MVSc

To assess the present feeding conditions as well as the
mineral status of cattle in Kerala, a survey work was
conducted covering all the districts under the different
agro-climatic regions in the state. From each district, 50 per
cent of the taluks and from each taluk, two villages were
selected for the survey work. From each village, nine samples
of blood were collected from lactating cattle maintained by
three categories of farmers (large, medium and marginal) based
on socio-economic conditions. 'Samples of soil and feeds and
fodders fed to cattle were also collected from different
regions for the estimation of major as well as trace elements.
Nutritional status of animals and incidence of nutritional
deficiency conditions were assessed by using a proforma
supplied to each farmer and also from the clinical cases
recorded in various veterinary institutions in the concerned
districts. Dietary intake of minerals by lactating cattle was
calculated from the, information gathered during the survey
work on the quantities of feeds and fodders fed and from the
results on the mineral analysis of samples of feeds and
fodders collected.
The results on the nutritional survey indicated that
majority of farmers maintained crossbred cows and a small
proportion in all districts practised fodder cultivation for


feeding their animals. The animals in all districts received
both straw and grass as roughage. As concentrate feeds,
majority of farmers used a mixture of compounded feed and
concentrate feed ingredients. Feeding of separate mineral
mixture was practised in all the districts.
From the results of analysis of soil, it was seen that
while the level of iron in soil from all the districts was
much higher and level of magnesium and zinc adequate, there
was a general deficiency of copper and manganese. Phosphorus
deficiency was noticed only in Kottayam district, but levels
of calcium were low throughout the state except in Kasargod
district.
The results of analysis of concentrate mixtures revealed
that the levels of iron in all the districts were much higher,
phosphorus, magnesium and copper adequate, calcium adequate
except in Idukki and Kasargod, zinc adequate except in
Palakkad and manganese adequate except in Alleppey, Kozhikode
and Kasargod. But the levels of sodium and potassium were
found to be lower in all the districts. The mineral levels in
the various concentrate feed ingredients collected from the
different districts were found to be within the normal range.
The mineral concentration in the different mineral
mixtures collected during the present study revealed that none
of the mineral mixtures analysed, was found to conform fully
to the BIS Standard, the contents of most of the minerals

being either higher or lower, an observation which warrants
strict regulations of quality control of all mineral mixtures
marketed in the country.
Analysis of local grasses collected during the survey
work revealed that manganese levels were lower in all
districts except Kottayam. Deficiency of phosphorus and
copper were more wide spread, followed by calcium and
deficiency of zinc, sodium and potassium scattered in nature,
while the iron levels in all districts were much higher. Wide
variations were observed in the mineral concentration of paddy
straw collected from different districts, the variations being
mainly attributable to the differences in the variety of straw
fed to the animals.
Analysis of blood serum collected from lactating cattle
from different districts revealed a normal mineral status in
regard to all the minerals except calcium for which slightly
lower levels were observed in animals from Kottayam, Wyanad
and Kasargod districts.
More cases of reproductive disorders other than abortion
and dystocia were recorded in the areas surveyed than either
metabolic or nutritional deficiency.
The dietary intake of minerals by lactating cattle in
regard to all major and minor elements was not only
satisfactory but was much higher in all districts except for



calcium, the intake of which was relatively inadequate in
Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kannur and
Kasargod districts.
From an overall evaluation of the results obtained in the
present study, it can be inferred that the animals in all
districts maintained a satisfactory mineral status for all
minerals except for calcium, in spite of a generalised
deficiency of copper and manganese and a scattered deficiency
of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in soils and local
grasses. Slightly lower blood calcium values were recorded
from Kottayam, Wyanad and Kasargod districts. The lower
dietary intake of the element in these areas, probably is due
to the differences in the type of feeds and quality of mineral
mixture provided to them. However, marginal deficiencies of
minerals which may go undetected, lower utilisation of
minerals due to their interactions or imbalances or
deficiencies of major nutrients particularly energy, might
also be probable contributory factors for the higher incidence
of reproductive disorders reported from veterinary
institutions in the surveyed areas.