Dear research scholars/experts,
Considering the range of available commercial supplements containing calcium and phosphorus in the form of liquid, paste and gels etc. in Indian market that are meant for use in dairy cows, it seems as if the basal diets are deficient in these minerals.
Your expert opinions are highly appreciated in this regard.
Regards,
Mahesh
yes, it is generally deficient as per requirement in early lactation and transition cows. However, in growing animals when feeding system is based on poor quality roughage like pady straws the diet becomes deficient in ca and p in them. But in well balanced rations with optimum concentrate i think there is no need of supplementation of Ca and P.
I agree to your points Dr Hujaz, and that is the reason why farmers are also buying these supplements as milk production boosters!
@Hujaz Tariq. It depends on the content of the concentrate diet. If the required amount of Ca and P are included, definitely there will not be ca and P deficiency.
To Answer the question, there are different options to detect the available ca and p. First is to undertake laboratory feed analysis. Second could be to see the symptoms on the animals.
That is why i believe that NDDB raion balancing program is need of hour at present Indian situation. I think they have Ca and P balancing in software in addition to CP/DCP and TDN
Dear ones
I feel calcium deficiency is more probe in metabolic diseases. Like milk fever and downers cow also. Again if we will consider calcium requirement is a function of stage of lactation and yeild also. So depending the situation the supplementation amy be planned. For a low producing animal exclusive calcium supplementation may not be warrented but during post parturient period and in high yeilders intermittent supplementation may be required.
Regards
Partha
Dear Dr Mahesh , commonly calcium may be supplemented during all physiological stages (gestation, lactation and growth). Calcium from roughages is less available due to some of calcium ions involved in NDF and ADF and some of calcium involved in calcium oxalate. In my work (master) I found that rumen calcium concentration had a negative correlation with rumen pH (-0.39 , p< 0.05). So calcium supplementation should be in low price and has good availability (lime stone).
Dear Drs Hujaz, Partha, Moustafa and Dhia,
Thanks for your valuable inputs.
Considering calcium as a dietary and metabolically essential mineral, it's true that it should be available regularly through cattle diet. My question was, in a well balanced diet, is there any necessity to further supplement oral Ca liquids/pastes? Presently, common practice by many Indian farmers is to supplement oral Ca liq. and by which they report higher milk yield. This confirms that basal diet was Ca deficient. We, as animal nutritionists, should focus on balancing basal diet with Ca and P (through feeds, forages and concentrate mix. containing quality mineral mix.) in addition to energy and protein rather than relying upon expensive commercial supplements, as opined by Dr Hujaz.
Dear Mahesh,
As opined by our learned friends in this forum, I think even if we are using balanced diets, the guiding principle for Ca and P supplementation is the physiological condition of the animal, i.e. , pregnancy, lactation or growth in young animals. For example, dairy cows in early lactation will be in negative energy balance, which need supplementation. As observed by many researchers, it is a known fact that most of the available feeds and fodders are deficient in Ca and P. Depending on the accurate analysis of Ca and P availability in the feed ingredients and considering the physiological status and role of the animal concerned, need for supplementation has to be worked out. It is also important to consider the bioavailability of Ca and P in the concerned product (liquid, pellet or gel). If the situation demands the use of a supplement, then a product with highly bioavailable Ca and P should be preferred.
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