Vol. 10, Special Issue 4 (2021)

Author(s):
Ramsawroop, VS Panwar, Sandeep Kumar and Gunjan

Abstract:
An extensive survey was conducted to find out the mineral composition of dry and green roughage in Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana state during Rabi season. To have a systematic and planned study all the four blocks were included and total 120 farming families were selected for the study. A questionnaire was prepared and individual farmer was interrogated regarding the type of feedstuffs and their amount fed to their animals. The samples of straws (wheat, rice and bajra straw), fodders (barseem, oat and grasses) and concentrate ingredients (cotton seed cake and wheat) offered to animals were collected from each village and analysed for minerals. Majority of the farmers were using wheat straw (90.8%). Results of mineral analysis reveal that wheat straw was deficient in Ca (0.21%) and P (0.7%) concentration in terms of daily dietary requirement. Zn and Cu were also found deficient while Iron content was reported higher than daily dietary requirement in all the straws. The mean Mn concentration of wheat straw samples was found slightly lower than critical limit. During the season berseem was the most preferred green fodder fed by of farmer of Charkhi Dadri i.e., 73.3% of farmers were feeding barseem in the district. Results of mineral analysis reveal that barseem had adequate Ca and P concentrations (1.06% and 0.27% respectively) which is sufficient to meet daily dietary requirement. Zn and Cu were found deficient while Iron content was reported higher than dietary requirement in barseem fodder. The mean Mn content of barseem fodder was found close to daily requirement in Badhra block i.e., 41.39 ppm.