Mineral status of Java thin-tailed sheep grazed in Mijen agriculture area, Semarang, Indonesia
Abstract: The objective of
this study was to study the mineral status of Java thin-tailed (JTT) sheep
grazed in Mijen-Semarang, Central Java. Six month old of male JTT sheep and
paddock with field grass vegetation were used in the research. Fifteen male JTT
sheeps were divided into three groups consisting of 5 heads per group, and
grazing for 2 month (in early rainy season, late rainy season and dry season,
respectively). The measured variables were feed consumption, digested organic
matter, mineral (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, zinc) level in forage,
feces, blood, and daily body weight gain. The data were analyzed by analysis of
variance with one-way classification. Magnesium and zinc status of JTT sheep
were adequate, whereas phosphorus status was deficient in all season. Calcium
in early and late rainy season were deficient (7.37 and 7.86 mg/100 mL,
respectively), whereas in the dry season was adequate (8.70 mg/100 mL). The
copper deficiency was found in dry and late rainy season (with the Serum copper
level was 0.62 and 0.51 µg/mL, respectively, and borderline in early rainy
season (64.7 µg/mL). Serum copper in the late rainy season was lower
(P<0.05) than it in early rainy season and dry season. There were seasonal
variation of mineral status of Java thin-tailed (JTT) sheep grazed in Mijen
agricultural area, Semarang, Central Java.
Keywords: grazing; male; Java
thin-tailed sheep; season; mineral status
Author: W. Widiyanto, E.
Kusumanti, M. Mulyono, S. Surahmanto, V. D. Y. B. Ismadi
Journal Code: jppeternakangg170042