Macro and micro mineral profile in soil, feeds and animals in haridwar district of uttarakhand

Mineral profile in soil, water, feeds, fodder and blood serum of cattle and buffaloes of plain region of Haridwar district of Uttarakhand were studied. The macro and micro mineral contents in soil were higher than their respective critical levels. However, the feed ingredients were found to be low in P, Mg and Cu contents. Low P and Cu contents were observed in serum of the animals. The wheat straw contained moderate amount of Ca (0.40±0.03%) while other minerals such as Zn (43.00±2.28 ppm), Fe (271.31±27.83 ppm) and Se (0.13±0.01 ppm) were found slightly higher than their normal range, whereas it was deficient in P (0.14±0.01%), Mg (0.10±0.01%), Cu (3.44±0.66 ppm), Co (0.19±0.01 ppm) and Mn (33.58±4.30 ppm). Green fodders like sorghum and maize contained moderate amount of Ca (0.32±0.03%), P (0.26±0.03%), Zn (64.00±10.82 ppm), Fe (317.50±29.68 ppm), Co (0.79±0.06 ppm), Mn (60.45±12.68 ppm) and Se (0.22±0.02 ppm) while low in Mg (0.11±0.01%) and Cu (6.69±0.66 ppm). Protein rich feed ingredients viz., soybean cake, mustard cake (Brassica campestris var. sarson), lahi (Brassica campestris var. toria) etc. were good sources of Ca, P, Zn, Fe, Co, Mn and Se. The other feeds such as commercial pelleted feed, complete feed block and gram chunni contained high Ca, P, Zn, Fe and Mn but low Cu content. The blood serum mineral concentrations for Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe and Mn (10.43±0.22mg/dl, 1.65±0.14mg/dl, 1.54±0.11ppm, 1.97±0.19 ppm and 0.54±0.02 ppm), respectively, were found above their respective critical levels except for Cu and P. The serum P (3.79±0.21mg/dl) and Cu (0.46±0.07 ppm) were deficient with their values falling below their respective critical levels. The mean concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, Co and Mn in water were 7.01±0.05; 0.27±0.02; 15.63±0.70; 0.39±0.05; 0.48±0.05; 0.02±0.00; 0.03±0.01 and 0.25±0.03 ppm, respectively. Most of the animals were found to have reproductive problems, which could be attributed to P deficiency in this region. To overcome the deficiency, strategic dietary supplementation of minerals with better bioavailability could be a suitable approach.