Effect of Supplementation of Minerals and Enzymes on Service Period and Postpartum Plasma Minerals

Twenty freshly calved healthy triple crossbred (HF x J x K) cows were divided randomly into four groups each of five animals from the day of calving to observe the effect of supplementation of minerals + proteins-vitamins (Nutri-sacc power pack, Vetcare) and enzymes (Neozyme RU, Biocon India Ltd) on service period and fortnightly plasma profile of macro-micro minerals up to 105 days postpartum. The animals of Group-I (T0) served as control; of Group-II (T1) were given nutri-sacc powder (@100 g/d/h; while animals of Group–III (T2) and Group IV (T3) received neozyme supplementation @ 750 and 1000 g per ton of concentrate mixture, which was fed @ 1 kg for every 3 kg milk. The supplementation of minerals and enzymes did not influence service period significantly (147±13.69 days). The pooled plasma calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium concentrations were 10.29±0.11, 4.43±0.10 and 3.40±0.09 mg %, respectively. Significant (P<0.05) differences were observed between groups and between periods for all the three traits. Calcium level was significantly higher in enzyme treatment (T3) as compared to the control group, while phosphorus showed inverse trend. The calcium level was 8.15±0.61 mg % on the day of calving, which increased significantly by day 15 postpartum and again by day 60 postpartum and remained more or less static thereafter. The level of phosphorus and magnesium increased significantly by day 30-45 postpartum. Highly significant differences (P<0.01) were observed between periods for plasma zinc, iron, copper and manganese concentrations with pooled values of 1.19±0.03, 1.53±0.04, 0.85±0.02 and 0.09±0.01 ppm, respectively. The zinc and iron levels increased from day 45 postpartum and remained high till day 105 postpartum, while the copper increased significantly by day 15 postpartum. Nutri-saac and/or Neozyme supplementation did not influence the plasma trace minerals profile, except of copper.