Micronutrient Profile of Feeds, Fodders and Animals in Hill Zone of West Bengal Das A., Biswas P., Rajendran D.* Department of Animal Nutrition, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata-700 037, India. *Reprint request: Dr. D. Rajendran, Tel: +91-33-25569234; Fax: +91-33-25571986; E-mail: rajnutri@yahoo.com.
Abstract Mineral status of feeds, fodders, tree leaves and plasma samples of cattle and buffalo of hill zone of West Bengal were studied. Paddy straw, the main dry roughage source in this zone was low in most of the minerals screened. Napier grass, the most commonly cultivated green fodder, showed moderate content of Ca (0.50%), Fe (510.89 ppm), Zn (56.05 ppm), Mn (62.99 ppm) and low levels of P (0.20%) and Cu (7.06 ppm). The commonly available top feeds/tree leaves for animal feeding were ratnaula (Polygonum polystachyum), kans (Saccharum spontaneum), piple (Bucklandia populnea), chilaune (Schima wallichii), titapat (Artemisia vulgaris), amlisho (Thysanolena agortis), dhougree (Leycesteri spp.) etc, were good source of Cu (17.97–38.73 ppm), Mn (50.99–106.21 ppm) and Fe (305.67–563.39 ppm) and moderate source of Ca (0.26–0.89%) and Zn (31.91–57.35 ppm) but poor source of P (0.14–0.17%). However, Ca content of dhougree (0.17%) and ratnaula (0.18%) tree leaves and Zn content in kans (28.06 ppm) and titapat (28.98 ppm) were lower than critical levels (0.3% and 40 ppm, respectively). Calcium (0.27%) and copper (5.94 ppm) content in maize grains were below the critical levels. However, Ca and P levels in rice bran and home made compounded feeds were above the critical levels. The level of micro minerals (Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn) in concentrate ingredients (maize and rice bran) and compounded feeds were higher than the critical levels. Blood Hb (g %) and plasma Ca (mg/100 ml) in cattle (13.23 and 8.75) and in buffaloes (13.12 and 8.92) were within the normal limits. However, plasma P level in buffaloes (3.93 mg/100ml) was below the critical level. Microminerals (Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn) levels in plasma of cattle and buffaloes were within the normal limits. Most of the animals were found to have reproductive problems, which could be attributed to P deficiency in this zone. It may be concluded that providing region specific mineral mixture, mineral block or supplementing rice bran, oil cakes, compounded feeds which are good sources of deficient minerals would help in overcoming the mineral deficiency in this zone. Top Key words Micronutrients, Feeds, Fodder, Plasma, Hill zone. Top |