Development of a Urea Molasses Multi–Nutrient Block Machine for Sustainable Livestock Production.
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Date
2021
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Published by Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Abstract
Locally produced urea molasses multi-nutrient block (UMMB) are prone to contamination, inadequate mixing, inefficient compaction during moulding due to the manual method of production. A machine for the production of UMMB was designed, constructed and evaluated. It comprised of a mixing and a moulding unit. The performance evaluation of the machine was carried out. The parameters investigated were density, compressive strength, bioyield force, moulding efficiency and drying time. The results were subjected to analysis of variance and Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results revealed that moisture content was significant for all the parameters investigated. Hence, further investigation was conducted to ascertain how these parameters vary at moisture content levels of 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60% (db). It was observed that Density decreased with increase in moisture content. On the average, the machine had highest moulding efficiency of 89.89%, compressive strength of 4.38N/mm2, bioyield force of 47340N, density of 1058.2 kg/m3 and shortest drying time of 6 hours. Full exploitation of the nutritional, industrial and commercial prospects of UMMB as feed supplements in ruminant nutrition is appropriate.
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Ishola, T.A., Busari, R.A., Aiyewumi, O. T and Alhassan, E. A. (2021): Development of a Urea Molasses Multi–Nutrient Block Machine for Sustainable Livestock Production; Journal of Research Information in Civil Engineering; 18 (2):4135 – 4148