Development of moringa multi-nutrient block as a dry season feed supplement for ruminants

摘要

Thestudywascarriedouttoestablishoptimumprotocolsandconditionsformakingmoringamulti-nutrientblocks(MMNB)consideredsuitableforon-farmadoptionbyruminantfarmersintermsofhardness,compactnessandcost,whileaimingatnutritionalcomplementarityamongthedifferentingredients.8formulaewereassessedalongsideaformula(control)developedattheInternationalTrypanotoleranceCentre(ITC),Banjul,TheGambia,fromwheatoffals,moringaleafpowder,ureaandsalt,withcementasthebinder.Woodenmoulds,measuring13×13×10cmeach,wereusedtocasttheMMNBs.Theblockswereassessedforhardnessandcompactnessover7,14and21days.MMNBsfromthecontrolgroup,andthetwoselectedpromisingformulaeonthebasisofphysicalcharacteristics,wereseparatelysampled,pulverizedandanalyzedforproximateandmineralcontents.Metabolizableenergy(ME)contentsofthecontrolandselectedstructurally-stableMMNBswerepredicted.Thecostimplicationsofblockformulationforthedifferentformulaeweredoneusingtheprevailingmarketingredients#8217;pricesintheNigerianNaira(N).10MMNBs(meanweight;1.00±0.05kg),whendry,wereproducedfromeach10.0kgmixture,and6.50litresofwaterwerefoundoptimumformixing.ThemostdesirableMMNBswereproducedfromaformulacontaining37.0%wheatoffalsand35.0%moringaleafpowder,withcementinclusionat15.0%asthebinder.Limepowder,ureaandsaltinclusionswere5.00%each.MMNBdrymatterlevelswerehigh(86.0#8211;88.2%).TheCPvariedbetween18.4and22.0%,whilethepredictedMEvalueswerebetween14.3and14.4MJ/kgDM.Ca,Mg,ZnandCulevelswerehigherthanthecriticallevelsforgoats.Theunitpriceofthemoststructurally-stablemultinutrientblockswasN29.4,abouthalfthepriceofaconventionalconcentratemixture(w/w).Thepotentialsandprospectsoftheformulatedmoringamultinutrientblocksasdryseasonfeedsupplementsinruminantnutritionappearquitepromising,withpossibilitiesofon-farmadoptionduetothesimplicityinitsproductiontechnology.nbsp;