Effect of replacing concentrate mixture with urea molasses mineral blocks (UMMB) were studied in buffalo heifers fed; wheat straw + concentrate mixture (control; T1), wheat straw + UMMB (T2}, wheat straw + UMMB + 25% less concentrate than T1, (T3) and wheat straw + UMMB+ 50% less concentrate than T1, (T4). Wheat straw mixed with 3kg green fodder, concentrate mixture and UMMB were offered ad lib to the animals. Average DM intake (kg) per 100 kg body weight was the highest (3.11) in control followed by T3 (3.01), T4 (2.91) and T2 (2.01). Average DM digestibility was higher (P<0.05) in the control group as compared to others. The average daily weight gain, however, was not statistically significant among treatments. The values of serum urea-N, NH3–N and protein were the highest in control group (T1) compared to the UMMB supplemented groups. It is concluded that conventional concentrate mixture may be replaced with UMMB licks to a large extent in ruminant rations and thus, the cost of raising growing ruminants may be reduced.
Urea molasses mineral block, buffaloes, Growth, Nutrient utilization, Blood metabolites
