Sources of supplemental minerals in the diet of animals are of important significance. Bio-availability of organic sources is believed to be more in the body as compared to regularly used inorganic sources and hence environment-friendly due to reduced mineral excretion, which in turn reduces their requirements in the diet as well. Twenty-four male Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves (about 18-20 months of age and 318.54 ± 8.85 kg body weight) were divided randomly into four groups of six animals each. In the control group (C, InOrg100) zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) were supplemented through an inorganic source, while in treatment groups, organic source at the rate of 50, 75, or 100% (in groups T1 (Org50), T2 (Org75), and T3 (Org100), respectively) was fed at level as supplemented in the control group. Feeding was continued for a period of 180 days with blood sampling at day 0 followed by a regular interval of 45 days. Plasma samples were analyzed for trace elements Cu, Mn, Zn, and iron (Fe), total antioxidant status, ceruloplasmin, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) with cell-mediated and humoral immune response. Plasma levels of different trace minerals like Fe, Mn, and Cu remained unaffected with two sources and different levels of organic minerals, except the level of Zn, which showed higher (P < 0.05) levels in the group Org100 compared to others, and remained indicative of higher bio-availability through the organic source. The concentration of plasma total antioxidants indicated no adverse effect on the reduction of supplemental levels up to half of these minerals. Also, the level of plasma SOD was high (P < 0.05) at each level of the organic source as compared to the 100% level of the inorganic source. Immune response in respect of cell-mediated as well as humoral immunity did not show any reduction in different groups. The study indicated beneficial impacts of the organic source in the form of superior plasma Zn level as well as SOD concentrations. In addition, no negative effect on most of the studied parameters was observed after reducing supplemental trace minerals to half indicating higher bio-availability of organic trace minerals.

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The biological value of protein affects the growth of pre-ruminant calves and most deficient (critical) amino acids are methionine and lysine, which have an important role to play in balancing of amino acids for efficient utilization of feed protein (CP). Planning was made to develop economical calf starter for weaned buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves. Equal-energy calf starters (CS) were prepared with variable protein and amino acid levels, CS1 for control group (26% CP) was made with natural feed ingredients only, while designer CSs for groups CS2 and CS3, had 2 levels of critical amino acids with reduced CP content (21 and 20%, respectively) and fed to 3 groups of 6 calves (age 30 to 45 days and 58.40 kg mean body weight) each for 3 months. Higher growth rate and savings on the cost of feed per kg weight gain was achieved without affecting the digestibility of organic nutrients.

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