A Study on Availability of Various Mineral Elements in Milch Buffaloes
2011
Garg, M.R. | Bhanderi, B.M. | Gupta, S.K.
A study was carried out to assess dietary macro and micro-minerals status of milch buffaloes in Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala districts, under Central Plain Zone of Punjab. Feeds and fodder samples were collected at random from various locations. The average calcium (Ca) content in straws was low (0.28%). Green fodders such as berseem (1.82%), chikori (1.30%), mustard (1.59%) and rye grass (0.46%) were found to be rich source of Ca. Concentrate feed ingredients were particularly low (0.13%) in Ca, except for mustard cake (0.64%) in Ca. The phosphorus (P) content in crop residues and green fodders was 0.10 and 0.43 per cent, respectively. Concentrate feed ingredients were high (0.77%) in P. The sulphur (S) content was adequate in green fodder (0.31%), whereas, crop residues (0.18%) and concentrate ingredients (0.17%) were deficient. The average copper (Cu) content was low in straws (4.46 ppm) and moderate in green fodders (13.38 ppm) and concentrate feed ingredients (10 ppm). The cobalt (Co) was deficient in the diet of animals to the extent of 26 per cent; however, iron (average level >597 ppm) and manganese (average level > 63 ppm) in most of the feed ingredients were adequate, with the prevailing feeding practices. Zinc (Zn) was deficient in most of the feedstuffs (average level<44 ppm). From the present study, it was apparent that the levels of certain minerals such as Ca, P, S, Zn, Cu and Co were inadequate, as per the prevailing feeding practices and requirement of buffalo yielding daily 10 kg milk (6% fat) in the Central Plain Zone of Punjab.
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