Physical-mechanical properties of multinutrient blocks with different binders for goats and sheep intake

Abstract

Feed supplementation with multinutrient blocks (MB) for sheep and goats can be a viable alternative in the Brazilian semiarid region, and it is necessary to set an ideal hardness to obtain maximum feed efficiency. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the manufacture of MB using five binders: Portland cement, lime, kaolin, Portland cement + kaolin and lime + bentonite, at two percentages (7.5 and 10%) and two healing times (72 and 96 h). The experimental design was completely randomized in a 5 × 2 × 2 factorial scheme (binders, percentages and healing times, respectively), with five repetitions. Using lime in the MBs led to greater resistance in the specimens (208.53 kPa), as well as the greater percentage of binders (10%), ensuring higher hardness in the blocks. No change was observed in block hardness with the healing time, and a cure of 72 h is recommended. There was greater water absorption with the use of Portland cement and the use of kaolin and of lime + bentonite led to the lowest values of water absorption. The use of lime at 10% as binder and the 72 h healing time were shown to be the best combination in the manufacture of multinutrient blocks.