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FORAGE MINERAL STATUS EVALUATION: THE INFLUENCE OF PASTURES
ZAFAR IQBAL KHAN, M. ASHRAF AND EHSAN ELAHI VALEEM*
Abstract: Information is lacking on mineral nutritive potential of native pastures
in arid pastures in different regions of Pakistan. An experiment, using
wet nitric acid (HNO3) digestion followed by an atomic absorption
spectroscopy (AAS), was carried out to measure the levels of macro and
micro minerals of herbage forages of a grazing pasture of Leiah district
of south-western Punjab, Pakistan. The grazed forages had different
concentrations of Ca and Mg, respectively, and were slightly higher
than the minimum recommended levels in the diets of ruminants. Content
of micro minerals varied among the grazing pasture forages. The forages
had lower levels of Cu and slightly low to moderate contents of Zn as
compared to recommended dietary requirements of ruminants. The feeds
had moderate to high. The forages had levels of Fe considerably in excess
of requirements. In order to optimize livestock productivity in ruminants
fed on the pasture forages, specially, during winter or dry seasons,
there is a need to supplement with micro mineral sources.
Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
* Agriculture Department, Government of Sindh, Karachi-74200, Pakistan.
Corresponding Author (E-mail: valeem@go.com).
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