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.degree. 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.