Comparative Assessment of Macro and Micro Mineral Content in Soil, Fodder and Serum of Dairy Cattle in Hills and Plains of Kashmir

A study was undertaken on the mineral status of soil, forage and serum of cattle in hilly and plain areas of Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. The average content of Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphorus (P), Cupper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) in the soil of hilly area was 128.55 ± 1.66, 9.71 ± 0.33, 17.23 ± 1.49, 1.07 ± 0.14, 1.61 ± 0.25, 14.83 ± 2.11 and 3.32 ± 0.54 ppm, respectively, where as in plain area the content of these minerals in the soil was 133.94 ± 0.65, 10.14 ± 0.40, 21.64 ± 3.71, 2.07 ± 0.19, 1.99 ± 0.30, 20.72 ± 2.25 and 5.5 ± 0.58 ppm, respectively. Concentration of Ca, Cu, Mn and P were significantly higher in the soil of plains than hilly areas. Soil Fe in hills as well as plains was found below critical level. The average content of Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn in the forageof hilly area was 0.51 ± 0.04 (%), 0.19 ± 0.01 (%), 0.37 ± 0.04 (%), 5.87 ± 1.11 ppm, 21.58 ± 3.22 ppm, 338.03 ± 36.09 ppm and 74.01 ± 15.10 ppm, respectively. In the plain area the average content of forage Ca (%), Mg (%), P (%), Cu (ppm), Zn (ppm), Fe (ppm) and Mn (ppm) was found to be 0.51 ± 0.02, 0.17 ± 0.01, 0.33 ± 0.04, 28.48 ± 2.09, 37.90 ± 1.91, 514.75 ± 49.21 and 81.87 ± 13.80, respectively. Ca, Cu, Mn, Zn, Mg and Fe were found deficit in the forage of hilly aes as compared to plains. In cattle of hilly area the average Ca (mmol/l), Mg (mmol/l), P (mmol/l), Cu (μmol/l), Zn (μmol/l), Fe (μmol/l) and Mn (μmol/l) in the serum were 2.12 ± 0.90, 1.3 ± 0.01, 1.7 ± 0.13, 8.11 ± 0.88, 18.49 ± 1.58, 44.44 ± 3.18 and 3.45 ± 0.11 respectively, while in the cattle of plains serum values of these minerals were 2.31 ± 0.08, 1.21 ± 0.03, 1.9 ± 0.10, 15.47 ± 2.16, 21.34 ± 2.18, 39.18 ± 2.68, and 3.51 ± 0.10 respectively. Concentration of Mg was higher where as concentration of Cu was found lower in serum of cattle of hills as compared to that of plains. Zn was found deficit in the serum of cattle of both plains as well as hilly areas.