MINERAL STATUS IN SOIL, FODDER AND BLOOD SERUM

OF DAIRY COWS IN MIZORAM

Kalyan Sarma , Rajat Buragohain and Girin Kalita
Department of Veterinary Medicine
College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry
Central Agricultural University
Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram - 796014, India

ABSTRACT

Mineral status of dairy cows in relation to commonly fed tree fodders, and soil
mineral status were studied in Mizoram. The soil Ca, P and Mg were found to be below
critical levels; but Cu, Zn and Fe were optimum in all studied locations. Except Ca, other
minerals were estimated to be optimum in the tree fodders. However, except Fe, other
minerals were found to be deficient in the serum of dairy cattle. The study indicated that
mineral supplementation is necessary for maintaining production status of dairy cows in
Mizoram.

Key words: Mineral status, soil & fodder, dairy cattle, Mizoram.

INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS

Minerals are essential for normal Random surveys were conducted by

metabolic and physiological processes of animal selecting 30 dairy farmers from ten different
body. The uptake of minerals by plants and in turn villages in Aizawl district of Mizoram, namely
by animals is greatly influenced by soil chemistry, Selesih, Ramthar, Zonuam, Mission Veng (MSVT),
species and stage of maturity of plants (McDowell Bungkawn, Sihphir, Durtlang, Chawlhhmun,
et.al. 1993). Minerals of soil reach animal body Khatla South and Thuampui. A standard
through plants (Baruah et al., 2000). It is therefore questionnaire was prepared to collect information
imperative to know mineral status of soil, plant and on feeding practices, fodders used for feeding dairy
animal body for surveillance and monitoring the cows, feeding of mineral mixture and history of
mineral deficiency disorders in livestock. Keeping diseases relating to mineral deficiency. Relevant
this in view, the present study was undertaken to information on mineral deficiency and diseases
estimate certain macro and micro minerals in soil, were also collected from the Department of
fodders and blood serum of dairy cows in Mizoram Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Aizawl district,
for assessment of their adequacy. Mizoram.

1
Assistant Professor (SS)
2
Assistant Professor (SS), and Corresponding author, Department of Animal Nutrition, Email: drrajat57@gmail.com
3
Assistant Professor (SS), Department of Livestock Production and Management

142 Ind. J. Vet. & Anim. Sci. Res., 44(2) 142-145, March - April 2015
 Kalyan Sarma et.al.,
A total of two hundred crossbred cows The average Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Fe and Zn level
between 1st to 3rd lactation with average milk yield in soil were 0.154 0.02 mg/dl, 0.082 0.01mg/
of 5-6 litres /day were selected and samples of dl, 0.127 0.03 mg/dl, 0.022 0.00 mg/dl, 0.381
fodders fed and blood serum were collected. One 0.03mg/dl and 0.025 0.00 mg/dl, respectively
hundred blood samples were collected from the (Table 1). It was observed that Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Fe
selected villages and blood serum was separated and Zn levels in soil were comparatively higher in
following standard procedure. The digestion of the samples collected from Durtlang, Bungkawn,
serums was done as per the method of Kolmer Selesih, Khatla South (for Cu, Mg and Fe) and
et al. (1951). A total of fifteen commonly fed Zonuam, respectively and least values irrespective
fodder samples were collected from the study of minerals except magnesium and zinc were
recorded in Zonuam area of Aizawl district.
area following random sampling technique and
processed as per the method of Trolson (1969) In the present study, when mineral
for analysis. Soil samples were collected from the concentration of soil was compared with their
surveyed areas and processed as per the method critical values (Sharma et al., 2004), it was observed
of Franeck (1992). One hundred soil samples, that concentration of Ca (0.1540.02 mg/dl), P
10 from each village, were collected. All the (0.082 0.01 mg/dl) and Mg (0.127 0.03 mg/dl)
processed samples were analyzed for calcium (Ca), were below the critical level in all the locations
magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc studied. Similar findings were also reported by
(Zn) by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer Gowda et al. (2002) in the hilly zone of Karnataka.
(AAS-100, PerkinElmer, Netherland). The However, the Cu, Fe and Zn concentration in soil
Phosphorus (P) was estimated following method of Aizawl district were found to be higher than the
described by Talapatra et al. (1940). Statistical critical value (McDowell, 1985; McDowell et al.,
analysis of the data was done following methods of 1993).
Snedecor and Cochran (1976).
Comparatively higher Ca (3.2270.06
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION mg/dl), P (0.5160.01 mg/dl) and Mg (2.0190.00
mg/dl) were found in Curculigo grassifolia, Spirae
Mizoram is a hilly state which lies lindleyana and Ficus hirsute, respectively and least
between 21.850 to 24.350N latitude and 92.150 Ca (0.3820.00 mg/dl), P (0.0960.01 mg/dl) and
to 93.290 E longitudes bordering 404 km with Mg (0.2630.01 mg/dl) were recorded in Spirae
Myanmar in the East and 306 km with Bangladesh lindleyana, Amomum dealbatum and Roydsia
in the West. Mizoram receives more than 254 cm suaveolens, respectively. Similarly, highest Cu
annual rainfall which is higher as compared to (0.0360.00 mg/dl) and Zn (0.460+0.00 mg/
other North Eastern states of India. dl) was found in Impereta cylindrica and highest
Fe (0.625+0.00 mg/dl) was estimated in Kydia
The survey revealed that the rural Mizo calycina.
farmers rear the dairy cows intensively in sheds
The concentration of calcium, in all the
and zero grazing system is followed.
tree fodders analyzed, were found to be above
Soil type varies from sandy loam, clay the critical level(McDowell et al., 1983), but
loam to clay, generally mature but leached due to phosphorous level in some tree fodders were
steep gradient and heavy rainfall. Soil is acidic (pH observed to be below the critical level. The Mg and
4.8) and porous with poor water holding capacity. micro-minerals namely Cu, Zn and Fe levels were
optimum in all the tree leaves studied. Buragohain
Ind. J. Vet. & Anim. Sci. Res., 44(2) 142-145, March - April 2015 143
 Mineral status in soil, fodder and blood serum of dairy cows in Mizoram
et al., (2006) also reported the concentrations of It was observed that average Ca, P and Mg levels
Ca, Mg, and Fe above the critical level in tree were below the critical level (Ca - 0.19 0.46
fodders fed to dairy animals in Assam which is mmol/L, P - 0.12 0.03 mmol/L and Mg - 0.09
one of the neighboring states of Mizoram. Copper 0.01 mmol/L) in blood serum of dairy animals
availability in fodders is affected by soil pH (Aubert of all the locations studied. The Cu (6.0 0.03
and Pinta, 1977) and available Cu2+ decreased with mol/L) and Zn (9.0 0.12 mol/L) level in the
increased soil pH. At higher pH, Cu2+ adheres to blood serum of dairy cattle were also estimated
soil components and it leads to decrease in Cu2+ to be below the critical levels in all the locations
in soil. As cupric ions the soil Cu2+ availability studied. But the Fe level (60.0 0.12 mol/L) was
is also related to soil organic matter. Kabata- optimum which might be due to very high Fe status
Pendias and Pendias (1992) reported that Cu2+
in fodders analyzed in the present study.
binding capacity of any soil and Cu2+ solubility
were highly dependent to the amount and kind of From the findings of the study, it was
organic matter. The higher copper levels found in concluded that in spite of adequate levels in the
the fodder crops under the present study might be commonly fed fodders, Ca, P, Mg, Cu and Zn
due to presence of higher organic matter in the soil. were deficient in the blood serum of dairy cattle
The average Ca, P and Mg concentration in Mizoram and hence proper supplementation is
in blood serum of the dairy cattle were estimated necessary.
to be 0.19+0.46 mmol/L, 0.12+0.03 mmol/L and REFERENCES
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Table 1

Average mineral concentration in the soil of different areas of Aizawl District in Mizoram

Area Ca (mg/dl) P (mg/dl) Mg (mg/dl) Cu (mg/dl) Fe (mg/dl) Zn (mg/dl)

Selesih 0.223 0.00 0.097 0.00 0.403 0.16 0.016 0.00 0.496 0.03 0.027 0.00
Ramthar 0.151 0.00 0.086 0.00 0.094 0.00 0.024 0.00 0.414 0.01 0.027 0.00
Zonuam 0.071 0.01 0.053 0.00 0.081 0.00 0.016 0.00 0.267 0.01 0.034 0.00
MSVT 0.136 0.00 0.058 0.00 0.106 0.00 0.025 0.00 0.374 0.00 0.028 0.00
Bungkawn 0.137 0.00 0.116 0.00 0.105 0.00 0.024 0.00 0.372 0.01 0.017 0.00
Sihphir 0.088 0.00 0.077 0.00 0.105 0.00 0.018 0.00 0.271 0.01 0.021 0.00
Durtlang 0.248 0.02 0.107 0.00 0.095 0.00 0.024 0.00 0.418 0.00 0.025 0.00
Chawlh- 0.143 0.00 0.076 0.00 0.100 0.00 0.019 0.00 0.354 0.00 0.024 0.00
hmun
Khatla 0.213 0.00 0.057 0.00 0.076 0.00 0.031 0.00 0.509 0.05 0.028 0.00
South
Thuampui 0.126 0.00 0.092 0.00 0.103 0.00 0.026 0.00 0.335 0.00 0.019 0.00
Over All 0.154 0.02 0.082 0.01 0.127 0.03 0.022 0.00 0.381 0.03 0.025 0.00
Mean

* Number of samples collected from each area - 10

Ind. J. Vet. & Anim. Sci. Res., 44(2) 142-145, March - April 2015 145