Evaluation of dynamics of iron and manganese from pasture to buffaloes: A case study at rural livestock farms

摘要

Trace minerals (Fe and Mn) contents of soil, forages, and blood plasma of dairy buffaloes from five different Rural Livestock Farms in Sargodha, Pakistan were evaluated. Samples of soil, forages, and blood were taken from respective farms and analyzed after wet digestion. The higher mean Fe and Mn content of soil at farm -104,Fe lower at farm-89 and Mn at farm-106 was observed in this investigation. The higher mean forage Fe and Mn concentration at farm-104 and Fe lower at farm-106 and Mn at farm-96 was found. The blood plasma contained high level of Fe at the farm-96 and the lower at farm-104,while higher Mn level at the farm-106 and the lower at the farm-96.Based on these findings, it is evident that soil had higher value of both Fe and Mn than the requirements of forage crops at all farm studied while forage Fe was higher than the requirements of livestock being reared at those farms while reverse was true for forage Mn, pointing to the warranted need of supplementation to the animals to fulfil their Mn requirements. The blood plasma Mn levels were higher and deficient level of Fe was observed at some farms. Therfore supplements with high bioavailability of Fe should be provided to the livestock being reared at these farms to enhance the reproduction potential of the ruminants.