A STUDY ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF MACRO MINERALS OF CATTLE IN JAVA IN INDONESIA

Nutritional status of cattle in Java in Indonesia was investigated by evaluating P, Ca, Mg, K and Na concentrations in forage and plasma inorganic phosphorus (Pi), Ca and Mg, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations of cattle during both rainy and dry seasons in 1988. Investigations were conducted at Jonggol (West Java), Malang (East Java) and Majokerto (East Java). Low P content in forage averaging 0.11% on a dry matter basis, high Ca:P ratio in forage in the rainy season (7.7:1) and low plasma Pi concentrations averaging 4.71 mg/dl were observed in Jonggol. In all three places, Ca content in forages was higher than the requirement according to the NRC standard and plasma Ca concentrations were above the critical level. During the rainy season forty percent of cattle in Malang and Mahokerto showed plasma Mg concentrations below 2mg/dl in spite of normal Mg and K content in forage. Forage samples from each place showed a wide variety in Na content, and Na content of two thirds of forage samples was lower than the requirement according to the NRC standard. Hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations in Malang and Majokerto showed higher values than the normal range.