical and nutritional quality of the feed blocks and the economic feasibility of supplementing block made from molasses versus block made from atela were also compared. the treatments consisted feeding of urea-molasses block ad libitum (50% of molasses: 23% wheat bran: 9% urea: 12% cement: 6% salt, T1), urea-atela block adlibitum (30% atela: 43% wheat bran: 9% urea: 12% cement: 6% salt, T2), urea-atela block ad libitum  (40% atela: 33% wheat bran: 9% urea: 12% cement: 6% salt, T3) urea-atela block ad libitum (50% atela:23% wheat bran:9% urea:12% cement :6% salt, T4). Two kg block per week per head was given to each experimental animal.Supplementation with urea-atela block, consisting higher amount of wheat bran (T2) had significantly (P<0.001) higher nutrient intakes (CP=104.2 ± 3.2) than Urea-molasses block. Supplementation with T2 diet has also significantly (P<0.001) higher apparent digestibility of DM (69 ± 0.007), OM (63.2 ± 0.007) and CP (82.2 ± 0.01) than urea-molasses block.

Keywords: black head ogaden sheep, digestibility, feed intake, urea-atela block, urea-molasses block