Blood biochemical, mineral, and electrolyte responses of cattle to indigenous forage-based and locally formulated concentrate rations in Southern Ethiopia

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of indigenous forage-based diets supplemented with locally formulated concentrate rations on serum biochemical, enzymatic, mineral, and electrolyte profiles of cattle managed under pastoral and mixed crop-livestock systems in Southern Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted in Nyangatom (pastoral) and Salamago (mixed farming) districts using thirty clinically healthy indigenous cattle assigned to five dietary treatments: free grazing only (control) and four increasing levels of supplementation in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement. Blood samples were collected before and after a 21-day feeding period and analyzed for key serum metabolites, liver enzymes, minerals, and electrolytes using standard laboratory procedures. Dietary supplementation significantly improved serum total protein, globulin, glucose, cholesterol, and urea concentrations, with higher responses observed at moderate to high supplementation levels (P < 0.05). Activities of hepatic enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP) increased with dietary treatment, indicating enhanced metabolic activity without pathological deviation. Serum calcium, sodium, and potassium concentrations increased significantly with supplementation, while magnesium and phosphorus were primarily influenced by location. Treatment × location interactions were generally non-significant, suggesting consistent physiological responses across production systems. Correlation analyses revealed strong positive associations among protein, energy, lipid, and liver metabolism indicators, highlighting the integrated nature of metabolic adaptation to improved nutrition. Overall, the findings demonstrate that indigenous forage-based diets complemented with locally available concentrate resources effectively enhance metabolic and mineral status of cattle. This approach offers a sustainable, context-specific feeding strategy to improve cattle health and productivity in pastoral and agro-pastoral systems of Southern Ethiopia.