THE VALUE OF BORO RICE STRAW AS A CATTLE FEED
INDUBHUSHAN CHATTERJEE, M. Sc. (AGR.), L. AG., Formerly Physiological Chemist, Department
of Agriculture, Bengal, and SACHINDRA NATH SARKAR, M. Sc. Ph. D.
(Received for publication on 27 May 1946)
IN Bengal the rice crop is known by Amon, Aus and Boro. The Amon on winter variety is
harvested during winter (November to January) and the Aus variety is harvested in August-
September. The Boro variety is generally a summer or spring crop. But a second or what may
be called kharif crop, is also taken in some places. The summer variety is sown in seed bed in October
or November, transplanted in December-January and harvested in March to June. The kharif
variety is sown in seed bed in June or July, transplanted in July-August and harvested in September-
October. The crop is grown by artificial irrigation in low lying lands adjoining beels, streamlets
and rivers.
The total area of Boro crop in Bengal is a little over 400,000 acres being about 1.75 per cent
of the total rice area of the province. Of this the district of Mymensing occupies nearly half followed
by Dacca (about 45,000 acres), Malda 40,000 acres, Tiperah 30,000 acres, Khulna 25,000 acres,
Midnapur 17,400 acres and Rajshahi 13,500 acres. In the other districts it varies from 300 to 8,000
acres whereas the districts of Birbhum, Jalpaigury and Chittagong hill tract have no Boro area.
Judged from the standpoint of the acreage it is a comparatively minor crop and is mainly distri-
buted in the eastern districts, but neither the grain nor the straw can be a matter of neglect under
the existing shortage of our food and fodder.
The straw obtained from this crop is generally liked by animals and as will appear from the
investigation on it, it compares well with other straws in its feeding values. As this crop is harvested
at a time when the monsoon does not permit efficient drying, the straw suffers from somewhat greater
disadvantage than that from Aus crop. There cannot be any doubt that every year a large percentage
of both these straws have to pay a heavy toll to the vagaries of monsoon. Yet a considerable part
of it can be saved if suitable ensiling could be adopted. Here of course great propaganda is needed
to impress it on the minds of the people and also to overcome their inherent disinclination and inertia.
Turning how to the experiment, the Boro straw was obtained from the riverine tracts of the
Mirpur side of the Dacca district. About 200 maunds were obtained and feeding was commenced
from the 30 June, 1936 and terminated on the 23 September of the same year thus lasting for
about 12 weeks.
Before describing the details of the experiment it may be well to examine the composition of
Boro straw side by side with that of the other straws. This is given in Table I.
It will be noted from Table I that the straw contains a much higher percentage of nitrogen as
compared to that of Amon or Aus. It has recorded the lowest percentage of crude fibre as well as
nitrogen-free extract. This has been mainly due to the fact that its mineral content (ash) is very
high (Nearly 22 per cent) as compared to 11 to 16 per cent in the case of the other straws. The
striking feature is that the major part of this ash consists of acid insoluble residue (over 18 per cent)
so that the actual soluble matter is about the same (3.8 per cent) as in others. It is poorer in lime
than both Amon and Aus, but the potash content is similar. As will be seen later it contains an.
appreciable quantity of oxalic acid.
Previous experiments have shown that the lime assimilation under rice straw feeding from the
share of lime present in the straw is generally low. It was therefore decided to divide the feeding
and digestion trails under two heads, viz. (1) with no lime and (2) with lime supplement as CaCO 3 .
The latter was given mixed with cake at the rate of 25 gm. to each animals. Mustard cake was fed
as concentrate on the basis of 10 per cent on the wieght of straw consumed.
In view of the necessity of economising space it is not possible to give the various data; but
may be stated that both under 'No lime' and 'Lime' groups the animals showed a definite increase
in live weight. The consumption of dry matter also recorded a steady increase. As the feeding
proceeded there was somewhat greater demand of water. The nature of water consumption and
urination did not exhibit any difference between either.
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