UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Background: Sorghum is an important fodder crop in India, providing high biomass yield and ensuring year-round green fodder supply for dairy animals. However, continuous cropping and micronutrient deficiencies in Indian soils often reduce forage yield and nutritional quality, thereby affecting livestock productivity and health. Foliar application of essential micronutrients such as zinc, copper, and selenium has emerged as an efficient strategy to improve forage biofortification, nutrient uptake, and digestibility.

Aims: To evaluate the effect of foliar application of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) on the yield, nutritive value, mineral composition of sorghum fodder and its impact on udder health status of dairy cattle.

Study Design: Multi-cut forage sorghum hybrid Raseela was cultivated in two plots. One plot served as control other received foliar application of zinc @ 0.5%, copper @ 0.2% and selenium @ 10 g/ha at 45 days after sowing and the fortified fodder fed to dairy cattle and compared its effect with control and the minerals supplemented through concentrate feed. 

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted on Livestock Farm Complex unit of, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.), India, for a period of six months.

Methodology: Sorghum was cultivated in two plots. One plot served as control while the other plot received foliar application of zinc @ 0.5%, copper @ 0.2% and selenium @ 10 g/ha. First cut was harvested at 60 days after sowing. Fifteen crossbred cows were randomly divided into three groups (T1, T2 and T3). T1 received basal diet without trace mineral supplementation, T2 received inorganic Zn, Cu and Se supplementation through concentrate, while T3 was fed biofortified sorghum fodder. Udder health was evaluated using Modified California Mastitis Test (MCMT) and somatic cell count (SCC). Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA.

Results: Foliar application of Zn, Cu and Se significantly improved green fodder and dry matter yield in the biofortified group compared to control. Crude protein content increased significantly in biofortified fodder, while NDF and ADF decreased significantly. Concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, Cu and Se were significantly higher in biofortified fodder. Somatic cell count decreased significantly in treatment groups by day 15 and day 30 compared to control. The incidence of subclinical mastitis was highest in control cows and markedly reduced in T2 and T3 groups. MCMT scores were also lower in T2 and T3 compared to control.

Conclusion: Foliar biofortification of sorghum fodder with zinc, copper and selenium significantly enhances fodder yield, nutritive quality and mineral composition, while also improving udder health and reducing somatic cell count and subclinical mastitis incidence in dairy cattle.