Contents of Some Essential Minerals in Forages for Ruminants in Adama, Ethiopia. A Case Study.

The contents of phosphorous (P),  calcium (Ca),  sulphur (S), manganese (Mg),  sodium (Na),  potassium (K), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu), in graminaceae and legumes used for ruminant nutrition in the city of Adama, Eth i-opia, were determined. The samples were taken at random, from grazing areas near the city, and in the food market for these animals. The Molibdovanate method was used to determine P ; Ca,Mg and Cu were determined by the atomic adsorption spectroscopic met hod with flame; Na and K were determined by flame photo-metry; and S, by the turbidimetric method. The values were compared with the values reported for  these animal requirements. Deficiencies of Cu, P and Na  were  found in all the samples analyzed. King Grass, wheat and  teff stalks, important sources of nutrients du ring the dry season, were the scarcest. Statistics (P < 0.05) showed that, as a group, graminaceae were more mineral deficient than legumes. A study of certain mineral sources from the area is recommended for use as raw materials for salt production

Contenidos de algunos minerales de interés en forrajes para la alimentación de rumiantes en la región de Adama, Etiopía. Estudio de caso.

Se determinó  el contenido de Fósforo (P), Calcio (Ca), Azufre (S), Magnesio (Mg), Sodio (Na), Potasio (K), Hie-rro (Fe) y Cobre (Cu) en gramíneas y leguminosas utilizadas para la alimentación de rumiantes en la ciudad de Adama, Etiopía. Las muestras fueron tomadas aleatoriamente en áreas de pastoreo cercanas a la ciudad y en el mercado de alimentos para este tipo de animales. Para la determinación de P se utilizó el método del molibdovanadato; el Ca, Mg y Cu se determinaron por espectroscopia de absorción atómica con llama; el Na y el K por fotometría de llama y el S por un método turbidimétrico. Los tenores de los elementos fueron comparados con los valores reportados de r e-querimientos de cada uno de ellos para este tipo de animales. Se encontró deficiencia de Cu, P y Na en todas las muestras analizadas. El king grass y la paja de trigo, que junto a la paja de tef son fuente principal de alimento duran-te la seca fueron los  de  mayor  déficit. Estadísticamente (P < 0,05) se aprecia que, consideradas como grupo,  estas gramíneas son más deficientes en el contenido de los minerales analizados que las leguminosas. Se recomienda estudiar algunas fuentes de minerales de la zona para utilizarlas como materias primas paras la producción de sales.Forage Mineral Content of Interest for Ruminants in Adama, Ethiopia. A Case Study.ABSTRACTThe content of Phosphorous (P), Calcium (Ca), Sulphur (S), Manganese (Mg), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Iron (Fe), and Copper (Cu), in graminaceae and legumes used for ruminant nutrition in the city of A dama, Ethiopia, were determined. The samples were taken at random, from grazing areas near the city, and in the food market for  these a nimals . The Molibdovanate method  was used to determine P, Ca, Mg and Cu  was by the atomic adsorption spec-troscopic  method with flame. Na and K were determined by flame photometry; and S, by the turbidimetric method. The values were compared with the values reported for their requirements for these animals. Deficiency of Cu, P and Na was found in all the samples analyzed.  King  Grass,  wheat and teff stalks, important sources of nutrients during the dry season, were the scarcest.  Statistics (P < 0.05) showed that, as a group,  graminaceae are more mineral deficient than legumes. A study of certain mineral sources from the area is recommended for use as raw material for salt production