The Feasibility of using Natural Rocks as Sources of Iron, Manganese and Copper in Livestock Feeding in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, feed industries are widely using limestone as a cheap source of Ca without considering the source variability’s and the amount of other minerals without adequate information on the bioavailability of its Ca content and the presence of other toxic minerals. This being the case, the present study was conducted to determine the iron, Manganese and copper content of samples of limestone , marble powder and gypsum collected from different parts of Ethiopia. Adequate quantities of lime stone, marble powder and gypsum were procured from different parts of Ethiopia and subjected to laboratory chemical analysis in triplicate. The results of this study clearly showed that the total ash content of all the materials analyzed in this study ranged between 81 and 99%, indicating the potential use of these materials (limestone, marble powder and gypsum) collected from different part of Ethiopia as supplementary mineral feed source in very small amounts. The samples of lime stone, marble powder and gypsum were procured from different parts of Ethiopia, which varied in Fe content (ppm) from 548.59 to 8238.67 with an average of 2797.69. These values were very high when compared to the Fe content of calcium Carbonate and Calcite powder samples (0.12 ± 0.00ppm). Also the, Mn content(ppm) from 9.92-262.08 with an average (91.02) These values were low when compared to the Mn content of calcium Carbonate and Calcite powder of previous work which was (233±2.33) and Cu contents(ppm) from 3.17-12.75 with an average (7.73 ppm) the samples analyzed were almost the same (8.00± 0.00ppm) with those of calcite powder and Ca carbonate of previous work Abegaze Beyene (2012). the values of the Fe is much higher ,Mn and Cu content is comparable with common animal feed in Ethiopia. In summary the results of this study showed that lime stone and marble powder widely available in different parts of Ethiopia seems to have potential value as Trace elements supplement for livestock feeding.
