Track 1-08: Improving Quality of Livestock Products to Meet Market and Community Demands
Description
Total and available selenium (Se) and cobalt (Co) concentrations are low in Chinese soils, especially those found in mainly in temperate humid sub-humid conditions in the northeast to the southwest band across China (Tan et al. 2002). The levels of Se and Co are marginally deficit in the brown soil of the Yellow River region which causes lower production level and quality in forage and crop plants. Application of Se and Co fertilizers to arable lands is essential to produce high Se and Co forages. Henan is a Province where produce high-quality grass forages are used to support dairy farming. The province is mainly spread along the Yellow River where soils are sandy and deficient in Se and Co (Lu et al. 2003). Se deficiency in forages not only limits livestock production, but also affects the quality and safety of food products (Rotruck et al. 2003). Since rabbits and dairy cows are especially sensitive to low Se levels in feed, we chose these as our test animals. The objective of this study was to analyze effect of high Se and Co alfalfa forage on animal production and feed conversion efficiency in order to establish a set of effective technical ways to solve trace element gaps of animal diets, i.e. by basal fertilization of Se and Co fertilizers in soil. This study was conducted as a series of field trials and animal experiments from 2007 to 2008.
Included in
Effect of High Se and Co Alfalfa Forage on Animal Production
Total and available selenium (Se) and cobalt (Co) concentrations are low in Chinese soils, especially those found in mainly in temperate humid sub-humid conditions in the northeast to the southwest band across China (Tan et al. 2002). The levels of Se and Co are marginally deficit in the brown soil of the Yellow River region which causes lower production level and quality in forage and crop plants. Application of Se and Co fertilizers to arable lands is essential to produce high Se and Co forages. Henan is a Province where produce high-quality grass forages are used to support dairy farming. The province is mainly spread along the Yellow River where soils are sandy and deficient in Se and Co (Lu et al. 2003). Se deficiency in forages not only limits livestock production, but also affects the quality and safety of food products (Rotruck et al. 2003). Since rabbits and dairy cows are especially sensitive to low Se levels in feed, we chose these as our test animals. The objective of this study was to analyze effect of high Se and Co alfalfa forage on animal production and feed conversion efficiency in order to establish a set of effective technical ways to solve trace element gaps of animal diets, i.e. by basal fertilization of Se and Co fertilizers in soil. This study was conducted as a series of field trials and animal experiments from 2007 to 2008.
