Abstract

The mineral soil samples were collected from the study site from a depth of 30 cm to analyze for the status of mineral content in soil commonly supplemented as mineral and serum of sheep. The result revealed that the mean content of macro(%) and trace(ppm) elements in bole and makaduwa were Ca (0.41, 0.51); Mg (0.20, 0.16); K (0.31, 0.40); Na (3.01, 4.86); P (0.02, 0.04); Fe (92.24, 87.09); Mn (165, 120); Zn (12.16, 17.56) and Cu (4.52, 5.06), respectively. A high content of Na (P<0.01) and Mn (P<0.001) was observed in makaduwa mineral soil. The concentration of Ca and Na in makaduwa was at the level to meet the Ca and Mg requirements of ruminants. The Na, Fe, and Mn contents in both bole and makaduwa are above the requirement level, whereas Zn, P, and Cu contents are below the requirement. Serum mineral concentration is within the normal range for Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn for those fed mineral soil.