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BUFFER ENRICHED MINERAL LICK FOR SUMMER MANAGEMENT IN RUMINANTS

INTRODUCTION:
In Tamil Nadu, feed given to cattle comprises of dry fodder, green fodder and concentrates, of
which dry fodder forms the major share. The dry fodder requirement is covered by crop residues
of paddy, sorghum, maize, groundnut, sugarcane, pulses etc. Due to the failure of the north-east
monsoon in 2014, Tamil Nadu is witnessing drought like conditions in this year. So availability of
green fodder is limited. The dairy farmers have to manage the animals with straws and
concentrates. Straws are a poor livestock feed and having limited mineral content and feeding
more concentrate to meet out the dry matter requirement of the dairy animals leads to Sub clinical
ruminal Acidosis(SARA) apart from the above fact high environment temperature also leads to
SARA in cross bred animals and particularly FMD recovered animals. Buffer enriched mineral
lick is the product which will supplement the vital minerals with buffering of rumen.

Effects of Heat Stress on Physiology:

Heat stressed cows generally exhibit altered blood acid-base chemistry as a result of the
shift in cooling from conductive, convective, and radiation to evaporative cooling (Kibler and
Brody, 1950). Panting and sweating increase as the reliance on evaporative cooling increases.
Panting increases respiration rate, which sets off a negative chain of events. An increased
respiration rate causes more CO2 to be exhaled which decreases CO2 in the blood stream.

Because the buffering mechanism of blood requires a 20:1 HCO3 (bicarbonate) to CO2 ratio,
when more CO2 is lost through an increased respiration rate, the urinary HCO3 excretion
increases in order to maintain the proper ratio.
This increased HCO3 secretion reduces HCO3 concentration in the saliva, which lowers the
salivas buffering capacity. The combination of drooling (decreasing the quantity of saliva
entering the rumen) and saliva with less buffering capacity gives us cows with lowered rumen pH.
This coupled with the altered eating patterns of slug feeding and sorting, all predisposes the heatstressed cow to acidosis.
The negative impacts of heat stress include:

decreased milk production

increased metabolic disorders

compromised milk components

reduced reproductive performance

slowed growth

rumen acidosis

cow death

The cow responds to heat stress with:

drooling and sweating

circulatory adjustments

endocrine changes

altered eating patterns, including decreased feed intake

panting and an increased respiratory rate

There is a particular temperature zone in which lactating dairy cows feel comfort and
produce at an optimal level, Lactating dairy cows feel heat stress when the rectal temperature is
higher than 39.4 oC. Milk yield and TDN intake declined by 1.8 and 1.4kg for each 0.55 C
increase in rectal temperature.

Potassium (K), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg) mineral requirement increase in heat stress
animal. Buffer enriched mineral licks act as a source of electrolytes, mineral(Zinc, Copper,
Cobalt, Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium and Iodine) and buffering agents to help restore
electrolyte imbalances associated with heat stress. The licking action of the cows itself increases
salivation, which acts as a natural buffer for the maintenance of the overall rumen health.

Advantage of Buffer Enriched Mineral Lick:

Ensuring your cattle and goat get the daily minerals they need.
Act as buffer for sub clinical ruminal Acidosis
Provides Electrolytes in stressed animals
Increasing fertility and encouraging reproduction.
Getting the best milk yield from your dairy herd.
Promoting strong growth and development in cattle and goat.
Prevent self licking
It improves salivary secretion to keep the pH stable in digestive system. (prevents
acidosis)

Conclusion:
Buffer enriched mineral lick supplementation is one of the effective and economic method
for maintaining rumen health in ruminants and thereby increasing feed intake, feed efficiency, or
production of milk, and alleviating metabolic disorders associated with ruminal acidosis, feed
intake interruptions specifically Foot and Mouth Disease affected animal while minimizing
disorders often associated with summer stress.

DR,S.BHARATHIDHASAN MVSC.,
9442633623
vetbharathi@gmail.com

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