author(s)
Rakesh Kumar, DS Rana, Ragini Kumari, Rohit Gupta and Manmohanjit Singh

abstract
The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of area specific mineral mixture supplementation on the productive and reproductive performance of dairy animals. Mineral supplementation was done in lactating dairy cattle (n=40), selected randomly from four villages of the sub mountainous zone of Punjab. Treatment group (t) was fed with mineral mixture @ 60 gm/animal/day till 120 days of lactation period, whereas the control group (c) was not supplemented. Milk production parameters such as milk yield, milk fat %, milk solids not fat (SNF) %, milk protein%, and milk lactose % were evaluated between treatment and control group at an interval of 0 days, 60 days, and 120 days. Similarly, reproductive performance traits such as conception rate, service per conception, service period, and days of first postpartum estrus were also recorded at the same interval between these groups. The results of the study indicated a significant increase in milk yield in the treatment group, whereas no significant difference was observed in the milk composition. In terms of reproductive performance, the first postpartum estrus and conception rate were found to significantly differ between treatment and control groups. These findings may suggest that supplementation of mineral mixture enhanced the productive and reproductive performance of dairy animals.