Poured feed blocks using distillery by-products as supplements for ruminants

A technique was developed in this study for preparing solid poured feed blocks as supplements for ruminants. Blocks containing liquid condensed solubles and dried distillers grain with solubles as the base material and protein source were prepared with different cementing agents. A method for testing the hardness of blocks, an index of the physical durability, was also developed. The hardness of blocks was positively related to the concentration of magnesium oxide and to the length of storage time. Ferrous sulphate, on the other hand, had a synergistic effect with magnesium oxide which accelerated the setting of blocks after 24 h. A feeding trial revealed a negative relationship between daily intake by cattle and hardness of blocks. Blocks prepared with about 4% magnesium oxide and 3% ferrous sulphate provide a dry, weather‐resistant supplement with a degree of hardness that allows an optimum rate of intake.