Influence of Select Dietary Trace Minerals and their Levels on Growth Performance, Nutrient Utilization and Minerals Balance in Male Goats.

A study was conducted on eighteen male goats to evaluate the effect of incremental levels of select dietary trace minerals on growth performance, nutrient utilization and minerals balance. Animals (16.65 ± 0.53 kg average BW) were randomly divided into three groups and fed a basal diet to meet the requirement of all the nutrients except select trace minerals for 60 days. Groups were T (0.204 ppm Se, 35.29 ppm Zn, 7.37 ppm Cu, 39.79 ppm Mn), T (0.504 ppm Se, 55.29 ppm Zn, 17.37 ppm Cu, 59.79 ppm Mn), and T (0.804 ppm Se, 75.29 ppm Zn, 27.37 ppm Cu, 79.79 ppm Mn). Daily dry matter intake (DMI) (% BW) was lower (P < 0.05) in T as compared to other groups however, average daily gain (ADG) in body weight (P = 0.113) and feed: gain ratio (P = 0.102) showed subtle improvement in T and T groups. Feeding of higher levels of select trace minerals did not affect the intake and digestibility of nutrients, or plane of nutrition, however, the digestibility of non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) increased (P = 0.004) in T and T groups than T. The balance of N, Ca, P and Cu did not differ among the groups but balance of Zn, Mn and Se increased in T and T groups than T group. It is concluded that feeding higher levels of Zn (75.29 ppm), Cu (27.37 ppm), Mn (79.79 ppm) and Se (0.804 ppm) in combination, improved NFC digestibility, retention of Zn, Mn and Se and had subtle beneficial effects on the growth performance of male goats.