New development of feed blocks technology in the Sultanate of Oman

摘要

This study was conducted to develop new methodology in feed blocks making from locally raw materials in Oman. Feed Blocks manufacturing equipment were manufactured locally at local artisan. This included pan mixer with capacity of 100 kg per batch and heavy duty Hydraulic press with four moulds. Different formulae of feed blocks were produced. These formulae were depending mainly on local dates palm trees byproducts (Inferior quality dates fruit, sun dried sardines fish, Dibis (Date syrup), ground date frond leaves and local wheat bran. Urea was used as source of nitrogen. The main binders used were bentonite clay, quick lime and Calcium sulfate (CaSO4). Whole barley grain was included (5 %) in these formulae to improve the palatability of feed blocks. The produced feed blocks were characterized with excellent compactness and medium to soft hardness. The excellent compactness of feed blocks was result of high pressure applied through heavy duty hydraulic press, whereas the soft hardness is result of low level inclusion of binders (gelling agents). This type of feed blocks can be considered as major breakthrough in feed blocks making in the region. The results of performance trial showed that the palatability of feed blocks by Omani goat is very high. The average daily intake was about 293g/d/ animal. Goats were easily turned on feed blocks due to the presence of whole barley grains and also due to sweet nice aroma of dibis and the whole dates fruit in the formula. Using feed blocks as supplementary feed resulted a highly significant (P0.01) improvement in goat weight gain (73%) as compared with un-supplemented group (NFB). The present results also showed that the goats reproductive performance improved considerably due feed blocks supplementation. The Jabbali goats fed feed blocks as supplementary feed during mating season had higher conception rate (23%) and kidding rate (24%) than non-supplemented group (NFB). This new development in feed blocks technology can be promoted as small agribusiness and medium scale enterprise (SME) for producing feed blocks as alternative feed supplement for small ruminants in Oman.