Bio-Fortification of Oats Fodder through Zinc Enrichment to Reduce Animal Malnutrition

Abstract

The availability of poor quality fodders for livestock feeding is a major hurdle for the dairy industry in South Asia. The low content of Zn in fodders, leads to its malnutrition in animals. In fodders, Zn facilitates protein synthesis, gene expressions, energy production and involves in various metabolic activities of plants, animals and humans. To achieve these objectives, multi-location field trials were conducted on enrichment of oats fodder with Zn through bio-fortification. The experiment consists of eight different treatment combinations for enrichment of oats fodder with Zn including control, soil and soil plus foliar application of Zn at different stages of plant growth. The results of the study reported that soil application of Zn at the rate of 25 kg/ha and soil + foliar application of Zn at 0.5% at 60 days after sowing (DAS) (jointing stage), 90 DAS (booting stage) and both 60 DAS and 90 DAS showed improvement in plant growth parameters. The results further reported that foliar application of Zn at the rate of 0.5% at 60 DAS, 90 DAS, both 60 DAS and 90 DAS reported significant increase in biomass yield and fodder quality. Integrated application of Zn at 25 kg/ha in soil along with foliar Zn at the rate of 0.5% at 60 DAS and 90 DAS showed maximum Zn enrichment, green fodder yield, dry fodder yield, plant height, and Zn accumulation in oats fodder as compared to other treatments of Zn application. These treatments of Zn application through integrated mode also reported significant improvement in fodder quality with maximum crude protein (CP) and crude protein yield (CPY) while neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ash content and organic matter showed a non-significant effect. Thus, the results of experimental study concluded that soil and foliar application of Zn at 25 kg/ha and 0.5% Zn, respectively, at 60 DAS and 90 DAS enhanced the growth, yield and quality of oats fodder which will certainly improve livestock production through bio-fortification.

Effect of common foods as supplements for the mycelium growth of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus on solid substrates

“…Among the various food sources used as enriched and fortified nutrients for humans and animals, the most common ones are cereal crops and fatty seeds [ 39 ]. For example, wheat, rice, corn, barley, oats, or flaxseed are commonly used as supplements for dairy cows and other human and animal consumption [ 40 , 41 ]. In general, the determination of whether a substrate and the accompanying supplements are suitable for mycelium growth is explored by investigating the mass of mycelium grown.…”