EFFECT OF DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS ON THE HARDNESS OF UREA-MOLASSES BLOCK LICKS

An experiment was conducted in a 5 x 3 x 3 x 3 factorial design for th e production of urea-molasses-mineral blocks (UMMB) with sufficient ha rdness by using 5 molasses levels of 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60%; 3 CaO lev els of 6, 9 and 12%, 3 urea levels of 10, 12 and 14%, and 3 phosphoric acid levels of I, 2 and 3%. Hardness of blocks significantly decrease d from 13.27 to 0.48 kg/cm(2) with increasing molasses levels. Increas e in CaO levels increased the hardness of blocks as evident from the v alues of 3.50, 4.50 and 6.60 kg/cm(2) at 6, 9 and 12% CaO levels respe ctively. Increase in urea levels decreased the hardness but increase i n phosphoric acid levels increased the hardness of UMMB. Maximum hardn ess of 30.04 kg/cm(2) was achieved with 40% molasses, 12% CaO, 10% ure a and 3% phosphoric acid levels.