Utilization of Certain Essential Minerals in Buffalo Calves Fed on Farm Ration

Utilization of essential minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu) in buffalo calves was investigated by the comparative balance technique. Twelve buffalo calves (150–200 Kg) divided into two groups of six each were fed a common farm ration consisting of concentrate mixture (CM), green jowar and wheat straw. The CM of group I was supplemented with a standard mineral mixture @ 3% (2% min. mix+1% salt), where as CM of group II did not contain any mineral mixture. A mineral balance trial was conducted after a preliminary feeding period of 30 days. The net availability of the each mineral was calculated (as percentage) by dividing the difference of the daily mean balance of the two groups by the difference of their total intake. These values were 48.20% for Ca; 53% for P; 59.9% for Mg; 10% for Fe; 26.1% for Zn; 42.3% for Mn and 53.8% for Cu respectively. These values were comparable to the results published in the temperate zones but low in case of Zn and Fe indicating an increase in the requirements of Zn for buffalo calves fed normal farm ration, but not in case of Fe due to its abundant supply through feed.