Effect of Area Specific Mineral Mixture Feeding On Milk Yield and Composition of Dairy Animals of Central Zone of Punjab

The present study was conducted to observe the effects of area specific mineral mixture supplementation of dairy animals of central zone of Punjab on milk yield and milk components over a period of six months. Sixty nine cattle (51 in treatment group, 18 in control group) and 71 buffaloes (53 in treatment group, 18 in control group) were selected randomly from 23 villages of central Zone of Punjab (Ludhiana, Nawanshahr and Fatehgarh Sahib). Animals from treatment group were fed area specific mineral mixture @ 50 grams/animal/day for a period of 6 months; whereas animals from control group were not supplemented. Milk yield of these animals was recorded by their owners and these values were averaged for 0-3 months and 3-6 months interval. Milk components such as milk fat, milk solids, milk proteins and milk lactose were also evaluated from milk samples collected at 0 day, 3 months and 6 months interval. In this study, area specific mineral mixture supplementation resulted in increased milk yield particularly during mid lactation. However, no effect was observed on milk components during this feeding trial.