This intake and digestion study evaluated
source of nonprotein nitrogen in cooked molasses
blocks supplemented to 18 steers (590 lb)
with ad libitum access to prairie hay,
Treatments were 1) control (no block), 2) a
block containing 60% crude protein with 83%
from urea (UREA block), and 3) a block containing
60% crude protein with 42% from urea
and 42% from biuret (UREA/BIURET block).
Blocks were broken into small pieces to facilitate
rapid consumption and fed once daily at
.125% of body weight. Forage intake increased
by 22%, total intakes (forage plus
block) increased by 28%, and digestible organic
matter intakes increased by 52% when either
UREA or UREA/BIURET blocks were fed.
Total diet digestibilities also increased with
block supplementation. Intakes and digestibilities
were similar for the UREA and
UREA/BIURET blocks. Supplementing prairie
hay with cooked molasses blocks containing
high levels of nonprotein nitrogen increased
intake and digestion, but replacing half of the
urea with biuret had little effect.
