Mineral Status and its Balances in Growing Buffaloe Calves Fed Urea Enriched Maize Silage with Conventional and Unconventional Concentrate Mixture

To know the mineral status in growing buffalo calves fed on different rations 12 female buffalo calves (1½ y) were divided into 4 groups of 3 animals each. Four types of concentrate mixtures were prepared (CM-1, CM-2 and CM-3 using wheat, mustard cake and deoiled rice bran) and CM-4 (Comprise of 85% DRB, 10% molasses2% urea,2% mineral mixture and 1% common salt) and fed to four groups, respectively. Three types of silages were prepared : silage (untreated), silage II (1.0% urea enriched) and silage III (1.5% urea enriched). Silage I was given to groups, I and IV and silage II and III to groups II & III, respectively. Animals in all the groups showed positive balances of Ca, P, Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe and sustained optimum growth. The blood mineral levels were also similar in all the groups. It may thus be inferred that mineral availability in growing buffalo heifers fed conventional or unconventional rations, as above, were quite similar.