Physical characteristics of complete feed blocks based on various roughage sources Afzal Yasir1, Mattoo F. A.2, Ganai A.M.1,*, Shad F. I.1 1Division of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama, Alusteng, Srinagar, 190 006, (J & K). 2Directorate of Research, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar, 191 121, (J&K). *E-mail: amganai@ rediffmail.com
Abstract The effect of three locally available roughage sources on densification characteristics of complete feed blocks (CFB) was assessed. The CFB were prepared from paddy straw, maize stover and oats straw each at 30% level with roughage and concentrate in 60: 40 ratio. The loose bulk density of roughages ranged from 28.55 (paddy straw) to 47.65 (maize stover) kg m−3. The bulk density of feed blocks at complete relaxation was significantly (p<0.05) low for oat straw based block (OSB). The increase in density was in the order of 2.97, 3.24 and 2.70 for paddy straw based block (PSB), maize stover based block (MSB) and OSB, respectively. Post compression expansion was higher for OSB and lower for MSB. Durability of OSB was low but high for MSB. No visible mould growth was observed at any stage during storage. The cost of feed blocks was Rs. 6.29, 5.69 and 5.99 per kg for PSB, MSB and OSB, respectively. Top Key words Complete feed blocks, block durability, bulk density, post-compression expansion, roughages. Top |