DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2014.v01i04.014

Pages: 222-226

A study was carried out to assess the dietary status of macro and micro-minerals of milch animals in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, for developing area specific mineral mixture. Feed and fodder samples were collected at random from various locations, following standard sampling procedure. The average calcium content in straws of bajra, jowar, maize and wheat was high (0.37%), but low (0.10%) phosphorus level. Calcium content in green fodder such as hybrid napier, jowar and green local grasses was 0.42 per cent. Concentrate ingredients such as cottonseed cake and crushed maize were particularly low (0.15%) in calcium, but high (0.44%) in phosphorus. The phosphorus content in green fodders was 0.22 per cent. The magnesium content in roughages and concentrate ingredients was 0.25 and 0.23 per cent, respectively. The sodium content was below the critical level (<0.06%) in concentrate ingredients, dry and green fodders. Potassium content in concentrates (0.87%) and roughages (1.46%) was found to be adequate in surveyed area. The sulphur content was deficient in concentrate ingredients (0.21%) and crop residues (0.09%); hence, its supplementation was necessary in the ration. Cobalt was occasionally deficient in the diet of animals; however, iron level in most of the feed ingredients was adequate (average level>769 ppm), with the prevailing feeding system. The manganese (Mn) was low in concentrate ingredients (27.84 ppm), whereas, dry (65 ppm) and green (47.55 ppm) fodders were adequate in Mn. The average copper content in dry and green fodders was 12.85 and 14.35 ppm, respectively. Concentrate ingredients were low in copper (11.49 ppm). Molybdenum content in feeds was within the safe limit (average level<0.37 ppm) and gave Cu:Mo ratio wider than 12.0. Selenium content in most of the feeds and fodder samples was adequate (0.76 ppm) and its supplementation in the ration was not necessary. Zinc was acutely deficient in most of the feedstuffs (average level<38.0 ppm) and