During the late 2008 dry season, LNT commissioned a grazing trial at the Toorak Research Station, Julia Creek. The project investigated supplement intakes, weight gain and economic responses in cattle with access to 30% urea blocks manufactured by three different supplement providers.

The heifers used in the replicated trial grazed separate paddocks consisting of hayed off Mitchell and Flinders grass. Heifers had access to one of three different supplement blocks; LNT Uramol, Rumevite 30% Urea + P or a 30% Urea Salt Pressed Block. All blocks were formulated to contain 30% urea. Dung samples were taken for faecal NIRS analysis to ensure that differences between treatments were not simply due to paddock differences.

The dung samples revealed that there were no paddock differences in diet quality. Cattle were below the threshold of 1.3% faecal nitrogen, the level at which responses to feeding urea typically occur. Block intakes increased as pasture conditions deteriorated and were similar for all products, averaging 190 grams per head per day.

There were however significant differences in heifer weight gain between the products. Heifers eating LNT Uramol and Rumevite 30% Urea + P blocks both gained weight at 380 grams per day. Over the same period, unsupplemented steers were losing weight. Economic assessments based on the trial results suggested that the benefit to cost ratio of using these blocks was approximately 4:1. In contrast, heifers on the 30% Urea Salt Pressed Block gained only 260 grams per day. The report concluded the differences in animal performance appeared to be due to the quality of the blocks.