VMD 512: Zoo/Wild Animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

MINERAL MIXTURES

• Mineral supplements need to be added along with the routine food materials to be offered to the dietary items of captive wild animals. It to be borne in mind that minerals also are supplied by a balanced diets.
• However, these can be supplied as mixtures including lime stone, dicalcium sulphate, salt, trace mineral mixtures etc.
• Among minerals, it is the zinc that has effect on the hair growth and calcium with phosphorous are also to be given maximum significance in case of wild animals.
• Deficiency of minerals like calcium and phosphorus may lead to development of bone disorders like rickets, osteodystrophy etc. Nursing animals need an additional allowance of calcium in their dietary items.