Smart farming is the way forward

Tanzeela Tabasum

In J&K as in other parts of India, farmers rely mostly on agro-industrial byproducts, straws and other fibrous feed for livestock feeding during winters. Such feed is deficient in energy, minerals, proteins and vitamins. Therefore, livestock reared on such a feeding system suffer from malnutrition, requiring supplement feeding and fortification of such low quality feeds to harvest true genetic potential of livestock. J&K is fodder deficit state and that fodder is seasonally available with poor nutritive value and digestibility (Ganai et al. 2006).

   

Fodder requirement of J&K is 12563 thousand metric tones (MT), while as its availability is just 7459 thousand MT for livestock population of 10938 thousand. This 40% fodder deficiency on basis of DM is more pronounced in green fodder than concentrates (wani et al. 2014). Fodder availability in J&K is 2.28 kg/animal /day, while in rest of India it is 5.15 kg/animal /day. Therefore livestock reared on such meager fodder which is not even nutritionally adequate suffer from malnutrition and hence poor production. Supplementation and fortification of such low quality forage helps in harvesting the true genetic potential of livestock.

Supplementation with Multinutrient Blocks (MNBs) also called as Urea Molasses Mineral Blocks (UMMBs), considered one of the easiest and effective method of fortification of low quality roughage (Jayawickrama et al,.2013). Multinutrient blocks are lick blocks made of urea, molasses, brans, oil cakes, mineral mixtures compensating the lack of adequate nutrients in poor quality roughages and therefore a cheap and rich source of nutrients required for optimum production, growth reproduction and health. Multinutrient blocks offers condensed source of nutrient supplementation to cater the need of providing protein, energy and minerals to animals feeding on poor fibrous feeds. The ease of transportation, storage and its use coupled with improved performance production in terms of milk, meat, reproduction along with increased rumen microbial growth in rumen and consequent improved digestibility makes the use of Multinutrient blocks as a preferred source of supplementation in livestock feeding particularly during the winter months when pastures and orchards are dried up and are covered with snow and feeding of animals is confined to sheds, using poor quality roughages like paddy straw.

Formulation of Multinutrient Blocks: Traditionally MNBs are produced by hot process and cold process. However any method of ease can be adopted to make the blocks

Hot process: Urea and molasses are heated to 130 degree Celsius. Then ingredients are added and mixed. Blocks are made using hydraulic press.

Cold process: Molasses and urea are mixed and kept overnight. After adding other ingredients, the semisolid mixture is put in iron frame and allowed to harden.

Composition of multi nutrient block: Expert in Animal Nutrition can use different permutation and combinations of urea, molasses, mineral mixture, brans, oil cakes, Portland cement etc to produce suitable MNBs for a particular groups of animal. However under all the circumstances urea and a readily source of energy (molasses) need to be properly balanced for its safe and efficient use.

Steps to produce MNBs: Manufacture of MNBs can take place on farm itself and the manufacturing can be divided into 4 stages:

1. Preparation of components: Different ingredients are weighed depending on the formula to be adopted.

2. Mixing: the ingredients are mixed properly

3. Moulding: Properly mixed ingredients are put in mould of varying shape and size depending on block weight required .Force is applied over the filled mould mechanically or by using a wooden bar.

4. Drying: Blocks are allowed to dry for about 10-20 days depending upon the weather condition. Hot weather is desirable for proper hardening of the blocks before use

Precautions to be followed:

Blocks should be fed only as lick and not in ground form or dissolved form to allow slow release of nutrients and avoid toxicity.

Feed blocks to ruminants only and not to monogastric animals and young ruminants less than 6 months of age.

Blocks should only supplement the basic diet. It should never replace the basic diet.

Cattle may consume 500 -800 g blocks per day (upadhyay et al., 2018).

Water should be freely available during MNB supplementation to ensure safe and proper utilization of urea

Adaptation period of feeding MNBs generally two weeks with large diurnal variation and should be ensured

Advantages of feeding Multinutrient blocks:

Effect on dry matter intake and digestibility: Fibrous feeds have poor digestibility because of their coarse size by which it is unable to pass through reticulo ruminal orifice. Supplementation of MNBs increases nitrogen and energy content which increase utilization of crop residues (Brar et al,. 2003) by increasing their fermentation (Brar et al 2003, Mael et al 2015). With MNB feeding, digestibility of straw increased by 30-50 % (mengistu et al ,. 2017). Digestibility of organic matter increased from 45.22% to 53 % and dry matter digestibility increased from 44 to 50 % (Herrera et al.,2007).

Effect on rumen microorganisms: Total bacteria, viable bacteria and protozoa showed an increase in their concentration, increase in ph and increased concentration of total volatile fatty acids after 3hrs of MNB feeding. However concentration of acetic acid and butyric acid significantly got decreased. (Singh et. al, 2013). Feeding of MNB is reported to increase microbial protein by 37.99% in cattle (Shuharyano et .al.)

Effect on milk production: In cattle. Bheekhee et. al. reported that the total milk production was 2892 and 2737 litres per lactation for Block fed cattle and control group respectively. Milk yield per day was estimated to be 4.70 L and 6.00 L per day in control group and block supplemented group respectively (Lawania et al. 2017).

Effect on reproduction: Birth weight of calves born from cows fed with MNBs was significantly higher than control group ( Aye at al. 2010). Mahi et. al. reported that weight gain of such calves was higher with no mortality.

Effect on biochemical parameters: Blood serum showed a significant increase in enzymes like CP, GSHPX, SOD, AKP, LDH (Hailili et al. 2014). Blood minerals concentration was also significantly higher after block feeding (Hailili et .al. 2014).

Benefit cost analysis: Total revenue of MNB treated household was 24.5% more as compared to control group by different research reports.

Conclusion: Feeding of MNBs to cattle is an effective tool for making economically viable dairy sector. The benefit cost ratio is high due to locally available ingredients at reasonable price. MNB feeding creates favourable environment in the gut, which increases digestibility of low quality fibrous feed. Milk yield is increased, dry matter intake, fertility, body condition of newborn calf stand improved. With all these benefits, the urgent hour is to diffuse such technology to farmers which can bring socio economic transformation in rural economy. Moreover farmers should be trained to properly produce MNBs and correct way of feeding that to animals so that positive results will encourage other fellow farmers to adopt the technology. However it must be ensured that the blocks are prepared under the technical supervision of a competent Animal Nutritionist to avoid urea toxicity in animals that if happens may prove counterproductive.

Tanzeela Tabasum and Parvaiz Ahmed Reshi, Division of Animal Nutrition, F.V.Sc & AH, SKUAST-K

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