N. K. AYYAR AND A. W.
ZUBERY
143
The data show that the animals receiving experi-
mental ration containing bagomolasses apparent-
ly consumed more dry matter than the animals
receiving control ration. However, this increased
consumption was found on statistical analysis to
be insignificant.
Live weight. The animals on control ration
were found to lose weight gradually as the time
of feeding progressed. Their average weight
at the start of the experiment was 785 lb. and
decreased by the end of the experiment to an
average of 736 lb. On the other hand the animals
on experimental ration maintained a more or
less constant body-weight. Their average body
weight at the beginning of the experiment was
801 lb. and at the end, 809 lb. However, when
the change in live weight of the two groups was
statistically examined the difference between the
two groups was not significant.
Nitrogen-balance. The nitrogen-balance of the
two groups of animals has been set out in Table II.
TABLE II.
Effect of bagomolasses on the nitrogen metabolism
of working bullocks
Experiment I
Village ration . .
Average .
Village ration + bago¬
molasses
Average .
Animal
No.
1
2
3
. .
1
2
3
..
Nitrogen
intake
gm.
100.24
99.84
100.09
100.1
108.18
98.31
103.10
103.2
Nitrogen
excretion
In faces
gm.
39.90
46.44.
45.05
—43.8
41.97
32.29
38.89
37.8
In urine
gm.
61.06
51.56
56.16
56.3
45.66
45.96
43.56
45.1
Balance
gm.
—0.72
+1.84
—1.12
+0.0
+20.55
+19.96
+20.65
+20.4
It is apparent from Table II that the animals
on control ration were not faring too well, two
out of three being, in fact, in negative balance.
When bagomolasses was added to the village
ration at the rate of 4.5 lb. per animal per day,
the nitrogen balance rose to such high positive
balance as 20.4 gm. per animal per day. This
unique retention of nitrogen was observed in all
the three animals. A perusal of the nitrogen-
balance data shows that although the ingestion
of nitrogen under the two feeding conditions was
practically the same, both digestion as well as
utilization were significantly higher when bagomo-
lasses was added to the inadequate village ration.
Obviously the carbohydrates in bagomolasses
helped not only in the better digestion but also
in sparing protein under the working condition.
This observation on the increased digestibility
of protein is contrary to what was found in animals
at rest [Ray and Talapatra, 1945] and requires
further confirmation.
II. The effect of the addition of bagomolasses to the
village ration enriched by a supplement
The purpose of this experiment was to find out
whether bagomolasses could be added with any
benefit to a poor village ration which had been
already enriched by a commonly available feeding
stuff like wheat bran.
The rations for the control and experimental
groups of animals are shown below:
Crushed gram . . .
Rape cake . . . .
Wheat bran . . .
Bagomolasses . . .
Wheat-bhusa . . .
Common salt . . .
Control
group
2 lb.
1 lb.
3 lb.
Nil
Ad lib.
2 oz.
Experimental
group
2 lb.
1 lb.
3 lb.
4.5 lb.
Ad lib.
2 oz.
Since the body weights of the animals in these
groups were slightly lower than those of the animals
in the previous investigation, a slight reduction
in the amounts of crushed gram and rape cake
fed to these groups was necessary to keep the
digestible protein level the same as in animals
in the previous lot.
In the previous experiment it had been shown
that when the animals were made to work when
fed on the poor village ration the negative nitro-
gen balance indicated a catabolism of body tissues
to supply the necessary energy for working. It
was considered, therefore, that when an extra
amount of concentrate in the form of wheat bran,
which is easily available in the countryside, is
added to a poor village ration, the catabolism
of body tissues can be altogether stopped or at
least reduced. The addition of wheat bran in-
creased the digestible protein supply by 33 per
cent and starch equivalent by about 10 per cent.
Even after this enrichment the supply of energy
was 25 per cent below the normal theoretical