Nutritional status of animals of flood prone zone of Punjab

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of animals with respect to macro nutrients, in Tarn Taran and Jalandhar districts of flood prone zone (FPZ) of Punjab. Irrespective of the socio economic status, the relative proportion of buffaloes was higher in Tarn Taran than in Jalandhar district but reverse trend was observed with regards to cattle. But overall, buffaloes predominated in both the districts (78.3%). The number of lactating animals as per cent of adult cattle units (ACU) was comparable in both the districts. The heart girth and body length of the animals was higher in Jalandhar than that of Tarn Taran district. It resulted in higher body weight of the animals in Jalandhar than Tarn Taran district. The milk yield was higher in Jalandhar as compared to Tarn Taran district (6.21 vs. 5.14 kg/animal/ d).Correspondingly milk urea nitrogen was also higher in former than later. The urinary excretion of purine derivatives, purines absorbed and microbial protein synthesized in the rumen were comparable. The chemical composition of commercial concentrate mixture (offered only to lactating animals or to those which were in advanced stage of pregnancy) was highly variable. The CP content was higher while NDF content was lower in the complete feed offered to the animals in Jalandhar as compared to Tarn Taran district, resulting in higher CP intake in animals in Jalandhar than Tarn Taran district. The intake of nutrient was almost comparable to those recommended for lactating animals by NRC in 1989. The relative proportion of concentrate and roughages was comparable in the diet of animals of 2 districts. Only 5.0% of the farmers of Tarn Taran and 26.8% farmers of Jalandhar district supplemented the diet of animals with mineral mixture, leading to the reproductive problems in 38.3% of the animals in this zone. It was concluded that in FPZ, the animals of Jalandhar district were better fed in terms of the macro- and micro-nutrients as compared to the animals of Tarn Taran district.