MACROMINERAL STATUS OF SOIL, FODDERS AND CATTLE FROM IDUKKI AND ERNAKULAM DISTRICTS OF KERALA, INDIA AND THEIR INTERRELATION

Minerals are inorganic dietary constituents needed for varied metabolic processes within the body. Availability of minerals to animals in acceptable quantities may be a major issue deciding the health and productivity. Keeping it in view, a baseline survey was conducted in different blocks of Idukki (Idukki, Thodupuzha and Elamdesom) and Ernakulam (Vazhakulam and Muvattupuzha) districts of Kerala state. The aim of the study was to assess the major macro-minerals i.e., Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P) status of soil, plant/ fodder and cattle in two districts of Kerala. Soil (n=150), Fodder (n=150) and Serum (n=160) samples from cattle were collected from two districts of Kerala. Minerals in soil, plant/fodder (composite) and serum were estimated by AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry). The average Ca, P (%) contents of soil in two representative districts of Kerala were found to be 1.13±0.05 and 0.63±0.08 µg/gm, respectively. The percent of soil deficient in Ca and P were 20.00% and 0% respectively. Similarly, the average Ca and P (%) contents of fodder were 0.50±0.02 and 0.45±0.04 with deficiency of 23.33% and 0% respectively. The overall prevalence of Ca and P deficiency in serum samples of cattle were 34.37% and 0% respectively. Significant correlation was observed at 1% and 5% level for Ca and P concentrations in soil-fodder-bovine serum in almost all districts.