2. CONTENTS
Composition
Making
Characteristics Of Good UMB
Precautions While Feeding UMB

3. GENERAL
Blocks are a convenient way to Make &
Store Molasses & Urea & also feed to
animals
They can easily be made & used in villages
A person may make & sell blocks to
farmers as a Source Of Income

4. BASIC COMPONENTS

5. INGREDIENTS
Molasses
Used to give a sweet taste to block
Provides energy & other minerals i.e. sulphur
Don’t exceed 40-50% otherwise block will
break too easily & take too long to dry
Urea
Limited to 10% to avoid poisoning
Improves digestibility & provides protein

6. Cont…..
Cereal Bran
Provides protein
Holds the block together
Salt
Supply minerals i.e Na,Cl
Control the rate of consumption
Accelerates hardening of block

7. Cont…..
Cement
Makes the block hard
5-7% is sufficient
Higher levels make the block too hard
Provides Ca
Clay can be mixed with it to improve
hardness & reduce drying time
If lime is used it should be finely ground

8. IMPORTANCE
Brings +ive changes in Rumen Fermentation
Increases Feed Intake
Increases DM Digestibilty
Appropriate Supplement with poor quality
roughages
Increases Milk Yield
Improves Reproductive Efficiency

9. Cont…..
Stimulates Growth Rates
Prevents from various Diseases e.g.
Pica,Heamoglobinurea etc

10. MAKING OF UMB
The manufacturing can be divided into 5 stages
1) Preparation Of Feed Ingredients
2) Mixing
3) Molding
4) Cutting
5) Drying

11. Cont…..
Preparation Of Feed Ingredients
The amount of the different ingredients
depends on the Size of the block to be
manufactured & the Formula to be
used

12. Cont…..
Mixing
1) Weigh the amount of ingredients based on the formula of the
block
2) Add urea (pressed) to the molasses while continuously mixing
 Urea & molasses are stirred for about 20 minutes
 Never add water to molasses
1) Mix the salt with cement
2) Make the cement into a paste with water prior to adding to the
rest of the ingredients
3) Add bran & mix thoroughly

13. Cont…..

14. Cont…..
Molding
After mixing,place the mixture into molds
Any local container,such as Tin Cans or
Small Buckets can be used as a mold
Using a plastic sheet to line the molds will
make block removal from the mold
easier

15. Cont…..

16. Cont…..

17. Cont…..

18. Cont…..
Step 1

19. Cont…..
Step 2

20. Cont…..
Step 3

21. Cont…..
Step 4

22. Cont…..
Step 5

23. Cont…..
Cutting
Cutting is necessary when using large molds
Cutting is done with a flat spade
Spade should be wetted in a bucket between
each cut to avoid mixture from sticking to it

24. Cont…..
Drying & Storage
Remove the blocks from the molds after 24 hours
and place on racks to dry
Leave the blocks to dry for at least 2-3 days
depending upon the weather condition
After 24-72 hours,the blocks are dry enough to be
transported for storage
Blocks must not be exposed to direct sunlight in
case of UMMB

25. Cont…..

26. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD UMB
Ingredients are Well Distributed throughout the
block
It does not have Lumps Of Urea & Lime
It is Hard Enough not to be squashed between our
fingers
It should be Resistant Enough not to break when a
person steps on it
Our hands should feel the Sticky molasses when we
hold the block

27. PRECAUTIONS WHILE FEEDING UMB
Never form the Main Diet
Fed only as a Supplement
Feed to Ruminants Only
 Don’t feed to monogastrics i.e. horses,donkeys,pigs
 Don’t feed to young ruminants less than 6 months of age
Never give to an animal with Empty Stomach
Supply block to an animal After Feeding
Gradually offers to the animal
Never supply in Ground Form or Dissolved in water
Supply sufficient Amount Of Water

28. UMB CONSUMPTION
Large Ruminants = 700g/day
Small Ruminants = 100g/day
Licking 65%
Biting 35%
Fed In Pieces 17%
Started Licking On Day 1 60%
Started Licking On Day 7 30%
Never Licked 10%
Self Licking 58%
Induced Licking 25%