Dietary mineral status of lactating buffaloes in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra State in India

Abstract

Kolhapur district is located in the Western part of India and is well known for buffalo rearing. Buffaloes are mainly fed on crop residues and local grasses and need to be supplemented with deficient minerals for proper production and reproduction functions. In view of this, area specific mineral mixture was developed for the district by testing feeds and fodders for macro and micro minerals. The average calcium (Ca) content in straws of groundnut, ragi and soybean was high (0.97%), whereas, straws of sorghum and paddy had low (0.23%) level. Ca content in green fodder was 0.38 percent. Concentrate ingredients were particularly low (0.22%) in Ca. The phosphorus (P) content in crop residues and green fodders was 0.14 and 0.19 per cent, respectively, which was low, but higher (0.67%) in concentrate ingredients. The magnesium (Mg) content in roughages and concentrate ingredients was 0.38 and 0.32 percent, respectively. The sulphur (S) content was deficient in concentrate ingredients (0.13%) and crop residues (0.12%). Cobalt (Co) was deficient in the diet of animals; however, iron and manganese levels in most of the feed ingredients were adequate. The average copper (Cu) content was low in dry and green fodders (7.34 ppm), whereas, concentrate ingredients were better source of Cu (15.19 ppm). Molybdenum (Mo) content in feeds was within the safe limit (average level<0.31 ppm. Selenium (Se) content in most of the feed and fodders was adequate (0.40 ppm). Zinc (Zn) was deficient in most of the feedstuffs (average level<35.0 ppm). From the present study, it was apparent that certain minerals such as Ca, P, S, Zn, Cu and Co were deficient in the diet and needed to be supplemented.