86
Calcium Supplement on the Digestion of Organic Nutrients
Here the relevant data in reference to the digestibilities as affected by 'Lime' and 'No lime'
under both Napier silage and Boro straw, are assembled in Tables I-IV.
TABLE I
Comparative figures on combined digestibilities and calcium metabolism. (Calcium data computed on
500 lb. live weight)
Particulars
Digestibility co-effi-
cients of combined
feed, vrz. (silage {
and cake)
Metabolism of lime
(computed on 500 {
lb. live weight)
Dry matter
.
Organic matter .
Crude Protein
True protein .
Crude fibre
N. F. extract
CaO
from silage
CaO from cake
CaO from salt
CaO from water
Lime
supplement .
TOTAL
.
CaO form faeces .
Difference . .
Crine . . .
Balance . .
No lime
D1
Per cent
41.0
43.6
36.1
38.6
47.3
40.7
gm.
8.64
1.51
0.02
0.11
..
10.28
11.96
—1.68
0.12
—1.80
D2
Per cent
48.5
46.2
40.4
42.6
50.4
42.7
gm.
7.47
1.50
0.01
0.11
9.09
11.13
—2.64
0.27
—2.81
D6
Per cent
41.2
43.8
40.7
49.5
46.6
41.4
gm.
7.37
1.49
0.02
0.10
8.98
10.88
—1.90
0.16
—2.06
D8
Per cent
35.5
38.6
31.4
38.0
44.1
84.0
gm.
8.04
1.48
0.01
0.12
9.65
12.30
—2.65
0.14
—2.79
Lime
Mean
Per cent
40.3
43.0
37.1
42.2
47.1
39.7
D3
Per cent
41.5
45.0
36.9
42.8
47.8
43.1
gm.
8.56
1.49
0.01
0.07
9.83
19.96
20.77
0.81
0.05
—0.84
D4
Per cent
40.6
43.7
37.8
38.9
50.8
37.6
gm.
7.54
1.50
0.02
0.11
9.08
18.25
18.51
—0.26
0.13
—0.39
D7
Per cent
41.8
45.2
35.7
39.5
51.3
40.7
gm.
7.60
1.47
0.01
0.12
10.55
19.75
18.84
0.91
0.11
+0.80
D9
Per cent
41.2
44.6
37.8
39.4
50.0
40.2
gm.
8.19
1.48
0.01
0.12
9.97
19.77
19.35
0.42
0.11
+0.31
Mean
Per cent
41.3
44.6
37.1
40.2
50.0
40.4
At the outset it is necessary to state that so far as the consumption of Napier silage was con-
cerned the animals under both 'No lime' and 'Lime' ate the roughage more or less in the same
proportion. The concentrate given was according to live weight. The main difference was in the
addition or otherwise of the lime supplement. It will be seen from Table I above that the addition
of lime has definitely contributed towards a better calcium assimilation, there being two clear posi-
tive balances, one, viz., D4. is on the border line (it is only negative by a small margin) while the
remaining one is slightly more negative but still distinctly better than any of the four under 'No
lime' group. In the latter group the negative values in all have been numerically much larger.
There is therefore no doubt of the better effect of lime supplement on the efficiency of lime assimila-
tion.
If now the digestibility values are examined in regard to the bearing of lime assimilation, it
will be noted that, in so far as can be seen from the digestibilities of combined feeds, the difference
with respect to the majority of components is negligible. A slight depression in the digestibility
of ether-extract and also a slight increase in that of crude fibre, both under 'Lime', are only
partially suggested from the individual as well as mean values. The mean value of true protein
is also slightly low under 'Lime' but this has been chiefly due to the fact that under 'No lime'
one individual value, viz. of D6, has been much more. This has correspondingly increased the mean
under this group. But for this, there is no significant difference in the digestibility of either crude
protein or true protein. In the case of ether-extract or crude fibre, the difference appears to be
more marked. This is also noticed when from the combined values the corresponding shares of cake
are deducted as can be seen from Table II.