Techniques of producing poured animal feed blocks using molasses, distillery by-products and cottonsee

Techniques were developed in this study for producing poured feed blocks using molasses, distillery by-products and cottonseed.;At the first stage, blocks were made using liquid condensed soluble (LCS), dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and molex (beet molasses extract) as base materials and MgO as a major blocking agent. LCS and DDGS showed a positive relationship with block hardness while molex associated negatively with block solidification. Hard blocks could not be formed within one week of storage.;Hard blocks were formed within 48 hours when samples were stored at 50$spcirc$C and 60$spcirc$C. Actions were taken in the attempts to produce and utilize internal heat to harden the blocks. Five exothermic chemicals, including CaO, MgSO$sb4$, CaCl$sb2$, MgCl$sb2$ and FeCl$sb3$ were selected and tested along with the presence of MgO. The hardening process was significantly improved by using either these compounds or combinations thereof. With the combination of 3% MgSO$sb4$, 2% CaO, 1% MgCl$sb2$ and 1% FeCl$sb3$, together with 5% MgO, a hard block was produced within 8 hours. It was found that the internal heat generated by the exothermic chemicals in a block composition is not a key factor for the quick formation of a hard block. Of the highest significance, MgO showed critical effect on block hardness. The exothermic chemicals worked in a synergistic manner with MgO to produce a hard block. It is proposed that the hardness can be developed in two ways: (1) Hydration of MgO. The reaction of MgO with water is time and temperature dependent. The internal heat can somewhat speed up the reaction making the hardening process faster; (2) Adsorption on MgO. The exothermic chemicals trap (or react) with water. MgO adsorbed the hydrated compounds to form an insoluble complex in a short period of time causing the quick formation of a hard block.;It was possible to use high levels of molex to make molex-based blocks by using MgO and an exothermic chemical combination in the formulation. Block hardness can be controlled by varying the amount of MgO in cooperation with the length of storage time.;It was feasible to formulate a poured block with up to 30% whole cottonseed. However, when the cottonseed is contained more than 20% in the formulation, the block mixture needed to be pressed inside the container to compact it to assure complete contact of the block components and to eliminate air space.