Effect of Urea-Molasses Block Enriched with Monensin on Performance and Some Blood and Rumen Parameters of Mehraban Male Lambs

Document Type : Ruminant Nutrition

Authors

• Hassan Aliarabi ¹
• Mohammad Mahdi Tabatabai ²
• Puya Zamani ³
• Sepideh Afrouzi ¹
• Khalil Zaboli ¹

¹ Bu-Ali Sina University

² Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran.

³ Bu-ali Sina University

10.22067/ijasr.v9i3.58194

Abstract

Introduction Feed supplements can improve nutritional value of ruminant’s diet. According to many studies, urea molasses-mineral block (UMMB) is a good source of easily available nitrogen and fermentable energy and its usage causes nitrogen and energy available for rumen microorganisms simultaneously and improves feed efficiency especially in low quality feeds. Increased dry matter intake is reported when UMMB was included in the diet of buffalo. It was observed that increasing digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, NDF and ADF in cows by using UMMB. Also better availability of fermentable energy for rumen microorganisms was seen. Monensin, as a feed additive through the manipulation of rumen fermentation, increases feed efficiency in ruminants. This substance selectively inhibits gram-positive bacteria, thereby impacting ruminant metabolism by increasing efficiency of energy metabolism, improving nitrogen metabolism, and reducing bloat and lactic acidosis risk. Monensin may provide an additional energetic benefit from enhanced forage digestibility. In order to evaluate the effect of UMMB enriched with monensin on performance, digestibility, and some blood and rumen parameters in male lambs, two experiments were conducted in a factorial arrangement as a completely randomized design.
Materials and Methods Ingredients used to manufacture UMMB were cotton seed meal (21%), wheat bran (19.7%), urea (2.5%), molasses (43.3%), calcite (3.4%), mineral supplement (4.2%) and common salt (5.9%). In the first experiment, 24 male lambs with 7-8 month age were randomly divided into 4 groups including 1) concentrate mixture and forage, 2) concentrate mixture and forage + 30 ppm monensin, 3) concentrate mixture and forage (85%) and UMMB without monensin (15%), and 4) concentrate mixture and forage (85%) and UMMB enriched with monensin (15%). During the experimental period (70 days), dry matter intake and body weight gain were measured daily and fourth nightly, respectively. Blood and rumen fluid samples were taken on days 68 and 69, respectively, 3 hours after the morning feeding. For the second experiment, 4 lambs from each treatment were randomly selected and transferred to metabolic cages to determine the effects of UMMB and monensin on nutrients digestibility and nitrogen retention. Data were analyzed as a 2×2 factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design using the GLM procedure of SAS (1999).
Results and Discussion The results showed that UMMB increased dry matter intake, daily weight gain and decreased feed conversion ratio (P

Keywords

• digestibility
• Mehraban lamb
• Monensin
• Nitrogen retention
• Urea molasses block

20.1001.1.20083106.1396.9.3.7.7

---

References

1- AOAC. Intenational. 2012. Official Method of Analysis. 19th ed. AOAC International, Gaithersburg, MD.

2- Badawy, S. A., M. Younis., M. R. Shalash., M. F. Nawito., A. S. Mansour, and M. A. Wasfey. 1996. Effect of monensin on metabolic profile testing in buffalo heifer. Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Science, 30: 27-41.

3- Barnett, A. G, and R. L. Reid. 1957. Studies on the production of volatile fatty acid production from fresh grass. Journal of Agriculture Science, 48: 315-321.

4- Beever, D. E., H. R. Losada., D. L. Gala., M. C. Spooner, and M. S. Dhanoa. 1987. The use of monensin or formaldehyde to control the digestion of the nitrogenous constituents of perennial rye grass and white colour in the rumen of cattle. British Journal of Nutrition, 57: 57-67.

5- Bheekhee, H., B. Holman., A. A. Boodoo., R. K. Ramnauth., R. L. H. Yuen., R. Fakim, and B. Dobee. 2002. Development and field evaluation of animals feed supplementation packages for improving meat and milk production in ruminant livestock using locally available feed resources. Page 111 in Proc. final review meeting of an IAEA technical cooperation regional AFRA project IAEA-Te CDOC-1294, Egypt.

6- Chow, J. M., J. S. Van Kessel, and J. B. Russell. 1994. Binding of radiolabeled monensin and lasolacid to ruminal microorganisms and feed. Journal of Animal Science, 72: 1630-1635.

7- Cronje, P. B., J. V. Nolan, and R. A. Leng. 1991. Acetate clearance rate as a potential index of the availability of glycogenic precursor in ruminants fed on roughage based diet. British Journal of Nutrition, 66(2): 301-312.

8- Dinius, D. A., H. K. Goering., R. R. Oltjen, and H. R. Cross. 1978. Finishing beef steers on forage diets with additive and supplemental lipids. Journal of Animal Science, 46: 761-768.

9- Dona, R. J., B. W. Piyatilak., D. J. Dinesh, and C. M. Deshani. 2013. Effects of supplementation of urea-molasses multi nutrient block (UMMB) on the performance of dairy cows fed good quality forage based diets with rice straw as a night feeding. Korean Journal of Agricultural Science, 40(2): 123-129.

10- Duffield, T. F., J. K. Merrill, and R. N. Bagg. 2012. Meta-analysis of the effects of monensin in beef cattle on feed efficiency, body weight gain, and dry matter intake. Journal of Animal Science, 90: 4583–4592.

11- Garg, M. N. and B. N. Gupta. 1992. Effect of supplementing urea molasses mineral block lick to straw based diet on DM intake and nutrient utilization. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 5(1): 39-44.

12- Hadjipanayiotou, M., L. Verhaeghe., M. Aleen., A. R. Kroufoleh., L. M. labban., A. Shurbaji., M. Al-Wadi., M. Dassonki., B. Shenkar, and M. Amin. 1993. Urea block 1. Methodology of block making of different formulae tested in Syria. Livestock Resources for Rural Development, 5(3): 6-15.

13- Haimoud, D. A., C. Bayourth., R. Moncoulen, and M. Vernay. 1996. Avoparcin and monensin effects on digestive function in cows fed on high forage diet. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 70(2):181-189.

14- Kamra, D. N., N. Agarwal., L. C. Chaudhary., A. Sahoo, and N. N. Pathak. 1997. Effect of feeding probiotic (Lactic acid producing bacteria) on the growth of coliform bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of crossbred calves. Page 130 in Proc. VIII Animal Nutrition Research Worker's Conference, Chennai, India.

15- Mohini, M. 1991. Effect of urea molasses mineral block supplementation to straw based diet on fiber digestibility, rumen fermentation pattern and nutrient utilization and growth in buffalo calves. PhD Thesis, NDRI. Karnal.

16- Michael, G. W., C. A. Don., D. W. Joe., M. L. Galyean, and D. V. Jerry. 1990. Supplementation and monensin effects on digesta kinetics II. Cattle grazing winter range. Journal of Range Management, 43(5): 378-382.

17- Mubi, A. A., I. D. Mohammed, and A. Kibon. 2013. Effects of multi nutrient blocks supplementation on the performance of Yankasa sheep fed with basal diet of rice straw in the dry season of Guinea Savanna region of Nigeria. Archives of Applied Science Research, 5(4): 172-178.

18- NRC, 1985. Nutrient Requirements of Sheep. 6th revised ed. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, USA.

19- Ramanzin, M., L. Bailoni., S. Sachiavon, and G. Bittante. 1997. Effect of monensin on milk production and efficiency of dairy cows fed two diets differing in forage to concentrate ration. Journal of Dairy Science, 80(6): 1136-1142.

20- Reynolds, C. K., H. F. Tyrrell, and P. J. Reynolds. 1991. Effects of dietary forages in growing beef heifers: net nutrient metabolism by visceral tissues. Journal of Nutrition, 121: 994.

21- Sansoucy, R. 1995. New developments in the manufacture and utilization of multi nutrient blocks. FAO Animal Production and Health paper, 82: 78-83.

22- SAS. 1999. The SAS System for Windows. Release 8.0.1. SAS Institute Inc, Cary, USA.

23- Singh, P. R, and M. Singh. 2003. Effect of UMMB supplementation on milk production in buffaloes and cows: an on farm trial. Indian journal of Animal Nutrition, 20(10): 1-5.

24- Starness, S. R., J. W. Spears., M. A. Froetschel, and W. J. J. Croom. 1984. Influence of monensin and lasalocid on mineral metabolism and ruminal urease activity in steers. Journal of Nutrition, 114(3): 518-525.

25- Toppo, S., A. K. Verma., R. S. Dass, and U. R. Mehra. 1997. Nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation pattern in crossbred cattle fed different planes of nutrition supplemented with urea molasses mineral block. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 64: 101-l 12.

26- Unal, Y., I. Kaya, and A. Oncuer. 2005. Use of urea-molasses mineral blocks in lambs fed with straw. Review of Veterinary Medicine, 156(4): 217-220.

27- Vagnoni, D. B., W. M. Crag., R. N. Gates., W. E. Wyatt, and L. L. Southern. 1995. Monensin and ammoniation or urea supplementation of Bermuda grass hay diets for steers. Journal of Animal Science, 73(6): 1793-1802.

28- Van Soest, P. J., J. B. Robertson, and B. A. Lewis. 1991. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science, 74: 3583-3597.

29- Walker, P. M., B. A. Weichental, and G. F. Cinarik. 1980. Efficiency of monensin for beef cows. Journal of Animal Science, 51: 533-538.

30- Weerasinghe, W. M. P. B., S. S. P. Silva., N. Priyankarage., U. L. P. Mangalika, and R. A. T. Chandima. 2010. Effects of supplementation of nitrogen through UMMB (urea-molasses multinutrient block) on the performance of dairy cows fed with good quality forage based diets. Page 419 in Proc. The 5th Nitrogen Conference, New Delhi, India.

31- Yang, C. M., and J. B. Russell. 1993. The effect of monensin supplementation on ruminal ammonia accumulation in vivo and the numbers of amino acid-fermenting bacteria. Journal of Animal Science, 71: 3470-3476.