I. P. SINGH VERMA, T. M. PAUL, ETC. 243
With regard to the effect on the yield of butterfat also hydrogenated oils differ from the untreated
oil. The findings of the present investigation are that groundnut vanaspathi lowers the fat percen-
tage of the milk of cows considerably and coconut vanaspathi increases it slightly. This, along with
a fall in the milk yield had led to a net decrease in the average daily output of fat, more pronounced
in the case of cows fed on groundnut vanaspathi.
In the case of buffaloes both vanaspathis have produced an increase in the fat percentage of the
milk. Although there was a decline in the milk yield when groundnut vanaspathi was fed to buffaloes
the increase in fat percentage has more than made up for that which resulted in a net increase in the
average daily output of fat. In the case of coconut vanaspathi since there was no fall in milk yield
the increase in the total daily fat output was more pronounced. Thus the buffalo is found to be
more suitable for the conversion of the vanaspathi into butterfat. Even with the untreated oils
buffaloes produced better results according to Moghul et al. [1945].
The composition of the butterfat was markedly changed during the experimental period when
either of the vanaspathis was fed. All animals showed this change within five days of feeding the
vanaspathi and gradually the composition of the butterfat returned to normal within a week after
stopping the vanaspathi feeding. There was a decrease in R. M. and Polenske values and a rise in
Iodine value and B. E. reading of the butterfat of cows which received a supplementary feed of ground-
nut vanaspathi. In the case of coconut vanaspathi R. M. value decreased but to a less extent, Polenske
value increased slightly and the Iodine value and B. R. readings decreased. This difference in the
change in composition is perhaps to be attributed to the difference in the composition of the two
different vanaspathis.
Buffaloes which received vanaspathis as supplementary feed produced butter which differed
very much in composition from the butter of the control period of the same buffaloes and from the
butter of the control animals. As in cows, R. M. and Polenske values decreased, and iodine value
and the B. R. reading showed a tendency to increase in the case of the butterfat of the buffaloes
which were receiving a supplement of 1½ lb. of groundnut vanaspathi. Coconut vanaspathi differed
from the groundnut vanaspathi in its effect on the composition of the butterfat, the R. M. value
decreased just as in the case of groundnut vanaspathi but the Polenske value increased, and Iodine
value decreased, and the B. R. reading remained almost steady.
Only the buffaloes that received a supplementary ration of coconut vanaspathi recorded an
increase in milk yield. Cows which received either of the vanaspathis and buffaloes that received
groundnut vanaspathi all recorded a decrease in milk yield. Apart from the fall of milk yield of the
cows during the vanaspathi the fat content of the milk also went down resulting in a considerable
decrease in the output of fat. But buffaloes gave richer milk in both cases and consequently the
fat output was increased slightly. Thus buffaloes seem to be more responsive to vanaspathi feeding.
But further feeding trials extending over a longer period preferably one complete lactation will be
necessary to study the long range effects of such supplementary feeding as also the economic aspect
of the problem.
Regarding the composition of the butterfat of animals receiving vanaspathi supplements, cows
and buffaloes seem to react almost in the same way, but different vanaspathis produce different effects.
The R. M. value is decreased in all cases, the decrease depending upon the E. M. value of the vanas-
pathi fed. The Iodine value increased in the case of groundnut vanaspathi while it decreased in the
case of coconut vanaspathi. Polenske value increased in the case of coconut vanaspathi while it
decreased on feeding groundnut vanaspathi. All these indicate the possibility of altering the compo-
sition of the butterfat by giving suitable feeds. This is of particular interest in the testing and grading
of ghee. Here again, to arrive at the possible limits of variation of the chemical constants due to the
feeding of vanaspathi, further feeding trials with a large number of cows and extending over an entire
lactation are necessary.
SUMMARY
(1) Coconut and groundnut vanaspathis were fed to the Scindhi cows and Murrah buffaloes at
the rate of 1½ lb. per head per day for a fortnight.