Chemical composition and mineral profile of concentrate feeds from dairy farms of Varanasi, India

One hundred twenty-three samples of 13 different concentrate feeds were collected from 45 dairy farms distributed all over the Varanasi municipal Corporation and these concentrate feeds were analyzed for proximate composition, fibre fractions, macro and micro mineral profilesto explore the suitable nutritional intervention for optimum production of dairy animals. It was observed that, mustard cake and linseed cakes were the major protein source for dairy farms. Linseed cake had comparatively high protein content than mustard cake (30.95 vs. 27.58%). Samples of compounded cattle feeds collected from study area had maximum CF (13.95%) and AIA (2.58%) content. Rice Bran had the maximum NDF and hemicelluloses while mustard cake contained highest ADF, cellulose and lignin levels. Wheat bran contained least NDF and hemicelluloses while maize grain contained least ADF, cellulose and lignin among all the concentrates. Maize grain was found to contain minimum concentration of several macro and micro minerals like Mg, Na, K, Cu, Zn, Mn and Co. Among all the concentrate feeds, compounded cattle feeds had maximum concentration of major minerals viz., Ca, P, Mg and Na while K and S and micro minerals like Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Co, Mo and Se were in optimum concentration in it. This is attributed to additional supplementation of these minerals while formulating the compounded feeds. Different, concentrate feed contained varying amount of one or the other macroand micro mineral andtherefore, individual concentrate ingredient was always deficient in some minerals which always demands additional supplementation of these minerals even when concentrate ration is fed to livestock.