Influence of Dietary Physical Form on Mineral Status and Hematological Responses in Intensively Reared Goats

Abstract

The study was carried out during May–August, 2024 at the Goat Research Training Centre (GRTC), Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura, India, to evaluate the influence of dietary physical form on hematological parameters, plasma mineral profile, and health status of intensively reared Barbari goat kids. Twenty-four male Barbari kids (3–4 months of age; 7.2±0.8 kg body weight) were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design: separate feeding, complete feed mash, complete feed pellet, and complete feed block. All diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous, differed only in physical form. Blood samples were collected at monthly intervals for hematological evaluation, while plasma macro- (Ca, P, Mg) and trace minerals (Cu, Fe, Zn) were determined using ICP-OES. Dietary physical form had no significant (p>0.05) effect on erythrocytic indices. Likewise, plasma concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc did not differ among treatments and remained within normal physiological ranges. No incidences of mortality, morbidity, diarrhoea, bloat, or other digestive disorders were observed during the experimental period. The findings indicated that processing complete diets into mash, pellet, or block form did not adversely affect hematological profile, mineral homeostasis, or health of growing Barbari kids. Thus, complete feeds in processed forms could be safely utilized under intensive goat production systems without compromising physiological well-being.