TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page. i

Certification. ii

Abstract. iii

Dedication. iv

Acknowledgement. V

Table of content. Vi

List of table

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1. Justification. 4

1.2. Objectives. 5

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review. 6

2.1. Sheep. 7

2.2 Characteristics of Sheep 8

2.3 Comparison of Sheep with Goats. 9

2.4. Taxonomy of Sheep 10

2.5. Sheep production system 11

2.6. General management and nutrition 12

2.7. Housing 13

2.8. Production system 14

2.9 Breeds of Sheep 15

2.10. Nutrient Requirements. 16

2.10.2. Protein Requirement 16

2.10.3 Vitamin Requirement 16

2.10.4 Mineral Requirement 16

2.10.5 Water Requirement 16

2.11 Economic importance of small ruminants. 17

2.12 The development of urea molasses Blocks 18

2.13 The block story 19

2.13.1 The Principles of Improving The Efficiency of diets of ruminants 19

2.14 Why the Blocks 20

2.15 The development of Blocks without Molasses 21

2.15.1 Soft Cakes Versus Hard Blocks 22

2.16 The utilization of Blocks as Feed Supplement 23

2.17 The Impact Of Block Technology 24

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods 26

3.1 Experimental Site and Duration 27

3.2 Procurement of West African Dwarf Sheep 28

3.3 Experimental Layout and Animal Management 29

3.4 Duration of Study 30

3.5 Feed Preparation 31

3.6 Production of Multi-nutrient Block 32

3.6.1 Tables 32

3.7 Data Collection 33

3.7.1 Feeding Trail 33

3.7.2 Weight Gain 33

3.8 Experimental Design 34

3.9 Statistical Analysis 35

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Results 36

4.1 Experimental Diets Composition 37

4.2 Gross (%) Composition of Experimental Diets 38

4.3 Acceptability of West African Dwarf Rams Fed Basal Diets Supplemented with
Multi-nutrient Block(Table) 39

4.4 Performance Characteristics of West African Dwarf Ram Fed Basal Diets Supplemented with
Multi-nutrient Block 40

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Discussion 41

5.1 Conclusion 42

5.2 Recommendation 43

References 44
 LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Gross Composition of Experimental Diets 30

Table 2 Acceptability of West African Dwarf Rams Fed Basal Diets Supplemented with
Multi-nutrient Block 31

Table3 Performance Characteristics of West African Dwarf Rams Fed Basal Diets Supplemented
with multi-nutrient Block 32
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I thank God of universe, chief justice of the judgement day, creator of all things, for
his mercies, protection, and abundant provision to complete this programme. To God
be the glory. My utmost appreciation goes to my supervisor Mr Junaid K.B, and my
co supervisors Mrs Adekanbi, A.O., and Mr Abdulsalam, for their love, support,
encouragement and patience shown during the period of the research.

I really appreciate my loving, caring Mum, Deaconess Ijeoma Blessing Okechukwu and my to my
late Father, Pst, Frank Okechukwu. for their moral, financial and spiritual support in making this
dream a reality, My appreciation is not complete without me acknowledging Mr Prince Okechukwu
thank you so much brother for your Financial support, care and concern towards this research
period .
And also to my project mates, you guys are the best i really appreciate the time spent together is
indeed a memory I will always remember.

I appreciate Animal Production Technology Department, the HOD Dr. J.O Olupona, the lecturers
and all other staffs, kudos to you all, May God grants all your heart desires. Finally, to all my
friends and well-wishers, I say a big thank to you all. God bless you all.
 ABSTRACT

À feeding trail was carried out for 8 weeks with 25 growing west
African dwarf rams (WAD), fed basal diet supplemented with
multi nutrient block to determine their acceptability and
performance characteristics using completely randomize design.
The rams were randomly allocated to five treatment , each
treatment have five replicates, five diet were compound
accordingly having energy, protein, minerals, molasses and
cassava starch which is the binder . The energy source are being
substitute in each treatment. T1 (0%CB 0%M and 30%CP), T2
(10%CB and 20%M), T3 (20%CB and 10%M), T4 (30% CB
and 0%M) , T5 (0%CB and 30%M).Result obtain from the study
reveal that treatment 3 of multi nutrient block containing (20%
corn bran and 10% molasses ) promote growth performance due
to its enhanced acceptability so its therefore recommended that
multi nutrient block should be supplemented to the basal diet
most especially during dry season when forages are of poor
qualities to prove growth rate.
 DEDICATION

This project is dedicated to Almighty God, most blessed, most glorious the Ancient of
days, for seeing me through this level in my academic pursuit.
I also dedicated it to my Parent and Brother Okechukwu Prince, May God be with you.
 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Livestock production in developing countries is largely dependent on

fibrous feeds – mainly crop residues and low quality pasture – that are
deficient in nitrogen, minerals and vitamins. As protein supplements
such as oil cakes are only availability at a very high price in developing
countries, if available at all, this has led to the use of non-protein-nitrogen
sources, such as urea, to compensate for the nitrogen deficiency in fibrous
feeds, thus enhancing their digestibility, intake and nutrient availability
through optimization of rumen fermentation. The use of solid feed
supplementation blocks, i.e. urea-molasses blocks or multi-nutrient blocks,
to provide the nitrogen, minerals and vitamins lacking in fibrous feeds
offers several advantages: ease of transport, storage and use, and reduced
risks compared with other approaches, such as giving a small amount
of urea in drinking water, sprinkling of urea solution on fibrous feeds
before feeding, or urea - ammonization of crop residues. These advantages,
together with enhanced productivity in terms of increased milk and
meat production and higher reproductive efficiency in ruminant animal
species, that include cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and yak, as a result of
supplementation with the blocks have resulted in their adoption in over
60 countries. Many international organizations, including the Joint FAO/
IAEA Division (Vienna), FAO, UNDP, ACIAR and SAREC-SIDA, have
played important roles in dissemination of this technology to such a large
number of countries.

Feed supplementation blocks that provide various nutrients – Nitrogen (N) some
carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins – are now more commonly called
multi-nutrient blocks. Several hundred formulas, with or without molasses,
have been developed and tested according to the local availability,
quality and price of ingredients. This demonstrates the adaptability of
the technology. Although designed mainly for dairy and beef cattle,
the concept has been used for buffaloes (Nguyen Van Thu, 2000), small
ruminants (Osuna et al., 1999) and even rabbits (Perez, 1990; Dinh Van Binh, Bui
Van Chin and Preston, 1991).

Excellent results have been obtained with different types of production:

growth, meat, milk, work or wool (Sansoucy, 1995), but one of the greatest
effects seems to be obtained on reproductive animals (Hendratno, et al.,1991) (Ghosh et al.,1993)
(Vargas and Rivera, 1994)

(Doan Duc Vu et al., 1999).

At present, the technology of the cold process has been well mastered
by many people in developing countries. Blocks are now commercially
produced on a large scale in many countries (India, Mexico, Niger,
Pakistan, Sudan, Venezuela, etc.), using various kinds of equipment, from
a simple shovel to sophisticated industrial equipment. In Australia, the
success of the blocks is tremendous and growing from year to year (R.A.
Leng, pers. comm.).
The possibility of using blocks as carriers of anthelmintic medicines was
investigated at an early stage (McBeath et al., 1979).
However, in Asia, it has been successfully investigated more recently, in
particular by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
(ACIAR). Other research has been conducted in Venezuela (Araque and
Rosos, 1993), India (Sanyal et al., 1995) and Ethiopia (Anindo et al., 1997).
The technology appears attractive, but the manufacture of such medicated
blocks is only applicable at an industrial scale, not at village level.

Urea is a good and cheap source of N for ruminants. However, if eaten in

excess, it could be very toxic, rapidly causing death. In order to supply
urea in a safe way, several methods have been tried.
Ranchers in Australia, South Africa and elsewhere have for decades
successfully used molasses-urea liquid mixtures given in troughs (Beames,
1963). However, there are several constraints to be overcome in using
liquid molasses at farm level: transport, requiring expensive tanker trucks; storage in fixed tanks;
difficult handling of a highly viscous liquid;
and distribution needing troughs or other receptacles (Sansoucy, 1986).
Mixing urea with drinking water is another solution, but it is difficult and
dangerous under small-scale farm conditions.
Other techniques have been tried in order to solve the above problems,
in particular by “solidifying” the molasses. The solid form presents many
advantages, as it makes transport, storage and distribution easy, and
reduces risks.

1.1 JUSTIFICATION

Urea Molasses mineral blocks (UMMB)

lick can improve the utilization of low
quality roughages because it satisfies
the requirements of the rumen micro
organisms and create a better
environment for the fermentation of
fibrous material which eventually
increases the production of microbial
protein and volatile fatty acids
(Wongnen, 2007).

1.2. OBJECTIVES OF THE

STUDY
• To evaluate the growth performance of
West African Dwarf sheep fed basal
diets supplemented with multi-nutrient block.

• To evaluate the rumen

fermentation parameters of the West
African Dwarf sheep fed basal
diets supplemented with multi-nutrient block.

•To evaluate the rumen microbial population

of West African Dwarf sheep fed basal diets
supplemented with multi-nutrient block.
 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

Small ruminants are widely distributed and are of great importance as a major
source of livelihood of the small farmers and the rural communities in tropical
Africa. However, the productivity of the small ruminant in this system is low
and
there is ample opportunity for improvement. Sheep and goat are the most
abundant of all ruminant species in the tropical Africa and they account for
about
17% of the ruminant biomass in Africa (Wilson 1985). The importance of small
ruminant for meat production in the tropical is well recognized (Williamson
and
Payne, 1978,) (Adu and Ngere, 1979). Found that 11% of the meat supplied
from
slaughter houses in Nigeria comes from sheep and they stated that importance
of
sheep is greater if rural unregistered slaughter are taken into account
(Brinkmann and Adu 1997) estimated that goat contribute about 20% of
Nigerian meat supply.

This mean that about 35% of total meat supply comes from small
ruminant. However, large differences exist between regions as well between
countryside and city. In the rural area of southern Nigeria, beef and small
ruminants are equally important whereas in urban areas beef consumption is
more than eight times as great as the consumption of small ruminant meat.

2.1. Sheep

Sheep (Ovis aries) are quadruped ruminant mammals typically kept as

livestock,
Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla (the even-toed
ungulates). Although the name
"sheep" applies to many species in the genus
Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries. Numbering a little
over one billion, domestic sheep are almost numerous species of sheep. An
adult
female sheep is referred to as ewe, an intact male as a ram or occasionally a
tup,
a castrated male as a wether, and a younger sheep as a lamb. (Budiansky, 2007)
Sheep are most likely descended from the wild mouflon of Europe and Asia.
One
of the earliest to be domesticated for agricultural purposes, sheep are raised
fleece, meat lamb, hogget or mutton) and milk. A sheep's wool is the most
widely used animal fibre, and is usually harvested by shearing. Sheep continues
to be important for wool and meat today, and are occasionally raised for pets,
as
diary animals, or as model organisms for science (Galani 2007).
Sheep husbandry is practiced throughout the majority of the inhabited World
and
has fundamental to many civilizations. In modern era, Australia, New Zealand,
the southern and central South American nations, and the British Isles are most
closely associated with sheep production region and dialect. Use of the words
sheep began in Middle English as a derivation of the Old English word scap; it
is both the singular and plural name for the animal. A group of sheep is called a
flock, herd or mob. Many other specific terms for the various life stages of
sheep
exist, generally related to lambing, sharing and age (Muller, 2002).
Being a key in the history of farming, sheep have a deeply entrenched place
inhuman culture and find representation in much modern language and
symbology. As livestock, sheep are most often associated with pastoral.
Areadian imagery. Sheep figure in many mythologies such as the Golden
Fleece
and major regions, especially the Abrahamic traditions. In both ancient and
modern religious ritual, sheep are used as sacrificial animals (Muller, 2002).

2.2. Characteristics of Sheep

Domestic sheep are relatively small ruminants, usually with a crimped hair
called
wool and often with horns forming a lateral spiral . Domestic sheep differ from
their wild relatives and ancestors in several respects, having become uniquely
neotenic as a result of selective breeding by humans. A few primitive breeds of
sheep retain some of the characteristics of their wild cousins, such as short tails.
Depending on breed, domestic sheep may have no horns at all (i.e. polled), or
horns in both sexes, or in males only. Most horned breeds have a single pair,
but
a few breeds may have several. Another trait unique to domestic sheep as
compared to wild ovine is their wide variation in color. Wild sheep are largely
variations of brown hues, and variation within species is extremely limited.
Colors of domestic sheep range from pure white to dark chocolate brown, and
even spotted or piebald. Selection for easily dyeable white fleeces began early
in
sheep domestication, and as white wool is a dominant trait it spread quickly.
However, colored sheep do appear in many modern breeds, and may even
appear
as a recessive trait in white flocks. While white wool is desirable for large
commercial markets, there is a niche market for colored fleeces, mostly for
hand
spinning The nature of the fleece varies widely among the breeds, from dense
and highly crimped, to long and hair-like. There is variation of wool type and
quality even among members of the same flock, so wool classing is a step in
the
commercial processing of the fibres. Sheep have good hearing, and are
sensitive
to noise when being handled. Sheep have horizontal slit-shaped pupils, with
excellent peripheral vision; with visual fields of about 270° to 320°, sheep can
see behind themselves without turning their heads. Many breeds have only
short
hair on the face and some have facial wool (if any) confined to the poll and or
the area of the mandibular angle; the wide angles of peripheral vision apply to
these breeds. A few breeds tend to have considerable wool on the face; for
some
individuals of these breeds, peripheral vision may be greatly reduced by "wool
blindness", unless recently shorn about the face. Sheep have poor depth
 perception; shadows and dips in the ground may cause sheep to baulk. In
general, sheep have a tendency to move out of the dark and into well-lit areas
and prefer to move uphill when disturbed. Sheep also have an excellent sense
of
smell, and, like all species of their genus, have scent glands just in front of the
eyes, and inter-digitally on the feet. The purpose of these glands is uncertain,
but
those on the face may be used in breeding behaviors. The foot glands might
also
be related to reproduction, but alternative reasons, such as secretion of a
waste product or a scent marker to help lost sheep find their flock, have also
been
proposed.

2.3 Comparison of Sheep with Goats

Sheep and goats are closely related: both are in the subfamily Caprinae.
However, they are separate species, so hybrids rarely occur, and are always
infertile. A hybrid of a ewe and a buck (a male goat) is called a sheep-goat
hybrid (only a single such animal has been confirmed), and is not to be
confused
with the sheep-goat chimera, though both are known as geep. Visual
differences
between sheep and goats include the beard of goats and divided upper lip of
sheep. Sheep tails also hang down, even when short or docked, while the short
tails of goats are held upwards. Also, sheep breeds are often naturally polled
(either in both sexes or just in the female), while naturally polled goats are rare
(though many are polled artificially). Males of the two species differ in that
buck
goats acquire a unique and strong odor during the rut, whereas rams do not.

2.4. Taxonomy of Sheep

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Genus: Ovis

Specie: Ovis aries

 (Wilson et al., 1995)

2.5. Sheep production system

West African dwarf sheep are capable of breeding at twelve to eighteen months
multiple births are very common with twin begin normal and triplet frequent.
The kidding interval averages about 220 days. These goat are typically kept as
livestock by families who use or sell the milk and meat (Wilson, 1985).
West Africa dwarf sheep are important in rural village economy of West
Africa.
Nigeria West African goat are trypano-tolerant they resist to infectious by
trypanosome and heamonchotolerant they resist infectious with gastro intestinal
parasites nematodes haemoncliuscontortus move effective than other breeds of
domestic goat. (Chiejina et al., 2015).

2.6. General management and nutrition

In areas, where arable cropping is practiced, small stocks are tethered during
the
cropping season in an attempt to prevent under nutrition, during the dry season,
it
has often been stressed as a limiting factor in ruminant production. The general
consensus is that, after crops have been harvested, small stocks are let loose to
feed on crop residues and fend for themselves.
It is however accepted fact that for a greater part of the year, grassland in the
tropics do not supply sufficient nutrient to stock for greater productivity.
Therefore supplementation of natural forage with agro-Industrial by-production
cannot be over emphasized.

2.7. Housing

There are different types of housing in the production system and the objective
of raising sheep can range from very simple structures made of roof and partial wall to complex
structure fitted with automatic feeders and drinkers. Animals
may be kept after an area within the family home or in a separate animal shed. A
separate house for goat with a raised wooden floor of 30cm above is observed in
some areas.
The common purposes of housing;

 Protect the animal from climatic stress

 Provide protection against losses by predator and thieves
 Make management easier and save labour.

2.8. Production system

The major methods of production are as follows

 Intensive System
In this system, goats are fed in confinement with limited access to grazing. The
animals are permanently housed and fed formulated ration if the farmer can
afford it or hay, silage, cut grasses or crop residue like rice straw, bran etc. In this
system,large number of livestock can be stocked per unit area animal are easier
to manage.
Advantages of Intensive System

 High stand of sanitation is maintained

 Effective conversion of feed by animals
 Total record of livestock is easily kept

Disadvantages of intensive system

 Lot of equipment is needed.

 The system require high labour for various activites on the farm
 Disease outbreak is easy

 Extensive System

This is a system of livestock production that is practiced on an open land.

Animal are left to move about in a range in search of food for them.little
management practices are employed except letting them loose in the morning
and closing up late in the evening.

Advantages of Extensive System

 Low initial capital is involved

 Livestock do not suffer from overcoming effect

 Animal are exposed to exercise, therefore they are usually healthy.

 Low labour cost.

Disadvantages of Extensive System

 Livestock are exposed to extreme weather

 It require large expense of land

 No accurate record keeping

 Animal are exposed to predators, thieves and disease.

2.9 Breeds of Sheep

The domestic sheep is a multi-purpose animal, and the more than 200 breeds
now in existence were created to serve these diverse purposes. Some sources
give a count of a thousand or more breeds, but these numbers cannot be verified,
according to some sources. However, several hundred breeds of sheep have been
identified by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN), with the
estimated number varying somewhat from time to time: e.g. 863 breeds as of
1993, 1314 breeds as of 1995 and 1229 breeds as of 2006. (These numbers
exclude extinct breeds, which are also tallied by the FAO.) For the purpose of
such tallies, the FAO definition of a breed is "either a sub-specific group of
domestic livestock with definable and identifiable external characteristics that
enable it to be separated by visual appraisal from other similarly defined groups
within the same species or a group for which geographical and/or cultural
separation from phenotypically similar groups has led to acceptance of its
separate identity." Almost all sheep are classified as being best suited to
furnishing a certain product: Wool, meat, milk, hides, or a combination in a dual-
purpose breed. Other features used when classifying sheep include face color
(generally white or black), tail length, presence or lack of horns, and the
topography for which the breed has been developed. This last point is especially
stressed in the UK, where breeds are described as either upland (hill or
mountain) or lowland breeds. A sheep may also be of a fat-tailed type, which is
a dual-purpose sheep common in Africa and Asia with larger deposits of fat
within and around its tail.
A last group of sheep breeds is that of für or hair sheep, which do not grow wool
at all. Hair sheep are similar to the early domesticated sheep kept before woolly
breeds were developed, and are raised for meat and pelts. Some modern breeds
of hair sheep, such as the Dorper, result from crosses between wool and hair
breeds. For meat and hide producers, hair sheep are cheaper to keep, as they do
not need shearing. Hair sheep are also more resistant to parasites and hot
weather. With the modern rise of corporate agribusiness and the decline of
localized family farms, many breeds of sheep are in danger of extinction. The
Rare Breeds Survival Trust of the UK lists 22 native breeds as having only 3,000
registered animals (each), and The Livestock Conservancy lists 14 as either
"critical" or "threatened". Preferences for breeds with uniform characteristics and
fast growth have pushed heritage (or heirloom) breeds to the margins of the
sheep industry. Those that remain are maintained through the efforts of
conservation organizations, breed registries, and individual farmers dedicated to
their preservation.

 West African dwarf

The West African Dwarf is found in the southern part of the country. It has the
potential of good tasty meal with good reproductive system.

 Balami

Balami sheep is found in the northern part of the country. It is the largest
indigenous breeds of sheep in Nigeria, with the maturity of ewe weighing 43kg.

 Uda

The Uda sheep is a breed of domestic sheep from west Africa. It is common in
northern Cameroon, northern Nigeria and Niger, it is one of the hair sheep breed
of the Sahel type, it represent the common African sheep breeds, apart from west
African dwarf sheep.

 Yankasa

The Yankasa is a meat breed found in north and north central Nigeria. They are
thought to of crossed with the West African Dwarf. The breed is white with
black nose and around the eyes. They are polled or have small horns and semi-
lop ears. Rams are usually horned. (Adu et al., 1979)
2.10. NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT

This is the amount require for no gain or loss in body tissue the nutrient are just
enough to meet the basic need for body function and minimum movement.
(Raji, 1997). The mean value in literature according to (Adu, 1985) showed that
sheep require about 100kcal/ME/day/kg body weight (Onwuka and Akinsoyinu, 1976)
.

2.10.2. Protein Requirement;

All body tissues other than bone, teeth and fat protein. In attempt to determine
the crude protein requirement of sheep and goats (Onwuka and Akinsoyinu, 1976)
obtained from N-balance experiment, a digestible crude protein (DCP) of
0.63 to 0.68 for goat maintain (ARC 1980) also estimate the protein requirement
of sheep to be 0.76 to 0.88/day/kg body weight.

(Onwuka and Akinsoyinu, 1989) obtained a value of 0.51g/day/kg for goat fed
browse (cassava leaves supplemented with cassava peels). They also showed that
a 20 kg goat gaining 200kg to 270kg live weight daily would need a DCP intake
of 1.8/day/kg giving a requirement of 0.6 DCP per gramme live weight gain.
Thus a 20kg goat gaining 270g daily require 97.2g DCP.

2.10.3. Vitamin Requirement;

The requirement for vitamin logically be divided into fat soluble vitamin (A, D,
E and K) and water soluble vitamin (B and C). In general, there is no cause for
noticeable deficiency due to shortage of vitamins especially the B vitamins.
Under normal feeding practice as they can be synthesized by the rumen
microfloral, (Oyenuga and Akinsoyinu, 1976).

2.10.4. Mineral Requirement;

(Mba et al., 1982) reported that sheep and goat in Nigeria would require 16.7,
56.0 and 16.7(mg/kg/body weight)daily of sodium(Na),calcium(Ca) and
phosphorus are 138,139 respectively.

2.10.5. Water Requirement;

Water makes up about 45-80% of the body weight depending on the production
of fat. The amount of water in the body is inversely related to fat. It participate in
nearly all body functions and is the important nutrient, though, often times the
most neglected aspect of feeding sheep. A sheep will consume an the most
neglected aspect of feeding sheep. A sheep will consume anything from ½ to 4
gallon of water per day, depending on it physiological state and environmental
conditions. Voluntary water intake is usually 2 or 3 times dry matter intake and
increases with high protein and high salt diet. Decrease water intake may reduce
milk production in ewe and growth rate of lambs. Animals that consume
adequate water have fewer digestive upset and a low incident of urinary calcium.

2.11. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF SMALL RUMINANTS

The importance of livestock and their contribution to human welfare and

improved Agricultural is recognized (Wilson, 1995). They contribute about 25%
of the Agricultural gross domestic product in sub-Saharan Africa, and even
exceed this value in some West African countries. (ILCA, 1993)

The role of small ruminants in general is extremely important within most

farming system; they have the potential of accumulating capital (Djajanegara et
al., 1996). Small ruminants are relatively easy to own by resource poor farmers
especially women; the animal spread the risk inherent in agricultural production
and are often used as a first step up and out of poverty; they reproduce very taste
and are raised and a wide range of production systems (Peacocks, 1995).
Raising small ruminants is regarded as relatively easy with minimal inputs and
low maintenance costs coupled with their ability to maximize available feed
resource (Devendra, 1985).

2.12. The development of urea-molasses blocks

The first trials of providing urea through feed supplementation blocks were done in South Africa by
Altona et al., 1960), cited by Beames (1963). The block, which included common salt and urea,
gave satisfactory results. Later on, other experiments using molasses, urea and salt confirmed these
results (Beames, 1963) ( Beames and Morris, 1965) (Alexander, 1972). Feed manufacturing
companies also developed urea-molasses blocks, but the blocks made by industrial processes were
relatively expensive and not affordable to those who needed this product the most: the small-scale
farmers in developing countries.
In the early 1980s, the work of Professor Leng from Armidale University in Australia, in
cooperation with the Joint FAO/IAEA Division (Vienna) and the National Dairy Development
Board (NDDB) (India), renewed interest in this technology, particularly in developing countries
(Leng, et al .,1986).
It appeared that the technology could be extremely useful for Sahelian countries with sugar
industries suffering from severe droughts, such as Senegal. Unfortunately, the manufacture of
urea-molasses blocks as studied in Australia used a “hot process,” which required the pre-heating
of the molasses. The procedure needed heavy and expensive equipment (such as a double-jacket
boiler) and foreign exchange to cover energy needs, usually imported as fossil fuel. This was a
serious impediment for African countries.
It was for these reasons that the FAO Feed Resources Group (Sansoucy, 1986) tried to modify the
technology to make it much simpler. The first trials were made at facilities provided by the
Senegalese Agricultural Research Institute, in Dakar-Hahn. The idea was to develop a “cold
process” that incorporated the molasses into the mixture without any heating, and to test various
binding agents and ingredients. The original formula was based on the work of an FAO project in
Egypt (Barker, pers. comm.). It consisted of: molasses, 50%; wheat bran, 25%; urea, 10%; quick
lime, 10%; and common salt, 5%. More than 70 different formulas were tested for final block
quality. Several, using locally available ingredients, were found satisfactory and selected for field
trials. The new technology could be applied by mixing the ingredients manually or with concrete or
horizontal feed mixers, depending on the scale. This improvement was a real breakthrough, since it
allowed the application of the technology at low cost and at small scale, at village level by the
farmers themselves or by a local artisan.

2.13. The block story

In most developing countries, particularly in tropical regions, the basal diet of ruminants,
particularly large ruminants, consists of fibrous feeds, mainly from mature pastures (particularly at
the end of the dry season) and crop residues (e.g. wheat and rice straw, maize and maize stover,
sugar cane tops and trash). These roughages are unbalanced in terms of nitrogen (N), mineral and
vitamin content, and they are also highly lignified. Consequently, their dry matter (DM)
digestibility is reduced. These characteristics keep voluntary dry matter intake (DMI) and
productivity low, and consequently the quantity of animal products (meat, milk, draught power,
wool) is limited or nil. Animals may sometimes barely survive, or even die during, times of feed
scarcity.
To remedy this situation it is necessary to supply the rumen microbes with the elements (mainly
soluble N) that are deficient in the diet. One problem is that protein supplements (such as oil cakes)
are in many cases not available in the country, are exported in order to get foreign exchange or are
too expensive for the small-scale farmer to buy. The same occurs with mineral and vitamin
supplements.
The availability of fodder trees, particularly legumes, with leaves rich in good quality protein,
which could be a cheap and suitable solution, is insufficient to cover needs (Speedy and Pugliese,
1992). Planting and growing such trees is a long-term objective, and should be encouraged
wherever possible.
A shorter-term solution is to provide supplements containing N, essential minerals and vitamins as
part of the diet. One of the cheapest sources of non-protein N is urea. As a common fertilizer, it is
widely available at reasonable prices in most countries around the world. (Beames ,1963) showed
that cattle could survive for a long time on low quality roughage with only urea and molasses
supplements.

2.13.1. The principles for improving the efficiency of the diet of ruminants

Classical principles based on “feeding standards” – such as those used with controlled diets based
on “good quality” feeds – are of little help in these situations. (Preston and Leng,1987) and
Preston (1995) proposed that the ruminant animal be considered to comprise two subsystems:
• the rumen; and
• the animal itself.
First, it is essential to take advantage of the rumen’s ability to make
use of fibrous feeds and of non-protein N (both inexpensive nutrient sources that are not usable by
mono gastric animals, including humans). For this to succeed, it is necessary to feed the rumen
microbes in order to develop an efficient ruminal ecosystem, ensure efficient fermentation of fibre
and increase the production of microbial protein. There are two basic requirements.
• The first requirement to satisfy is that of ammonia supply, which can be supplied from
non-protein N (usually urea).
• The second requirement is for minerals (sodium, phosphorus, sulphur) and vitamins.
Thus, provided that the animal receives sufficient fibrous feeds, the diet will allow survival or may
even cover maintenance requirements. However, if some production (growth, pregnancy, meat,
milk or wool) is expected, supplementary ‘bypass’ protein and energy will be necessary in
addition to the products of fermentative digestion.

2.14. Why the blocks?

Urea is a good and cheap source of Nitrogen (N) for ruminants. However, if eaten in excess, it could
be very toxic, rapidly causing death. In order to supply urea in a safe way, several methods have
been tried.
Ranchers in Australia, South Africa and elsewhere have for decades successfully used
molasses-urea liquid mixtures given in troughs (Beames, 1963). However, there are several
constraints to be overcome in using liquid molasses at farm level: transport, requiring expensive
tanker- trucks; storage in fixed tanks; difficult handling of a highly viscous liquid; and distribution
needing troughs or other receptacles (Sansoucy, 1986). Mixing urea with drinking water is another
solution, but it is difficult and dangerous under small-scale farm conditions.
Other techniques have been tried in order to solve the above problems, in particular by “solidifying”
the molasses. The solid form presents many advantages, as it makes transport, storage and
distribution easy, and reduces risks.

2.15. The development of blocks without molasses

In February 1989, in response to requests from some countries having feeding problems during the
dry season, but not in position to produce urea-molasses blocks because molasses was not available
or too expensive, the FAO Feed Resources Group attempted to manufacture blocks without
molasses or with only a low level of molasses. This work was realized in Tunisia, in cooperation
with Professor Kayouli (National Institute of Agronomy), the Livestock Bureau (Office de l’
elevage et des pâturages (OEP)) and the Central Cooperative for Cereals (Coopérative centrale des
grandes cultures (CCGC)). The first results were encouraging (Hassoun and Ba, 1990) and several
formulas were successfully tested in Tunisia, Cambodia and Niger (Kayouli and Buldgen, 2001).
Although it is usually preferable to include some molasses – because it makes the block easier to
manufacture, improves the palatability and supplies some useful elements, such as sulphur – this
alternative was readily adopted, helping to solve the problem in various countries. More water
needs to be added to the mixture and greater pressure must be applied to the moulds to make the
block solid.

2.15.1. Soft cakes versus hard blocks?

Some research workers have observed low block intake and have tried to replace the hard blocks
with a softer cake (Ho Quang Do et al.,2002). They reported greater intake. This problem has been
well known from the beginning of the block experience.
A block must be hard enough to oblige the animals to lick it and not to bite it. However, if the block
is too hard, the intake may be restricted, preventing any effect on the animal. In contrast, if the
block is too soft, the animal may consume it too fast and in excess, and there may be a risk of urea
toxicity. The hardness can be controlled by changing the proportions of the ingredients, such as
increasing the percentage of molasses, or reducing the percentage of the gelling agent or binder.
Although the concept of the block is based on sound science, block manufacture is an “art” that
has to be learned by doing.
A “soft cake” is, by its nature, different from a block. The block is designed to safely provide the
urea to the animal and to control the intake so that urea will be progressively ingested over the day,
maintaining a more or less constant level of ammonia in the rumen. With a soft cake, the total
intake might be controlled by the amount offered, but it is rapidly ingested, leading to a peak in
ammonia concentration.

2.16. The utilization of blocks as feed supplement

Feed supplementation blocks that provide various nutrients –Nitrogen (N), some carbohydrates,
minerals and vitamins – are now more commonly called multi-nutrient blocks. Several hundred
formulas, with or without molasses, have been developed and tested according to the local
availability, quality and price of ingredients. This demonstrates the adaptability of the technology.
Although designed mainly for dairy and beef cattle, the concept has been used for buffaloes
(Nguyen Van Thu, 2000), small ruminants (Osuna, et al.,1996) (Salman et.,al 1999), and even
rabbits (Perez et.,al 1990) (Machin et al.,1992).
Excellent results have been obtained with different types of production: growth, meat, milk, work
or wool (Sansoucy, 1995), but one of the greatest effects seems to be obtained on reproductive
animals (Hendratno et al.,1991) and (Doan Duc Vu et al.,1999).
At present, the technology of the cold process has been well mastered by many people in
developing countries. Blocks are now commercially produced on a large scale in many countries
(India, Mexico, Niger, Pakistan, Sudan, Venezuela, etc.), using various kinds of equipment, from a
simple shovel to sophisticated industrial equipment. In Australia, the success of the blocks is
tremendous and growing from year to year.
The possibility of using blocks as carriers of anthelmintic medicines was investigated at an early
stage (McBeath et al., 1979). However, in Asia, it has been successfully investigated more recently,
in particular by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Other
research has been conducted in Venezuela (Araque and Rosos, 1993), India (Sanyal et al., 1995) and
Ethiopia (Anindo et al., 1997). The technology appears attractive, but the manufacture of such
medicated blocks is only applicable at an industrial scale, not at village level.

2.17. The impact of block technology

Block technology has been very popular among teachers and students at Agricultural Universities.
The number of research experiments conducted in developing countries, although not exactly
known, is quite impressive. It has lead to many scientific publications in various international
journals. In one journal alone – the electronic journal Livestock Research for Rural Development
– more than 30 articles have been published on the subject [see
http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/index.ht ml]. In the framework of the International Foundation for
Sciences (IFS) programs,various research grants have been for studies on blocks. Strong interest
from individuals and research institutes has led to all kinds of investigations. Studies have been
conducted on the feeding value of multi-nutrient blocks and their effects on the nutritional status
and animal production (milk, meat, growth), physiology (reproduction) and health (when
anthelmintics were added in the blocks). Also, experiments have been done to test the manufacture
of blocks using new local ingredients or binders. All experimental work has shown positive effects
on production, health and reproductive parameters.

International and national meetings on multi-nutrient blocks have been organized by various
organizations (FAO, IAEA, Guanare University in Venezuela (Cardozo and Birbe, 1994)). The
meetings have helped to spread the technology and its results among research and extension
workers.
Multi-nutrient blocks have been a tremendous tool for extension of knowledge on feeding
principles and practices for ruminant animals, and particularly regarding supplementation of the
unbalanced diets that are common in developing countries. For this purpose, extension material
documents have been prepared in most countries and in local languages for teaching farmers and
small-scale manufacturers (Garcia and Restrepo, 1995) concerning manufacture and use of the
blocks.

It is difficult to evaluate the global impact of the block technology on livestock production as the
number of manufacturing units and of farmers feeding multi-nutrient blocks to their animals is not
exactly known. However, it is certain that the technology been a great success. Efforts are ongoing
and will continue. This book presents snapshots of aspects of the current state of knowledge, and
should be of great help for both beginners and experienced people working on the subject.

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1. EXPERIMENTAL SITE

The experiment was carried out at the Small Ruminant Unit of institution agriculture research and
Teaching(I.R.A.T) of moor plantation, Ibadan, Ibadan is in the Humid Zone of West Africa (HZWA), with a
tropical climate and bimodal rainfall distribution between April and October with a break in August. Individual
pens were washed and disinfected with izal disinfectant, cleaning of the surroundings, cleaning of feeding troughs
and drinking troughs were carried out before the arrival of the animals.

3.2. Procurement of West African dwarf sheep

Fifteen West African growing rams was gotten from a reputable source, They were acclimatized for 2 week during
which routine treatment developed at NAPRI [20] and modified by Aye (2001) was applied., They were given
prophylactic treatment then they were allotted to 5 treatment.Prior to the commencement of the experiment, the
WAD sheep were dewormed with Levadex injection (Pantex Holland B.V) at a dose of 1cm3 50kg-1 and
coccidiostat treatments were administered for 3 days. They were treated against trypanosomiasis with Dimiazine
aceturate (Nozomil Kepro, Holland B.V) at the dose of 3.5mg kg-1 by intramuscular injection. Oxytetracyclin
200LA was administered at the rate of 1cm3 10kg-1 against bacterial infection. Ivomec was also administered
against mange at1cm3 50kg-1 . The animals were vaccinated against Peste des Petites Ruminants (PPR) using
Tissue Cultures Rinderpest Vaccine.

3.3. Experimental layout and animal management

The sheep were weighed into their experimental unit. Efforts were made to ensure that all the treatments were
balanced in body weight and age. The design of the experiment was a completely randomised design (CRD). The
animals were randomly assigned to five treatments and each treatment had five WAD sheep (replicate) assigned to
it in a separate experimental unit. The sheep in treatment 1 were fed control diet consisting of Panicum maximum
and multi-nutrient block. The sheep on treatments 2, 3, 4 and 5 were fed Panicum maximum + multi-nutrient
blocks (MMB)respectively.

3.4 DURATION OF STUDY

The experiment was carried out for eight weeks.

3.5 Feed Preparation

panicum maximum was Harvested about

10cm from the base of the plant with
knife. The stems and the leaves were then chopped into smaller
pieces with the cutlass so as to prevent wastage by the animals. The
grass was wilted for about 1-2 days to avoid scouring of the
animals.

3.6 Production of multi-nutrient block

The ingredient used for the preparation was sourced from a

reputable source, which are Corn bran, Molasses, Cassava
Peel, GNC, Urea,Corn cob,Cassava
starch,PKC,Salt,Limestone,BoneMeal, Premix. The ingredient was
grind and mixed accordingly by there nutrient source, Energy
source, Protein source , mineral source and was bind by cassava
starch. 5kg of mixed multi-nutrient feed was pour to nylon lined in
plastic(mould) and solidify for 48hrs, then removed from the
bucket and air dry (not exposed to direct sunlight)for 2
weeks. Penetrometer was used to check the
 DATA COLLECTION

Feeding trail

The preliminary feeding period lasted for 7days during which the
animals were allowed to adjust to the experimental diets. The
feeding trial period of 2 weeks, when animals were fed basal diets
wilted (Panicum maximum) supplemented with multinutrient blocks
were tagged treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Clean and fresh
water was provided ad libitum. During the two weeks of feeding trial,
the sheep were fed weighed amount of feed and left over were
collected and weighed to determine amount of feed consumed by
the sheep. After the feeding trial period, WAD sheep were weighed
into the metabolic units randomly. Each sheep was individually
confined in wooden metabolic cage where the animal had free
access to feed, fresh water and multi-nutrient blocks as the case
may be. The first two weeks (14 days) was used as the adjustment
period designed to allow the sheep adjust to the feed and the
environment. Thereafter daily feed intake was measured by offering
about 3kg of feed to each animal and left over was weighed. Each
animal was weighed before the commencement and the end of the
digestibility trial. During the last seven days, after 14 days of
adjustment to the cages, the total feed refused, faeces and urine
were collected and measured. The total feaces voided were
collected and weighed and 10% aliquot samples were taken and
oven-dried for 48 hours. Urine samples were frozen while the faecal
samples were dried at 650C to a constant weight, milled using the
laboratory hammer mill, so as to pass through 2mm sieve prior to
chemical analysis and stored in air tight polythene bag till required
for laboratory analysis.

Weight gain

All the WAD sheep were weighed at the beginning of the trial and
subsequently every week for an assessment of the growth rate using
a mobile metallic weighing scale. A standard 100 kg salter scale was
mounted on the weighing crate. The average daily gains were
calculated from the weekly weight in individual WAD sheep over the
entire period of the trial.

Experimental design

A completely randomized designs was used for the experiment

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The data were analyzed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to
test the effect of the treatments on the WAD sheep performance Treatment
means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test
 CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS

Experimental diets composition

Table 1 Shows the proximate analysis of the multi-nutrient feed blocks

 TABLE 2: ACCEPTABILITY OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF RAMS
FED BASAL DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH MULTI NUTRIENT
BLOCK

Paramet T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 SEM

ers

Feed 121.57 c
200.76 b
305.23 a
167.70 b
190.60 b
0.27

choice

intake

(Hg/day

Coeffici 0.75b
1.02 b
1.55 a
0.85 b
0.97 b
0.143
ent of

preferen

ce

Percenta 12.34 e
20.33 b
30.95 a
17.03 d
19.27 c
1.00

ge

preferen

ce (%)

Ranking 5 th
2nd
1st
4th
3rd

TABLE 3: PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF WEST

AFRICAN DWARF RAMS FED BASAL DIETS SUPPLEMENTED
WITH MULTI-NUTRIENT BLOCK

PARAME T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 SEM+
TER
Initial 13.67 13.67 13.70 13.80 13.80 0.98
Weight
(KG)
Final 16.11 16.61 17.17 16.50 16.65 0.81
Weight
(KG)
Weight gain 2.45c 2.94b 3.47a 2.67bc 2.85bc 0.01
(KG)
Metabolic 1.95c 2.24b 2.54a 2.08bc 2.19bc 0.01
weight
(W 0.75)
Daily 43.45b 52.50ab 59.17a 47.56b 50.80ab 0.09
weight gain
(g/day)
Grass intake 363.06 358.73 336.58 354.98 367.28 0.58
(g/day)
Multi-nutrie 238.87 251.52 261.25 244.78 253.00 .63
nt feed
block intake
(g/day)
Total feed 601.93 610.25 597.83 599.77 620.28 0.95
intake
(g/day)
Feed 14.28 11.58 10.28 12.88 12.23 0.17
conversion
ratio

CHAPTER FIVE

4.2 DISCUSSION

The difference in all the parameters between the chemical

composition of (Panicum maximum ) and concentrate diets revealed

good quality compared to grass (Panicum maximum ) as reflected in

the value of crude protein, either extract and ash content respectively.

This is in line with the report of (Devendra and Saadullah, 1985)

which shows that during dry season, grass decline in quality and

quantity. Also, the fiber fractions of the grass hay and concentrate
shows that the diet has the potential to support proper rumen

functional which is in agreement with ( Van Soekand Roberson, 1985). The PH value of the
experiment tell below the normal range and could negatively affect the microbial counts. The
or pit of the experiment might be as a result of accumulation of the volatile fatty acids
(VFA) in the rumen. According to (Baker and Dreumel, 1995).
If the volatile fatty acids production exceeds the clearance rate, VFAS will accumulate in
the rumen, this may lower rumen pH and cause the metabolic disturbance known as rumen
acidosis.

The lower propionic acids obtained at the start of the experiment might be due to the fact that
animals depended mainly on the grass before the commencement of the experiment. At the
end of the experiment there was increase in the value of the PH which was in agreement with
the findings of (Wells and Rusells, 1923) whose values (5.5 - 7 5) were recommended to be
the standard rumen pH values.
Maintaining a stable rumen environment is critical for diet Utilization and the rumen
environment can say to be improved by the molasses inclusion supplementation in the diets.
The increase in the number of rumen bacteria as a result of molasses may be responsible for high
total volatile Fatty Acids (VFA). (Adeagbo et al., 1991). Ammonia nitrogen NH Nitrogen (N) was
not significantly affected progressively across the treatment. The result of rumen ammonia
concentration of rams agreed with that of (Hidayah, 2004) who reported that levels of ammonia in
the rumen of sheep fed with hay increased to peak levels three hours after feeding.

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 CONCLUSION
At 30% inclusion of molasses T5 has the highest volatile fatty acid, it can be
concluded from
this study that addition of molasses to the multi nutrient blocks increased
production of total
volatile fatty acids used as precursors for energy production. It can also be
concluded from
the study that multi-nutrient containing (20% CB + 10%M) promoted growth
performance
without any adverse effect on the health status of the animals.

5.2. RECOMMENDATION

It can therefore be recommended that multi nutrient blocks can be supplemented

into the diet
of rams for effective rumen fermentation and better nutrient utilization.
Multi-nutrient block
should be supplemented to the basal diet most especially during dry season when
forages are
of poor qualities to promote growth rate and normal health status
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