Abstract: An improved feed block is produced by a novel process in which a fluid mixture comprising molasses, additives and other nutrients is produced into a dehydration vessel operating under a partial vacuum. The fluid mixture is heated to a temperature less than about 130° F. and agitated within the dehydration vessel to drive water from the fluid mixture. The water vapor is cooled, condensed and removed from the dehydration vessel to a condensate collector where the amount of water removed can be measured to determine the degree of dehydration. Once an appropriate amount of water has been removed, the dehydrated fluid mixture is produced from the dehydration vessel, formed into block shapes and cooled to form feed blocks. The resulting feed blocks are high in nutritional value because the low temperature dehydration process prevents the nutrients from being thermally destroyed.

Abstract: An improved feed block provides discrete portions of mineral supplement and feed supplement in the same feed block. The mineral supplement is provided as an inner package that is surrounded by a shell of feed supplement such as a dehydrated molasses feed supplement. By so providing the two different supplements, the amount of consumption of each can be accurately controlled. Moreover, different feed blocks can be tailored depending on the desired ratio between the two different supplements.