Comparative study on macromineral status in legumes and grasses in relation to livestock allowance during dry and rainy seasons in Punjab, Pakistan

The status of ruminants feed resources available to ruminants in central Punjab at Rural Farm, Sargodha comprising legumes and, grasses has been assessed based on rainy and dry season. Data on the composition of both types of forages revealed that legumes, contained Ca 0.12 and 0.14%, Mg 0.15 and 0.17%, K 0.76 and 1.03% and Na 0.11 and 0.15% during rainy and dry seasons, respectively. While grasses had Ca 0.21 and 0.14%, Mg 0.19 and 0.12%, K 1.19 and 1.32% and Na 0.07 and 0.20% during rainy and dry seasons, respectively. Both legume and grass forages contained all macro minerals far below the critical levels required for ruminants at both seasons. These minerals were severely deficient to fulfill the need of the minerals for rearing livestock and potential threats of their deficiencies for farm animals may be anticipated. Supplementing the deficient macrominerals with locally available feed resources like green fodders, mineral mixtures, and cakes and brans (which are good sources of minerals), or providing region specific mineral supplements would alleviate the deficiency of the macrominerals at this livestock farm.