S. C. RAY AND S. K.
TALAPATRA
137
TABLE V
Average digestibility coefficient of the whole ration
Animal
Period 1
Bullock—
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
2 . . . . . . . .
3 . . . . . . . .
4 . . . . . . . .
Averages .
Period 2
Bullock—
1 . . . . .
.
.
.
2 . . . . . . . .
3
.
.
.
. . . . .
4 . . . . . . . .
Averages .
Organic
matter
53
54
55
53
54
58
57
59
59
58
Crude
protein
42
36
41
37
39
33
34
35
32
33
Ether
extract
47
51
48
45
48
44
45
42
44
44
Crude
fibre
54
51
54
53
53
53
53
51
55
53
Nitrogen-
free
extract
54
58
57
55
56
64
62
63
63
63
Total
carbo-
hydrates
54
56
56
54
55
60
59
59
60
60
The apparent digestion of crude protein was
depressed to the extent of over 15 per cent when
bagomolasses was introduced in the ration. Simi-
lar depression was also observed by other workers.
Thus, in digestion study on dairy cows, Williams
[1925] found that the addition of molasses to the
ration had variable effects on the digestion of
crude protein but in all cases the addition lowered
the digestibility. Briggs and Heller [1940] also
noted depression in the digestibility of crude pro-
tein when molasses was added to the fattening
ration of lambs. In our experiments the animals
in period 2 took relatively less of crude protein.
The slightly lowered digestibility in period 2 might
have been due to this relatively lower intake.
But an important point to be noted in this connec-
tion is that the digestible quota of crude protein
in both periods 1 and 2 had been provided by
only one item of the ration, viz. wheat bran which
was fed in the same quantity in both periods.
Apparently, in period 2 the digestibility of pro-
tein in bran was reduced.
Several workers have noted that the digestibi-
lity of ether-extract is impaired by the addition
of molasses to the ration [Perkins and Monroe,
1925; Briggs and Heller, 1940]. The reason for
the lower digestibility adduced by these authors
is that the large quantity of calcium and potassium
salts in molasses brings about a laxative effect
which is responsible for the reduced digestion of
fat. In the present investigation no laxative
effect in the animals was noticed in period 2.
The slightly lowered ether-extract digestibility
in period 2 can more easily be accounted for by
the lower intake of this constituent.
The digestibility of crude fibre was practically
unaffected when bagomolasses was included in
the ration, while nitrogen-free extract showed a
significant rise in digestion during the second
period. The total carbohydrates digestibility
showed a slight increase during the bagomolases
feeding period.
EFFECT OF BAGOMOLASSES ON NITROGEN,
LIME AND PHOSPHATE BALANCES
In order to assess the effect of bagomolasses
on the utilization of these important nutrients
balances were determined for nitrogen, lime and
phosphate for periods 1 and 2. The results of
the balance trials are set out in Table VI. The
nitrogen-balance data show that in spite of
5 per cent lower intake and a 15 per cent lower
digestion in period 2, the utilization of nitrogen
when fed with bagomolasses was over 7 per cent
as compared to less than 4 per cent when no
bagomolasses was used. In period 2 slightly
better percentage utilization was due to relatively
lesser excretion of urinary nitrogen under the
bagomolasses feeding.