Better Farming Series 45 - Multinutrient Block Handbook (FAO, 1995, 28 p.) Feeding multinutrient blocks to animals (introduction...) Building multinutrient block feeders How to calculate the number of multinutrient blocks to make

Better Farming Series 45 - Multinutrient Block Handbook (FAO, 1995, 28 p.)

Feeding multinutrient blocks to animals

73. Multinutrient blocks are needed especially during the dry season or when animals are grazing on low- quality pastures.

74. Animals can also eat multinutrient blocks during any season of the year.

75. Multinutrient blocks can be fed to cattle in:

- salting places;
- feeding troughs;
- multinutrient block feeders.

76. A multinutrient block feeder is specially designed to be handy and easy to make. It can be moved around the farm to follow the cattle grazing rotation.

Multinutrient block feeder

Building multinutrient block feeders

77. We can build a multinutrient block feeder ourselves using the following design and measurements.

Multinutrient block

78. The block feeder is covered in a plastic or rubber fabric. It also has a curtain made of the same material, to prevent the blocks from getting wet when it rains.

79. We can also build a multinutrient block feeder using materials available on the farm, such as bamboo, palm leaves and straws.

Multinutrient block feeder

80. If there are salting places on the farm, we can place multinutrient blocks beside mineral salt.

Multinutrient block feeder

81. If we keep cattle in stables or barns, we can place multinutrient blocks beside the animals' feed.

Multinutrient block feeder

82. Horses do not need multinutrient blocks, but if they eat them it does not matter.

Multinutrient block feeder

83. Horses and cattle can graze together when multinutrient blocks are fed to them.

84. Goats and sheep that graze together on range pastures can be fed multinutrient blocks at their pen.

Multinutrient block feeder

85. Goats and sheep that are corralled in the afternoons can have multinutrient blocks at night.

86. Goats do not like dirty feed. They will not eat the multinutrient blocks if they are left on dirt.

Multinutrient block feeder

87. Goats need a goat feeder.

Goat feeder

88. This feeder designed for goats is very practical. Goats can reach the feed and the multinutrient block without defecating in it.

89. We can build a goat feeder by using the following design and measurements.

For young animals
For adult animals

Goat feeder

90. Sheep feeders must be built half the height of goat feeders.

How to calculate the number of multinutrient blocks to make

91. Animals know how much mulitnutrient block they need and they will eat this amount.

Animals

92. To calculate how many kilograms of multinutrient block we need to make we count:

- the number of days that the multinutrient blocks last;
- the number of animals there are on the farm.

Then we calculate:

- the daily consumption of blocks on the farm;
- the daily consumption of blocks per animal.

93. To calculate the daily consumption of blocks on the farm, divide the weight of the blocks by the number of days they last.

94. To calculate the daily consumption of blocks per animal, divide the daily consumption of blocks on the farm by the number of animals.

95. For example: A 20- kg multinutrient block lasts ten days on a farm with four cows.

20 kg/10 = 2 kg (daily consumption of blocks on the farm)
2 kg/4 = 0.5 kg (daily consumption of block per animal).

96. The following is the average consumption of multinutrient blocks of different animals.

Big ruminants	buffaloes	350 to 500 g daily
	cows
	bulls
	heifers
	steers
Calves	(from the time they start eating grass)	150 to 250 g daily
Small ruminants	goats	70 to 150 g daily
	sheep

97. Warning! Animals can become intoxicated if they eat too much multinutrient block.

98. This happens when:

- The multinutrient block is too soft.

- The multinutrient block has lumps of urea in it.

- Animals are kept in stables or corrals with multinutrient blocks, but without other feed, and eat more blocks than they need.

- There is no transition period to let the animals get used to the multinutrient blocks.

99. Animals that have been intoxicated present these signs:

- They foam around the mouth.

Mouth

- The rumen appears swollen on the left side.

Rumen

- They seem to be drunk.

Animal

100. When the animals are intoxicated, we have to act as soon as possible to:

- Identify the sick animals.

- Remove the multinutrient block from the feeder

- Give vinegar and water to the animals. Calves, goats and sheep need half a litre of vinegar. Cattle and buffaloes need 2 litres of vinegar.

Vinegar

- Make the animals drink as much water as possible.