Status of Selected Minerals in Soil, Fodder and Dairy Animals in the Semi-arid Central Alluvial Plain of Punjab

Three districts in the semi-arid central alluvial plain of Punjab, India were investigated for status of copper, molybdenum, zinc, calcium, phosphorus and iron in soil-plant-animal system. Inadequacy in nutritional management of animals was evident. Considerable population of dairy animals had anoestrus, repeat breeding, poor body condition and low milk yield. Deficiencies of zinc and phosphorus, and excess of molybdenum were detected in 25.8, 6.5 and 9.7 percent soil samples, respectively. Fodder copper, zinc, calcium and phosphorus contents in 71.7, 45.7, 17.4 and 30.4 percent of the samples, respectively, were lower, and 21.7 per cent samples were higher in molybdenum than the critical levels for dairy cattle. Marked deficiencies of copper, calcium, phosphorus and excess of molybdenum were found in buffaloes and cattle. It is concluded that current feeding regime cannot supply required mineral nutrients to dairy animals resulting in poor health and reproductive problems in dairy animals of the region.