Mineral Status of Dairy Buffaloes in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh in India

A study was conducted in the coastal zone of Andhra Pradesh at west Godavari to assess the Status of Certain Macro and Micro Minerals in dairy Buffaloes. Fodder and blood serum samples were collected at random from the area under survey. Paddy straw was the Major dry roughage in surveyed area and found to be low in Ca (0.10%), P (0.10%),S (0.052%), Cu (1:32 ppm) and Zn (7.21ppm). The available green fodders were  mainly hybrid napier and found to be good sources of Ca (0.45% ), Mg (0.39%), S (0.23%) and Mn (88 pp m ). The feeds and fodders were found to be rich in K (1.33 %) and Fe (750 pp m) Content. Groundnut cake was major Concentrate supplement in this area. Groundnut cake rich in P (0.63 %), Mg (0.33 %), S ( 0.29 %) , Cu (21.21 ppm ) , Zn ( 54.50 ppm  ) and Co ( 0.70 ppm ) .

Brans were rich in Mn (126.66 ppm). Grains were poor sources of Ca (0.11 %) as compared to P (0.26%). Se content in feeds and fodders was adequate (1.35 pp m). Co was found to be deficient in feed stuffs (0.09 pp m). Average Ca (10.28 mg %), P (3.50 mg %) and Mg (2.23 mg %) levels in blood serum were higher than the critical limits. About 10 and 35% of the total animals (n=25) showed lower levels of serum Ca (6.11 mg %) and P (3.23mg %), respectively. Cu (0.61 pp m) and Zn (0.89 pp m) levels in blood serum of dairy buffaloes were below the critical limit. In this zone 65 and 31 % of the total animals showed lower levels of serum Ca (0.23 pp m) and Zn (0.69 pp m) values. Supplementation of area specific mineral mixtures with highly bioavailable mineral salts or methionine based Ca, cu and Zn chelates could be a cost effective method to improve reproductive life and productivity of animals in this area .