Effect of area specific mineral mixture on milk yield and reproductive performances in crossbred cows

Abstract

The present investigation was aimed to study the impact of AAUVETMIN, an area specific mineral mixture supplement, on milk yield of crossbred dairy cattle in Baksa district, Assam. A total of 120 crossbred cows in their 1st to 2rd lactation phases were selected for the experiment in six different villages under Front Line Demonstration programme of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Baksa. In each village, cows were divided into control group consisting of 10 cows (C1 to C12), which were managed as farmers' practice d without any mineral mixture and treatment group with 10 cows (T1 to T12) that received area specific mineral mixture, AAUVETMIN @ 50 g/d/cow for 120 days. The average daily milk yield in treatment groups increased by 0.968 liter (21.53%). The peak yield and days to peak yield were found to increase by 0.972 liter (17.31%) and 11.69 days in treatment groups, respectively. The average onset of first post-partum estrus after calving was 46.083±1.018 days in treatment group compared to 57.183±0.948 days in control group. The average service period (days) was recorded as 58.550±1.052 and 85.467±0.780 in treatment and control groups, respectively. The average total lactation milk yield (litre) was recorded as 1616.833 ±4.100 and 1514.033 ±7.803 litre in treatment and control groups, respectively. The average total lactation length (days) was recorded as 297.283±1.941 and 294.933±1.958 in treatment and control groups, respectively. The benefit-cost (B: C) ratio for treatment and control group was recorded as 2.32 and 1.71, respectively in the present study emphasizing the economic advantage of mineral supplementation. The health condition of the cows was good during the study period. The findings of the present result suggest that inclusion of area specific mineral mixture as feed additive to the cows enhances their productivity and reproductive performances.