ASSESSMENT OF FEEDING PRACTICES AND STATUS OF CERTAIN MINERALS IN DAIRY ANIMALS OF JAMNAGAR DISTRICT OF GUJARAT STATE
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Date
2007
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AAU, Anand
Abstract
A survey of Jamnagar district of Gujarat State was conducted during April 2006 to: a) record feeding practices followed by dairy farmers and collect samples of feeds and fodder, b) estimate proximate constituents and contents of certain minerals in feeds and fodder, in order to assess feeding practices and generate information on mineral status of dairy animals and c) suggest corrections in the traditional feeding practices, using available feed resources and formulate area specific mineral mixtures for supplementing dairy animal diets in the district. The survey was conducted in two talukas viz. Dhrol and Bhanvad. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Two villages were selected at random in each taluka, which were geographically located apart in direction and truly represented the animal husbandry practices of the taluka, for collection of samples of feeds and fodder. In each village, 15 farmers were selected at random. For this purpose those farmers were considered, who owned good dairy animal(s). The selected farmers were interviewed and the desired information was collected in the pro-forma developed for the purpose. The survey work revealed that most of the dairy animal owners/farmers reared the animals on grazing and supplementation of wheat straw, groundnut gotars and local mixed grasses collected from the wasteland, as the basal roughages. The quantity of concentrates fed to cows in different villages ranged between 3.28 and 5.50 kg/day and the maximum being 5.50 kg/day in Bhanvad taluka. The district average was 4.60 kg/day. The rate of concentrates feeding in buffaloes ranged from 4.43 to 5.37 kg/day. The maximum of 5.37 kg/day was recorded in Mokhana village of Bhanvad taluka. The district average of concentrate feeding in buffaloes was 4.85 kg/day. The feeding of green fodders to cows in different talukas ranged between 4.28 and 15.0 kg/day. The district average worked out as 8.35 kg/day. In buffaloes, it ranged between 8.65 and 11.60 kg/day. The dry roughages feeding in different villages of Jamnagar district ranged between 5.50 and 8.85, and 7.31 and 8.42 kg/day, in cows and buffaloes, respectively. The district average for dry roughages worked out as 7.39 and 7.92 kg/day, for cows and buffaloes, respectively. The average concentrate to roughage ratio in cows of different talukas ranged between 24.62:75.38 and 36.26:63.74. In buffaloes, the concentrate to roughage ratio in surveyed area ranged between 29.57:70.43 and 33.92:66.08. Thirty-four percent of respondents fed multiple units concentrate in the fornri of cottonseed + cottonseed cake + mixture of crushed bajra, wheat and maize + wheat bran + other pulse byproducts to their animals. Thirty percent of respondents fed cottonseed cake and wheat bran to their animals. Others fed single unit concentrate feed ingredients, to their animals at the time of milking. Feeding of compound cattle feed and mineral mixture was rare in the surveyed area. The average calcium content in grains of wheat (0.06%), bajra (0.05%) and maize (0.04%) was low. Cottonseed, cottonseed cake and wheat bran contained around 0.14 percent Ca. Lucerne (1.83%) had higher Ca content. Green fodders viz. bajra (0.23%), maize (0.34%) and jowar (0.32%) were low in Ca content, but higher in mixed green grasses (0.46%). Ca content in dry roughage like jowar kadbi (0.27%) and wheat straw (0.25%) was low. However, gotars of groundnut (2.17%), gram (2.19%) and tur (1.18%) were exceptionally high in Ca. The concentrate ingredients commonly fed to animals contained high P (0.47%). The values of P in green fodders (0.16%), straws (0.10%) and gotars (0.08%) were much lower than Ca. The average Cu level was recorded consistently low in pasfure grass (7.33 ppm), jowar kadbi (6.92 ppm) and wheat straw (5.81 ppm). The green roughages contained Cu above 10 ppm, except mixed green grasses (9.78 ppm). Grains of maize (6.42 ppm), bajra (6.06 ppm), wheat (5.75 ppm), cottonseed (7.63 ppm) and cottonseed cake (9.88 ppm) contained low level of Cu. Wheat bran (13.72 ppm) was found to be good source of Cu. Wheat straw (7.73 ppm) and jowar kadbi (13.76 ppm) were low in Zn; however, gotars of groundnut, gram and tur were somewhat good source of Zn. The Zn content in green fodders varied from 20.54 to 60.35 ppm. Grains had around 30.91 ppm Zn, while wheat bran was an exception with higher Zn content (69.92 ppm). Whole cottonseed (33.19 ppm) and cottonseed cake (38.56 ppm) were higher in Zn as compared to grains. Most of the straws offered to animals, contained around 33 ppm Mn. Mn content in groundnut and gram gotars was 68.98 ppm and 63.80 ppm, respectively. Mn content in green fodders ranged from 31.51 to 75.96 ppm. Whole cottonseed (12.98 ppm) and cottonseed cake (17.57 ppm) were poor sources of Mn, but wheat bran (99.86 ppm) was exceptionally rich in Mn. Amongst the feedstuffs, 100, 0.0, 66.66, 16.66 and 83.33% of the concentrates, 28.57, 100, 14.28, 42.85 and 28.57% of green roughages and 40.00, 100.0, 40.0, 71.42 and 42.85% of dry roughages had below the critical levels of Ca, P, Cu, Zn and Mn, respectively. The cows produced daily on an average 9.86 kg whole milk and 10.03 kg 4% FCM. The buffaloes produced daily, on an average 9.79 kg whole milk and 10.84 kg 6% FCM. The average DCP intake of lactating cows in entire Jamnagar district ranged between 90.17 and 104.83% of requirement. Crossbred cows yielding 14-16 kg/day 4% FCM were found severely deficient in DCP supply. The DCP intake of cows in different talukas did not differ significantly. However, the same differed significantly (p<0.01) between villages within talukas. The district average of DCP intake as % of requirement in pregnant and dry cows was 110.80 and 113.36, respectively. The lactating, pregnant and dry cows underfed, with respect to DCP were 56.67, 28.57 and 35.29%, respectively, in different villages of Dhrol and Bhanvad talukas. In buffaloes, the average DCP intake in entire Jamnagar district ranged between 92.87 and 107.64% of requirement. The DCP intake of buffaloes in different talukas did not differ significantly. However, the same differed significantly (p<0.01) between villages within talukas. The district average of DCP intake as % of requirement in pregnant and dry buffaloes was 139.69 and 117.56, respectively. The lactating, pregnant and dry buffaloes underfed, with respect to DCP were 34.15, 9.53 and 12.50 percent, respectively, in different villages of Dhrol and Bhanvad talukas. The overall average TDN intake in the lactating cows in the entire Jamnagar district ranged between 116.17 and 131.92% of requirement. The district average of TDN intake as % of requirement in pregnant and dry cows was 179.19 and 185.54, respectively. The lactating, pregnant and dry cows underfed, with respect to TDN were 10.0, 0.0 and 0.0 percent, respectively, in different villages of Dhrol and Bhanvad talukas. In buffaloes, the average TDN intake in the entire Jamnagar district ranged between 103.51 and 105.89% of requirement. The district average of TDN intake as % of requirement in pregnant and dry buffaloes was 190.40 and 175.79, respectively. The lactating, pregnant and dry buffaloes underfed, with respect to TDN were 24.39, 0.0 and 0.0 percent, respectively, in different villages of Dhrol and Bhanvad talukas. Wherever necessary, recommendations have been made for balancing the protein supply of dairy animals. The overall average Cu intake as % of requirement in cows and buffaloes in Jamnagar district was 152.7 and 189.5%, respectively. The Cu intake as percent of requirement of buffaloes between talukas did not differ significantly. The Zn intake as % of requirement in the cows of talukas Dhrol and Bhanvad was 44.36 and 47.10%, respectively. The overall average Zn intake as % of requirement in the cows in Jamnagar district was 44.83 percent. The Zn intake in the buffaloes of talukas Dhrol and Bhanvad was 48.08 and 49.15%, respectively. The overall average Zn intake as % of requirement in the buffaloes in Jamnagar district was 48.63 percent. The cows and buffaloes showed short supply of Zn as 55.17 and 51.37%, respectively, in the entire Jamnagar district. The overall average Mn intake as % of requirement in cows and buffaloes in Jamnagar district was 126.10 and 140.3%, respectively. The cows and buffaloes in Dhrol and Bhanvad talukas were supplied adequate Mn through ration. The Mn intake as percent of requirement of cows between talukas did not differ significantly. However, the figures for villages within talukas differed significantly (p<0.01). The average levels of serum Ca and P in cows were 8.84 and 5.15 mg/dl, respectively. Animals screened in the district showed 21.1 and 33% lower serum Ca and P values, respectively. Similarly, average levels of serum Ca and P in buffaloes were 9.16 and 4.76 mg/dl, respectively. About 45 and 50% buffaloes screened showed lower values for Ca and P, respectively. The average blood serum levels of Cu, Zn and Mn in cows were 0.63, 0.72 and 0.05 ppm, respectively. Compared to critical level of Cu (0.65 ppm) and Zn (0.80 ppm) in blood serum, more than 50% of the animals screened, showed low Cu and Zn values. In buffaloes, blood serum concentrations of Cu, Zn and Mn were 0.66, 0.75 and 0.061 ppm, respectively. About 59.60 and 66.70% of the animals screened showed below the critical levels for Cu and Zn values. Based on the calculated intakes of DCP, TDN, Cu, Zn and Mn from various feed stuffs, suggestions for correcting supply of protein and energy and extent of supplementation required through mineral mixture, for obviating Cu, Zn and Mn deficiency in cows and buffaloes have been worked out.
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Keywords
ANIMAL NUTRITION, ASSESSMENT