Research
The Status of Lead and Cadmium in Supplementary Mineral Feed Source of Livestock in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, feed industries are widely using limestone as a cheap source of Ca 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 Lead and Cadmium content of samples of limestone, Gypsum and marble powder 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. In present work the Pb content (ppm) in Calcium-carbonate and Calcite powder previous work was(123.1± 0.06) and (65.84 ±10.87) respectively while Pb content in the present tested materials(limestone/Calcium-carbonate, marble powder, gypsum) was 24.6, 26.5 and 45.83 respectively. The two samples limestone and marble powder showed almost equal content of Pb while gypsum containing almost double of the two samples.
The Feasibility of using Natural Rocks as Sources of Zinc and Cobalt Inlivestock Feeding in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, feed industries are widely using limestone as a cheap source of Ca without adequate information on the bioavailability of its Ca content and the presence of useful minerals and toxic minerals as well. This being the case, the present study was conducted to determine the Zinc and Cobalt content of samples of limestone, Gypsum and marble powder 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. In present work the Zn content of the lime stone ranged (ppm) 18.4--50.8(with an average of 28.8),In marble powder ranged 16.3— 58.88 (with an average of 37.59) and in that of Gypsum from Mugger cement was containing (an average of 10.87 the value of which was almost similar with the Zn content of Calcium-carbonate and calcite powder(21.33 ±1.20) and(37.50± 2.39%) respectively, showing that Zn content in gypsum of the present study is a beat lower than the content of limestone, marble powder and Calcite powder.
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.
The Feasibility of Using Natural Rocks as Sources of Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphorus in Livestock Feeding in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, feed industries are widely using limestone as a cheap source of Ca 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 Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium content of samples of limestone and marble powder 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 a very small amounts. The Ca content of the samples collected varied from 16.62 to 89.19%, with mean value of 74.4% the value of which was significantly higher than the Ca content of Calcium-carbonate and Calcite powder (39.17 ± 0.3%). On the contrary, the mean P and Mg content of all the test materials was 0.12 and 0.32-0.69% the values of which are comparable to the P and Mg content of 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 a Ca supplement for livestock feeding. Testing the bioavailability of these materials with animal seems to be the future direction of research.
Studies on Distribution and Disappearance Pattern of Calcium from Calcite Powder and its Influence on Rumen Fermentation
Mineral supplements differ in their bio-availability, which must be taken into consideration, before the use of any such supplement. Two crossbred fistulated calves housed in individual pens and fed Calcium carbonate (T1) and Calcite powder (T2) were used to study the distribution and disappearance pattern of calcium and its influence on rumen fermentation. The proportion of Ca distributed in soluble, particulate and solid phase of the rumen digesta, pH of the filtrate, Ammonia-N and VFA concentration, rate of disappearance of Ca and rumen flow rate, dry matter intake and other related measurements were used as evaluation parameters. The results obtained showed that there were no significant difference (P<0.05) between the treatments in NH3- N concentration in the rumen liquor of the experimental animals, indicating that replacing CaCO3 with calcite powder did not affect NH3-N concentration in the rumen. There was no significant difference between different sources of Ca fed to animals in total DMI or DMI per 100 kg body weight of animals, suggesting that calcite powder had any adverse effect on the palatability of the diet. Rumen pH and concentration of NH3-N and total VFA in the rumen liquor of animals were similar, indicating that functions of cellulolytic organisms in the rumen were not affected by feeding calcite poweder.
Possibility of using Calcite Powder as a Calcium Supplement for Livestock
This research project was conducted to study the possibility of using calcite powder as a calcium supplement for livestock feeding. Samples of calcite powder procured from different parts of India were analyzed for dry matter (DM), total ash, acid insoluble ash and major and trace minerals using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer followed by determination of ruminal solubility of calcium carbonate, calcite, dolomite, lime stone powder and di-calcium phosphate powder as source of calcium. The results showed that samples of calcite powder procured from different parts of India, varied in Ca content (%) from 39.0 to 41.3 with an average of 40.03 ± 0.27%. These values were comparable to the Ca content of calcium carbonate samples (39.17 ± 0.3%). However, P and Mg contents of calcite powder were higher than that of calcium carbonate. Mn content of both the calcium sources was similar, but Cu and Zn contents of calcite powder were higher than in calcium carbonate. Levels of toxic minerals like lead and cadmium were lower in calcite powder than in calcium carbonate but the fluorine content in the later was lower than in calcite powder indicating that calcite powder has the potential to be used as a source of calcium in the animal ration. Solubility of the calcium sources studied was low at pH 7 and ranged from 1.74 ± 1.36 in Dolomite to 2.94 ± 0.95 percent in Dicalcium phosphate (DCP). Reducing the pH of the ruminal buffer at 6 increased their solubility and the pattern was almost similar to that recorded at pH 7. Further reduction of pH of ruminal buffer to 2.5, increased their solubility significantly (up to 72.63%), however, Ca solubility of calcium carbonate and dolomite was lower than other calcium supplements. It was concluded that calcite and lime stone powders may be good source of Ca under the conditions when ruminal pH is towards lower side.
