Livestock and Poultry Mineral Supplement Preparation

A regular monitoring of soil and plant samples for mineral nutrients is essential for providing good quality fodders / grains to the animal and to avoid nutritional disorder. The frequent changes in soil mineral profile, non-supplementation of mineral mixture to animals have affected the economic production of crops, animals and affected the human health. Various diseases, reproductive disorders, characterized by the deficiency or toxicity of minerals and poor health is very common.Deficiency of some minerals like phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, etc in our livestock population causing infertility, repeat breeding, delayed sexual maturity, sterility, low yield of milk production, weakening of bones, retarded growth, and rough hair coat. For many classes of livestock including swine, poultry, feedlot cattle, and dairy cows, mineral supplements are incorporated into concentrate diets, which generally ensure that animals receive required minerals. There are two methods of supplementing minerals viz. indirect method and direct method. Free ¿ choice mineral supplements are generally considered only for livestock that do not have access to concentrates.