Use of Area Specific Mineral Mixture to Ameliorate Region Specific Reproductive Problems in Ruminants

Abstract

Reproductive inefficiency in ruminant cows is one of the most important global problems affecting the profitability of the farm. Some trace minerals like Ca, P, Cu, Zn, Co and Mn have important roles to maximise reproductive performances. Even marginal deficiency of these minerals can impair reproduction showing clinical signs of deficiency. Effects of mineral deficiency and metabolic disorders in all categories of dairy animals have been observed due to lower mineral content and poor availability of essential macro and micro minerals from different feed stuffs. Deficiency associated problem have been observed in cattle of different regions and in most of the cases it differs from one region to another due to different soil composition, intensity of cropping, precipitation pattern and soil erosion pattern and so on. The assessment and preventives of mineral deficiency needs thorough understanding of the factors like age of animals, season, soil profile, plant materials and feeding practices. It is, therefore, important to understand the basics of mineral nutrition very clearly as also to meet the requirement of the animals to overcome the problem of deficiencies or excesses, so as to maintain productivity. The concept of area-specific mineral supplement is a new approach of low input and high output for the end users. In this review, the authors discussed the roles of some trace minerals on some productive and reproductive performance of ruminants with special emphasis on bovine species.

Keywords: Trace minerals, ruminants, bovine, growth, reproduction, hormone, metabolites

Cite this Article

Ghosh M.K., Mondal M., Rakesh Kumar Verma et al. Use of area specific mineral mixture to ameliorate region specific reproductive problems in ruminants. Research & Reviews: Journal of Dairy Science and Technology. 2016; 5(1): 1–4p.