The study determined the effect of feeding of chelated trace mineral mixture in crossbred cattle during the peri and post-partum period; in relation to body condition scores and loss in body weights & fertilty. Total Fourteen cows/heifers (Gir and its crosses with Jersey and HF) were selected for the study on the basis of breed, parity and milk yield. All cows were divided into two groups comprising of seven animals in each group. Group I served as the Control group and received an inorganic mineral mixture @ 30g/head/day & Group II served as the treatment group and received a chelated mineral supplement @ 7g/head/day over and above the inorganic mineral mixture for 180 days. Body condition scores and body weights of the dam were recorded seven times i.e. every month for three months pre partum, on the day of calving and every month for three months post partum. Cows were observed for exhibition of first post partum oestrus. Average BCS loss post partum in control cows (0.357 units) was greater than the BCS loss in treatment cows (0.143 units). Loss in Body weight of cows in treatment group was −7.14 kg and was significantly less than that of control group which was −25.71 kg. Out of the seven cows from the treatment group, five animals (71.4%) exhibited first oestrus prior to 60 days post partum as compared to just one animal (14.29%) from the control group. It can be concluded that, though chelated mineral supplementation could not greatly alter body condition scores of treated animals, it distinctly reduced the loss in BCS and body weights post partum and interval to exhibition of first oestrus after calving.
Chelated mineral, RCS, Post partum fertility, Cattle
