Importance of Minerals in Dairy Cattle Nutrition

Dr. Chandrakiran N. Sant

(Dairy  Management  Advisor)

 

 

 

India has now achieved the distinction of being the highest milk producing country in the world but a major area of concern is the per animal milk production, which is very low.

 

It is therefore necessary to focus on problems related with optimization of production and fertility.

 

It is known that feeding of animals constitutes more than 85% of the financial input in Dairy Farming. It is also a well-known fact that the health, production & reproduction performance in animals depends entirely upon the feeding viz. Concentrates, dry and green grass as well as the Mineral supplementation; which, so far has been neglected in India.

 

We are however not utilizing our animals potential mainly because of incorrect feeding practices, which are being carried out since olden times based on the traditional practices & misconceptions. Correct feeding is a major factor in animal health and productivity plan. Many health and production -related problems can be solved through correct feeding of Concentrates, dry & green grass along with  balanced Mineral Mixture meeting all the requirements ( of maintenance , production & reproduction).

 

Presently most of the Feed Factories are formulating, manufacturing and marketing compound feed incorporating Minerals based on Parameters set by the BIS or the Dairy Cooperatives like NDDB.

(Unfortunately these parameters have not been revised as per the actual findings or requirements).

 

India is a vast country with diverse agro-climatic, geological and socioeconomic conditions. The cropping pattern and the soil status (mainly due to addition of different types of chemical Fertilizers) varies significantly the mineral contents of the crop/cereal, which can be available as well as BIO AVAILABLE to the animal.

 

It has been seen that Vitamins are required more in Young age whereas Minerals are required always.

 

Minerals are useful in growth of reproductive organs, induction of heat, in formation of blood, Skin conditioning, development of immunity & maintenance of Fertility (especially by Selenium), as well as Maintenance of membrane permeability mainly by Zinc.

 

In cases of Zinc deficiency the chances of infection are more leading to various complications.

.

Minerals play a useful role in Pre & post Parturient conditions viz. Milk letdown, improvement of body enzyme systems, increasing immunocompetence etc.

 

Important Minerals with their approximate Concentration in body:

 

Major Minerals	gm /kg	Trace Minerals	mg / Kg
Calcium	15	Cobalt	0.02 – 0.1
Phosphorous	10	Zinc	10 – 50
Magnesium	0.4	Selenium	1 – 2
Potassium	2	Iron	20 -80
Sodium	1.6	Copper	1 – 5
Chlorine	1.1	Iodine	0.3 – 0.6
Sulfur	1.5	Manganese	0.2 – 0.5

 

At the same time the milk yielding animals are constantly being depleted of their valuable Mineral reserves by virtue of losses in Milk.

 

 

Mineral  Losses  from  ONE  LITRE  of  Milk: –

 

Name of Mineral	Ave.Loss	Name of Mineral	Ave.Loss
Calcium	1.2 gm	Sulfur	0.3 gm
Phosphorous	0.90 gm	Zinc	3.5 mg
Magnesium	100 mg	Selenium	40 mcg.
Potassium	1.7 gm	Iron	20 mg
Sodium	0.5 gm	Copper	1.2 mg
Chloride	1.5 gm	Iodine	1.0 mg

 

 

However most of the Mineral requirement is met only through the minerals available through the Concentrate Feed.

 

Some minerals are present in the Fodder also, but the quantities are minute. The intake of Feed & Concentrate is considerably reduced during the last trimester of Pregnancy as well as  during the dry period thus the Mineral deficiencies get aggravated.

 

This situation exists in India as regular practice of feeding Mineral Mixtures separately is rarely followed. After parturition body Calcium levels are reduced leading to Milk fever / Agalactia /Downer Cows etc.

 

 Major Mineral Deficiency problems are:

 

Repeat Breeding (cystic ovaries)  / Retained Placenta  / Delayed onset of Puberty / Anoestrous  / Abortions  / Delayed uterine involution / Male infertility  / Weak Calves / Birth of dead calves / Reduced disease Resistance  / Predisposition to Metritis & Mastitis  / Reduced & poor growth / Goiter  /Anemia / Bone diseases / Poor growth & diarrhea / Increased susceptibility to Parasites / Increased time for Wound healing & Calf Pneumonia.

 

 

 

 

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MINERAL/VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES

Infertility

Abortion

Ret Placenta

Poor Milk Prod

Skin & Coat

Weak Bones

Pica

Red. Feed Intake

Hyp.0 Mag ne

Anemia

Muscular Inco.

Impaired Vis ion

Weak Hoof

Ca

X

X

X

X

P

X

X

X

X

X

Salt

X

X

X

Na

X

X

X

Mg

X

X

X

X

K

X

X

X

S

X

Iron

X

Zinc

X

X

X

X

X

X

Mn

X

X

X

X

X

Cu

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Iod.

X

X

X

X

Co

X

X

X

X

X

Se

X

X

X

X

A

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

D3

X

X

X

X

E

X

X

 

Thus it is essential to feed Mineral Mixture thro’out life.

 

Macrominerals are also of Prime importance viz. Ca & P but due to lack of Vitamin D3 the absorption and assimilation of Ca / P is not proper.

Excess of calcium or phosphorous throws the ratio of Ca:P out of balance. Vitamin D facilitates and controls the absorption of both. With deficiency of Vit.D more minerals and more correct ratio of them is required.

Vitamin D even though being present in Sunlight may not reach the animals, which are indoors.  The effective wavelengths of sun’s rays are obstructed by ordinary glass & also by dust, vapour & smog as such Vitamin D deficiencies can occur in cities & animals kept indoors.

 

It is seen that most of the Mineral Mixtures available today DO NOT CONTAIN Vitamin D3.

Mainly Ca & P is given by Injections which is followed by, Mineral Mixtures and Oral Calcium’s etc.

 

THEN   WHY   DOES   THE   DEFICIENCY   EXIXT ?

 

Most of the Mineral Mixtures presently in the Market are not able to live upto their Performance due to certain factors viz.

 

1. Various Parties supply the different Trace Minerals being used in Mineral Mixtures.

 

 

 

 

1. These Trace Minerals are then transformed into so called “Mineral Mixtures” by other Parties commonly Known as Third Party Manufacturers who do not have any Quality control facilities.

 

1. The so-called BIG COMPANIES are then marketing these Mineral Mixtures (under their own brand Names) with minor variations in the mineral Quantities as per BIS Standards.

 

This can be verified very easily by just looking at the Bag of any Big Company’s Mineral Mixture wherein it will be clearly mentioned as to who the Manufacturers & who the Marketing Company is.

 

1. In most cases the Third Party Manufacturers do not have any Quality Control facilities nor they follow the same .To reduce their manufacturing Costs as well as to increase their profit margins these third Party Manufacturers NEVER use “Elemental” Values of Minerals.

 

” ELEMENTAL” value is the actual mass of the desired Mineral in the compound being used as a source in the Mineral Mixture”. This value is determined taking into account the Atomic Weight.

E.g.. If Magnesium is to be put in mineral mixture then you may have to use Magnesium Sulphate, 120.4 gms of which contains  only  20.2 gms of Magnesium.

 

1. The most important Mineral is “Selenium ” which (along with the help of Vitamin E) is necessary for growth & development of Immunity. “Selenium” also helps in maintenance of udder health, Fertility, Liver health, PRE/POST Partum disorders as well as Anoestrus.

 

As ” Selenium ” is expensive most of the Companies don’t include this. Secondly the importance

as  well as requirement of Selenium has not  at all been mentioned in the BIS Standard which

has not  been REVISED for a long time.

 

The deficiency of selenium can lead to Mastitis / Metritis  / Cystic Ovaries / Retained

Placenta  /  Possible cause of stillborn Calves and Abortions as well.

 

1. This Mineral Mixture (which does not meet the actual requirement) then becomes unnecessarily Expensive as it has three margins viz. Original Supplier of Minerals / Third Party Manufacturer & the Marketing Company before it reaches the consumer.

 

1. Some Companies do incorporate Vitamin A and / or Yeast in their Mineral Mixtures, which is absolutely unwarranted. It has been reported  that

 

“ Vitamin A  (whether stabilized or not) is more rapidly oxidised when trace minerals are

mixed in with it as concentrate”. *

 

“ Yeast is reported to possess a substance with an anti Vitamin D action “. **

Reference  :   Diseases of Livestock by T. G. Hungerford ; 9th Edition 1990.

Printed Pages  :  1497* &   1511**