M. R. Garg*, B.M. Bhanderi and A. Kannan

 A survey was conducted in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, to assess the status of certain macro and micro-minerals in dairy animals. Feeds, fodder and blood serum samples were collected randomly from the area under survey. Calcium content in paddy straw (0.18%), maize green (0.20%) and sugarcane tops (0.28%) was found to be below the critical level (0.30%). The phosphorus content in concentrate ingredients was high (0.45%) but low in roughages (0.20%). Feeds and fodder were found to be adequate in magnesium (0.27%) and potassium (1.20%) but low in sulphur (0.13%). Groundnut cake, coconut cake, rice bran and wheat bran were good sources of copper (19.53 ppm). Wheat bran was also found to be good source of zinc (83.93 ppm), manganese (99.60 ppm), iron (425 ppm) and cobalt (0.42 ppm). Straws of paddy (122.47 ppm) and ragi (434.4 ppm) were rich sources of manganese. Iron (>300 ppm) and selenium (0.23 ppm) were present in appreciable quantities in most of the feedstuffs. The average blood serum levels of Ca (8.65 mg%), phosphorus (4.17 mg%), magnesium (2.41 mg%) and iron (2.17 ppm) were found to be higher than critical limits. Copper (0.61 ppm) and zinc (0.71 ppm) were found to be lower than the normal values.  Supplementing the deficient minerals through area specific mineral mixture could alleviate the deficiency in the district.

  Keywords: Calcium, Copper, Zinc, Selenium, Blood serum, Cattle

*Senior Scientist, Productivity Enhancement Group, Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology Laboratory, National Dairy Development Board, Anand 388 001 (Gujarat), India, E-mail: mrgarg@nddb.coop

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The importance of minerals in regulating biological systems, growth, production and reproduction is well documented (Underwood and Suttle, 1999), however, livestock in India do not receive mineral/vitamin supplements except for common salt and calcite/dolomite powder (Garg et al. 2008a). Hence, dairy animals depend on forages for their mineral requirements (McDowell, 1992). A number of researchers in the world have reported high incidences of forage and blood serum samples below the critical levels for different mineral elements, especially copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), sodium (Na) and phosphorus (Miles and McDowell, 1983; Garg et al. 2002). Soils from all over country are getting depleted for one or more mineral elements as a result of intensive farming practices which create imbalances of mineral elements in soil, plants and animals (Garg et al. 2003). The quantity of minerals, thus, present in forages may not be sufficient for optimum growth, milk yield and reproduction of animals (McDowell, 1992). In order to avoid micro and macro-minerals imbalances in the ration, the study on assessment of mineral status of dairy cattle was undertaken in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 

Sampling Procedure

Chittoor district comprises 66 mandals covering 1540 villages. Out of 66 mandals, 30 mandals were selected for the present survey. One village from each mandal was selected at random for taking representative samples of feeds and fodder. Blood samples (n=41) were collected from 10-12 dairy cattle (HF crosses and few indigenous animals) in each village from the same farmers from whom feed and fodder samples were collected. Within the village, help was sought from village milk producers and district animal husbandry officers for identification of 4 to 5 farmers. The recorded parameters were number of livestock, land area, irrigated facilities, fodder and other crops being grown etc. In identification of farmers, land location was considered essentially, one each from northern, eastern, western and southern directions to cover soil types on each side of the selected village. Further information regarding the amount and types of feeds and fodder being offered to the animals, approximate rate of daily feed intake and milk yield of individual animal were collected from individual farmer using standard sampling procedure. Total intake was compared against the requirements on dry matter basis (Campbell et al. 1999; NRC, 2001) so as to identify quantitative deficiency, sufficiency or even excess.

 

Sample Preparation and Analytical Methods

Composite samples of green fodder, dry fodder, individual concentrate ingredients and the compound cattle feed (concentrate mixture) were collected from all over the surveyed area. Green samples were dried in oven at 80oC for 24 hrs and subsequently ground (1 mm). Ground samples of concentrate and fodder were stored in airtight bags until analysis. Samples were prepared and digested using 5 ml concentrated HNO3 plus 1 ml concentrated HCl by microwave digestion method for preventing evaporation of volatile elements and total volume of mineral extract was made to 25 ml with deionized water. All the samples were analyzed for Cu, Zn, manganese (Mn), ferrous (Fe), Co, Mo (molybdenum), Se (selenium), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), Na, potassium (K) and sulphur (S), using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (Perkin-Elmer, OPTIMA – 3300 RL). Blood serum samples were directly aspirated for mineral analysis (Charles and Fredeen, 1999). The data were analyzed statistically as per Snedecor and Cochran (1994).

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

 

Crop residues were found to be the main source of roughage in the ration of animals. It was noticed that some of the farmer fed cultivated fodders like hybrid napier, jowar green or maize green. Some farmers offered mixture of groundnut cake, rice bran and wheat bran or gram chuni. Those farmers, who don’t feed concentrate feed ingredients, were feeding compound cattle feed depending upon the level of milk production. The use of common salt and mineral mixture supplementation was not a common practice in the surveyed area except for therapeutic purpose.

Macro-Minerals Profile of Feeds and Fodder

The straws of paddy, groundnut and ragi were the main roughage source in the surveyed area (Table 1). The average Ca content ranged from 0.20-0.49 percent in roughages as compared to 0.03-0.62 percent in concentrate feed ingredients. P content in concentrates (0.45%) was higher than roughages (0.20%). These findings are similar to the findings of Ramana et al. (2001) and Udar et al. (2003). Grains were low in Mg as compared to cakes and brans (Table 1). Na content was very low in most of feedstuffs, except in compound cattle feed, because of added sodium chloride. Higher K level in green fodders may be due to its selective uptake from the soil and regular application of potash fertilizer in the soil (Garg et al. 2008a).   S content ranged from 0.04-0.15 percent in roughages and 0.10-0.21 percent in concentrate feed ingredients (Table 1). Garg et al. (2008a) also reported low S content in different feeds and fodder.

 

Micro-Minerals Profile of Feeds and Fodder

Copper content in paddy straw (6.92 ppm), groundnut straw (9.82 ppm), sugarcane tops (6.18 ppm) and bajra green (6.81 ppm) were low as compared to hybrid napier (19.06 ppm), jowar green (15.0 ppm) and local grasses (17.61 ppm). Groundnut cake (18.67 ppm), coconut cake (22.50 ppm), rice bran (21.36 ppm) and wheat bran (15.59 ppm) were found to be good sources of Cu (Table 1). Zn content was found to be very low in paddy straw (7.75 ppm) and sugarcane tops (9.18 ppm). These values are in agreement with values reported by Mandal et al. (2004). Grains, cakes, chunies and brans contained 26.4, 45.0, 26.95 and 63.87 ppm Zn, respectively.  The Mn levels in this district ranged from 52.16-434.4 ppm in straws, 21.86-53.57 ppm in green fodders, 10.46-12.20 ppm in grains, 33.69-45.23 ppm in cakes and 95.02-99.60 ppm in brans (Table 1). Average Fe content was 697 ppm in roughages and 346 ppm in concentrates, showing adequacy of this mineral.  Youssef et al. (1999) and Yadav et al. (2002) reported high Fe levels in forages. The Co level in feeds and fodder ranged from 0.19-0.73 ppm (Table 1). Se content in most of feeds and fodder samples was adequate (0.23 ppm) and its supplementation in the diet was not necessary (Garg et al. 2008a). Mo content in feeds was within the safe limit (0.85 ppm).

 

Daily Minerals Intake by Animals

The daily intake of different minerals by a cow (400 kg body weight) yielding 10 kg milk (4% fat), with the prevailing feeding system in the surveyed area is presented in Table 2. Since mineral mixture supplementation was not being followed so the intake of minerals through feeds and fodder was taken as the index of total dietary mineral supply and compared with the recommended requirements to know the dietary mineral adequacy/inadequacy. Ration of animal was found to be deficient in Ca, P, S, Cu, Zn and Co. Hence; it is necessary to supplement these minerals in the ration. It was observed that Mg, K, Mn, Fe and Se in the ration of animals were found to adequate. Supplementation of Cu and Zn in the form of chelate found to be effective in curing problem of anestrous (Garg et al. 2008b) and deficient trace minerals in the surveyed area need to be supplemented in chelate form for better bio-availability and retention in the animal system.

 

Mineral Levels in Blood Serum of Animals

The serum mineral levels and the percent of animals showing deficiencies are presented in Table 3.  The average blood serum Ca, P and Mg were 8.65 mg%, 4.17 mg% and 2.41 mg%, respectively. Animals screened in the district showed 31 and 53% lower serum Ca and P, respectively. These findings are similar to those of Ramana et al. (2001) and Mandal et al. (2004).   The Mg content of blood serum was within the normal range. Average serum Cu and Zn content were 0.61 and 0.71 ppm, respectively. As compared to critical level of Cu (0.65 ppm) and Zn (0.80 ppm) in blood serum (Cuesta et al. 1993) more than 50% of the animals screened showed low Cu and Zn values. The lower concentration of these minerals in feeds and fodder might have resulted in lower level in blood serum (Bhattacharya et al. 2004). However, blood serum mineral levels are not always true indicators of mineral deficiency as minerals may be mobilized from the target tissue, during low dietary intake and complex interrelationships (McDowell et al. 1993).  Hence, regular supplementation of mineral mixture in the ration of animals is necessary.    

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

It was evident from the present study that majority of the animals in Chittoor district are deficient in Ca, P, S, Cu, Zn and Co. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement these minerals in the ration of animals by formulating area specific mineral mixture, having highly bio-available mineral salts. Deficient trace minerals, except Co, may be supplemented in the form of chelates, for better bio-availability.  

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

 

 

Financial assistance and necessary facilities provided by the management of National Dairy Development Board, Anand, for undertaking this study are gratefully acknowledged.

 

REFERENCES

 

Bhattacharya, B. N.; Sarmah, B. C.; Baruah, A.; Baruah, K. K.; Nath, K. C.; Goswami, R. N. and Kalita, D. J. 2004. Mineral profile of lactating cattle of two agro-climatic zones of Assam under field conditions. Indian J. Anim. Sci. 74:1206-1207.

 

Campbell, M. H.; Miller, J. K. and Schrick, F. N. 1999. Effect of additional cobalt, copper, manganese and zinc on reproduction and milk yield of lactating dairy cows receiving bovine somatotropin. J. Dairy Sci. 82:1019.

 

Charles, B.B. and Fredeen, K.J. 1999. Concepts, instrumentation and techniques in Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. 2nd Edition, The Perkin Elmer Corporation, Norwalk, U.S.A.

 

Cuesta, P. A.; McDowell, L. R.; Kunkle, W. E.; Bullock, F.; Drew, A.; Wilkinson, N. S. and Martin, F. G. 1993. Seasonal variation of soil and forage mineral concentrations in North Florida. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 24:335-347.

Garg, M. R.; Bhanderi, B. M. and Sherasia, P. L. 2002. Trace minerals status of feeds and fodders in Junagadh district of Gujarat.  Indian J. Dairy Sci. 55:154-158.

 

Garg, M. R.; Bhanderi, B. M. and Sherasia, P. L. 2003. Macro and micro-mineral status of feeds and fodders in Kota district of Rajasthan. Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 20:252-261.

 

Garg, M.R.; Bhanderi, B.M. and Sherasia, P.L. 2008a. Assessment of macro and micro-minerals status of milch animals for developing area specific mineral mixture for Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. Anim. Nutr. Feed Tech., 8:53-64.

 

Garg, M.R.; Bhanderi, B.M. and Gupta, S.K. 2008b. Effect of supplementing certain chelated minerals and vitamins to overcome infertility in field animals. Indian J.Dairy Sci., 61:181-184.

 

Mandal, A. B.; Yadav, P. S. and Vanita Kapoor. 2004. Mineral status of buffaloes under farm feeding condition of Faridabad district of Haryana state. Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 21:104-110.

 

McDowell, L. R. 1992. Minerals in Animal and Human Nutrition. Academic Press. San Diego, CA pp. 49-51.

 

McDowell, L. R.; Conrad, J. H. and Glen Hembry, F. 1993. Minerals for grazing ruminants in tropical regions. Animal Science Department, Centre for Tropical Agriculture, University of Florida. The U.S. Agency for International Development and Caribbean Basin Advisory Group (CBAG).

 

Miles, W. H. and McDowell, L. R. 1983. Mineral deficiencies in the Ilanos ranges. World Anim. Rev. 46:2-10.

 

N. R. C. 2001. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, 7th Revised edn. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC.

 

Ramana, J.; Prasad, C. S.; Gowda, N. K. S. and Ramachandra, K. S. 2001. Levels of micro-nutrients in soil, feed, fodder and animals of North East transition and dry zones of Karnataka. Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 18:235-242.

 

Snedecor, G.W. and Cochran, W.G. 1994. Statistical Methods. 8th Ed. Iowa State University Press, New Delhi.

 

Udar, S. A.; Chopde, S. and Dhore, R. N. 2003. Mineral profile of soil, feeds and fodder and buffaloes in Western Agro-climatic Zone of Vidarbha. Anim. Nutr. Feed Tech. 3:165-172.

 

Underwood, E. J. and Suttle, N. F. 1999. The Mineral Nutrition of Livestock. 3rd edn. CAB International Publishing Co.

 

Yadav, P. S.; Mandal, A. B. and Dahiya, D. V. 2002. Feeding pattern and mineral status of buffaloes in Panipat District of Haryana State. Anim. Nutr. Feed Tech. 2:127-138.

 

Youssef, F. G.; McDowell, L. R. and Brathwaite, R. A. I. 1999. The status of certain trace minerals and sulphur of some tropical grasses in Trinidad. Trop. Agri. 76: 57-62.

 

Table 1: Macro and Micro-Mineral Profiles in Feeds and Fodder Collected from Chittoor District (DM basis)

Feeds

Ca (%)

P (%)

Mg (%)

Na (%)

K (%)

S (%)

Cu (ppm)

Zn (ppm)

Mn (ppm)

Fe (ppm)

Co (ppm)

Se (ppm)

Mo (ppm)

Critical level*

<0.30

<0.25

<0.20

<0.06

<0.9

<0.20

<8.0

<30.0

<40.0

<50.0

<0.10

<0.20

>6.0

Roughages

Azolla green (3)

2.38 ±0.51

1.83 ±0.30

0.64 ±0.056

1.36 ±0.16

3.63 ±0.53

0.25 ±0.025

22.80 ±3.88

68.10 ±7.30

409.0 ±5.80

2128.0 ±309

1.16 ±0.017

1.17 ±0.24

1.80 ±0.08

Bajra green (2)

0.49 ±0.025

0.26 ±0.025

0.30 ±0.05

0.03 ±0.002

2.92 ±0.15

0.12 ±0.021

6.81 ±0.20

27.96 ±2.49

39.96 ±1.40

490.7 ±5.30

0.31 ±0.052

0.07 ±0.01

0.91 ±0.05

Hybrid napier (44)

0.34 ±0.014

0.26 ±0.012

0.35 ±0.018

0.033 ±0.004

2.04 ±0.21

0.11 ±0.006

19.06 ±1.30

23.27 ±2.14

32.70 ±2.24

737.4 ±50.25

0.28 ±0.022

0.13 ±0.013

0.99 ±0.088

Jowar green (21)

0.33 ±0.025

0.27 ±0.022

0.26 ±0.019

0.04 ±0.008

1.75 ±0.25

0.12 ±0.004

15.02 ±1.23

24.95 ±3.55

35.85 ±3.93

515.7 ±65.33

0.33 ±0.065

0.12 ±0.03

1.47 ±0.17

Local grasses (26)

0.42 ±0.032

0.21 ±0.012

0.29 ±0.027

0.087 ±0.01

1.57 ±0.14

0.13 ±0.011

17.61 ±1.35

22.09 ±2.04

53.57 ±4.62

1111.4 ±100.76

0.69 ±0.055

0.14 ±0.022

1.26 ±0.15

Maize green (4)

0.20 ±0.046

0.17 ±0.016

0.18 ±0.015

0.012 ±0.002

1.09 ±0.10

0.15 ±0.02

13.76 ±0.75

22.32 ±6.61

21.86 ±0.40

698.1 ±135.1

0.28 ±0.052

0.05 ±0.02

0.57 ±0.018

Sugarcane tops (2)

0.28 ±0.001

0.13 ±0.02

0.22 ±0.011

0.011 ±0.004

0.92 ±0.10

0.09 ±0.01

6.18 ±0.15

9.18 ±0.29

21.87 ±0.13

548.4 ±1.23

0.24 ±0.01

0.08 ±0.021

0.62 ±0.016

Mulberry leaves (2)

1.99 ±0.055

0.14 ±0.02

0.57 ±0.005

0.01 ±0.51

1.19 ±0.51

0.09 ±0.51

4.79 ±0.51

35.18 ±0.51

101.90 ±0.51

527.9 ±0.51

0.48 ±0.51

0.47 ±0.51

0.64 ±0.51

Groundnut straw (3)

1.25 ±0.073

0.17 ±0.032

0.75 ±0.06

0.17 ±0.013

0.95 ±0.17

0.12 ±0.026

9.82 ±1.07

28.80 ±7.58

52.16 ±4.30

1762.0 ±224.98

0.73 ±0.23

0.13 ±0.073

1.03 ±0.30

Paddy straw (22)

0.18 ±0.017

0.06 ±0.006

0.08 ±0.034

0.11 ±0.016

1.38 ±0.12

0.13 ±0.011

6.92 ±0.75

7.75 ±0.60

122.47 ±3.88

448.2 ±40.74

0.27 ±0.044

1.79 ±0.12

0.48 ±0.095

Ragi straw (2)

0.59 ±0.07

0.31 ±0.03

0.20 ±0.005

0.03 ±0.01

2.15 ±0.03

0.04 ±0.003

11.20 ±0.70

20.38 ±0.81

434.40 ±22.20

134.0 ±4.50

0.49 ±0.02

0.73 ±0.02

1.35 ±0.07

Concentrate feed ingredients

Bajra grain (2)

0.03 ±0.007

0.25 ±0.005

0.10 ±0.02

0.02 ±0.01

0.38 ±0.05

0.10 ±0.01

8.50 ±1.30

34.10 ±0.95

12.20 ±0.90

226.0 ±2.00

0.42 ±0.01

0.04 ±0.005

0.78 ±0.015

Maize grain (2)

0.04 ±0.002

0.27 ±0.01

0.10 ±0.004

0.015 ±0.005

0.40 ±0.025

0.10 ±0.01

3.32 ±0.17

18.72 ±0.41

10.46 ±0.77

219.9 ±3.95

0.28 ±0.011

0.11 ±0.015

0.54 ±0.026

Green gram chuni (6)

0.55 ±0.087

0.25 ±0.03

0.30 ±0.047

0.053 ±0.013

1.01 ±0.068

0.16 ±0.024

13.83 ±1.97

27.25 ±2.31

24.17 ±3.61

429.6 ±124.19

0.38 ±0.17

0.13 ±0.037

2.17 ±0.39

Black gram chuni (3)

0.34 ±0.026

0.25 ±0.012

0.24 ±0.03

0.10 ±0.047

0.69 ±0.16

0.10 ±0.02

9.85 ±0.17

26.66 ±1.47

68.92 ±2.33

457.0 ±11.10

0.36 ±0.43

0.10 ±0.023

0.20 ±0.01

Broken rice (2)

0.03 ±0.005

0.19 ±0.04

0.06 ±0.015

0.02 ±0.0

0.18 ±0.02

0.12 ±0.001

5.44 ±0.30

20.36 ±1.35

14.48 ±2.28

123.9 ±3.85

0.19 ±0.04

0.16 ±0.01

0.64 ±0.19

Coconut cake (2)

0.10 ±0.02

0.58 ±0.025

0.26 ±0.02

0.08 ±0.024

1.94 ±0.10

0.21 ±0.02

22.5 ±0.80

38.35 ±0.71

45.23 ±0.23

202.4 ±4.40

0.26 ±0.02

0.10 ±0.06

0.22 ±0.01

Groundnut cake (27)

0.16 ±0.015

0.61 ±0.014

0.31 ±0.007

0.044 ±0.004

1.16 ±0.22

0.21 ±0.011

18.67 ±1.34

51.75 ±1.59

33.69 ±1.73

450.1 ±55.41

0.62 ±0.062

0.17 ±0.021

1.36 ±0.18

Rice bran (21)

0.096 ±0.011

1.18 ±0.10

0.37 ±0.048

0.042 ±0.004

0.77 ±0.09

0.12 ±0.006

14.36 ±1.40

43.81 ±3.36

95.02 ±9.53

626.0 ±112.65

0.62 ±0.10

0.08 ±0.009

0.58 ±0.094

Wheat bran (10)

0.086 ±0.007

0.80 ±0.031

0.28 ±0.014

0.024 ±0.005

0.95 ±0.042

0.12 ±0.02

15.59 ±1.06

83.93 ±3.02

99.60 ±6.16

307.3 ±92.33

0.64 ±0.28

0.04 ±0.021

0.75 ±0.10

Gram husk (2)

0.62 ±0.13

0.10 ±0.015

0.26 ±0.03

0.065 ±0.005

0.66 ±0.045

0.19 ±0.005

8.25 ±0.86

16.03 ±2.09

90.79 ±18.10

425.0 ±65.60

0.42 ±0.059

0.19 ±0.095

0.50 ±0.16

Cattle feed (21)

1.32 ±0.15

1.00 ±0.065

0.45 ±0.025

0.76 ±0.044

0.88 ±0.076

0.14 ±0.011

11.06 ±1.32

27.06 ±4.87

92.05 ±9.48

621.0 ±51.87

0.83 ±0.14

0.28 ±0.046

1.01 ±0.12

Figures in the parentheses indicate no. of sample analyzed.

* McDowell et al. 1993

 

 

 

 

Table 2: Macro and Micro-Minerals Availability vis-à-vis Requirement for a Cow (400 kg body weight) Yielding 10 kg Milk (4% fat) per Day

Attributes	DMI (kg/d)	Ca (g)	P (g)	S (g)	Cu (mg)	Zn (mg)	Co (mg)
Mineral requirement	11.50	48.10	32.80	23.0	115	920	5.75
Daily mineral availability from traditional feeding	11.50	32.86	31.06	16.25	101.06	196.31	3.44
% deficiency		31.68	5.30	29.30	12.20	75.30	40.20

 

 

Table 3: Macro and Micro-Mineral Content in Blood Serum of Animals

Particular	Ca (mg%)	P (mg%)	Mg (mg%)	Cu (ppm)	Zn (ppm)	Fe (ppm)
Normal range	8-12	4-6	1.9-3.2	0.65-1.2	0.8-2.0	1.1-2.0
District average (n=41)	8.65 ±0.25	4.17 ±0.12	2.41 ±0.068	0.61 ±0.019	0.71 ±0.026	2.17 ±0.10
% of animals showing deficiency	31	53	--	54	75	--
n= Number of animals