NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
March, 1949] S. K. TALAPATRA AND M. N. DEV GOSWAMI 23
It was, therefore, finally decided that these should be better utilised in the form of
hay or silage. The following experiments were therefore, designed :—
(a) The grass dal as a green fodder at the flowering stage.
(b) The grass dal as a silage and as a hay also at the flowering stage.
(c) The grass uridal as a hay at the pre-flowering stage when the yield is
maximum.
(a) The dal grass as a green fodder
To ascertain the nutritive value of the dal grass at the flowering stage, it was
fed to four adult Assamese bullocks. The average body-weight of the animal was
about 400 lb. They were fed for a period of about one month with the experimental
food. Urine and faeces were then collected for ten days according to the technique
followed in the Central Research Institute at Izatnagar. Moisture was determined
in the daily grass samples as also in the residues. The chemical composition of the
ten day composite sample of the grass fed to the animals is shown below :—
Crude protein
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ether extract
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ash
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Organic matter
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Fibre
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
N-free extract
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Total carbohydrates
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Calcium (Ca)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Phosphorus (P)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
9.38
2.30
12.20
87.80
22.10
54.02
76.12
0.13
0.206
It is obvious from the above composition that the grass is rich enough in protein
to meet the normal requirements of the adult bullocks at rest. In regard to the
minerals, the phosphorus content seems to be adequate to support a bullock at
rest, while the content of calcium is definitely low. Yet, no attempt was made to
balance the ration with calcium carbonate or chalk, for ultimately it is the availabi-
lity which matters in the assimilation of this mineral and the total intake is of no
consequence. The grass was fed to our animals as a single feed.
TABLE V
Dry matter consumption of the grass dal
Animal Number
1
2
3
4
Body weight lb.
439
312
387
441
Dry matter
consumed lb.
10.1
8.9
9.1
11.3
Dry matter
consumed per
100 lb. body weight
lb.
2.3
2.9
2.4
2.6
Average
consumption
per 100 lb.
body weight lb.
2.6
24 THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF THE INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM [Vol. XIX, Part I,
The average consumption of dry matter was well over 2 lb. per 100 lb. body
weight and as such the palatability of the grass at the flowering stage cannot perhaps
be questioned.
TABLE VI
Digestibility coefficients of the organic nutrients
Animal Number
Intake gm.
Voided in
faeces
gm.
Amount
digested
gm.
Per cent
digestibility
Average
Dry matter
1
2
3
4
4,573
4,067
4,175
5,150
1,883
1,608
1,710
2,254
2,690
2,459
2,465
2,896
58.8
60.4
59.0
56.2
58.6
Crude protein
1
2
3
4
4,28.9
3,81.5
3,91.6
4,83.1
162.5
142.5
151.3
192.5
266.4
239.0
240.3
290.6
62.1
62.6
61.4
60.0
61.5
Ether extract
1
2
3
4
105.18
93.54
96.03
118.45
65.91
56.44
61.73
72.13
39.27
37.10
34.30
46.32
37.3
39.6
35.7
39.1
37.9
Crude fibre
1
2
3
4
1,010.6
898.8
922.7
1,138.2
412.4
348.9
359.4
450.8
598.2
549.9
563.3
687.4
59.2
61.2
61.0
60.4
60.5
N-free extract
1
2
3
4
2,470.3
2,197.0
2,255.3
2,782.0
799.7
663.0
735.6
1,020.2
1,670.6
1,534.0
1,519.7
1,761.8
67.6
69.8
67.4
63.3
67.0
Total carbo-
hydrates
1
2
3
4
3,480.9
3,095.8
3,178.0
3,920.2
1,212.1
1,011.9
1,095.0
1,471.0
2,268.0
2,083.0
2,083.0
2,449.2
65.2
67.3
65.5
62.5
65.1
March, 1949] S. K. TALAPATRA AND M. N. DEV GOSWAMI 25
The data in the above Table will show that except the ether extract, the digestibi-
lity figures are quite satisfactory. From the average digestibility co-efficients,
the starch equivalent has been calculated according to the method of Kellner and is
shown below along with some of the important cultivated fodder plants.
—
Dal . . . . . . . . . . .
Maize . . . . . . . . . . .
Guinea (Young) . . . . . . . .
Napier . . . . . . . . . . .
Jwar . . . . . . . . . . .
Bajra . . . . . . . . . . .
Digestible nutrients in
terms of 100 lb. of
green stuff
D.P.
1.46
1.04
1.11
0.96
0.84
1.08
S.E.
12.45
11.70
7.30
9.6
7.2
11.9
Calcium phosphorus and nitrogen balances under green dal feeding.—The data
shown below in Table VII indicate that a positive retention of either calcium or
phosphorus is not assured under dal grass feeding. A careful examination of the
data will show that the ingestion of both calcium (8.1 gm. CaO) and phosphorus
(21.4 gm. P 2 O 5 ) on an average is most favourable for the formation of insoluble
tricalcium phosphate. The heavy retention of nitrogen is perhaps purely of a
temporary nature.
TABLE VII
Calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen balances under green dal feeding
Animal Number Intake grams
Voided in
faeces grams
Voided in
urine grams
Total voided
grams
Balance
grams
Calcium
1
2
3
4
5.94
5.29
5.43
6.70
8.30
6.08
6.52
8.18
0.4
0.5
0.5
1.4
8.70
6.58
7.02
9.58
—2.76
—1.29
—1.59
—2.88
Phosphorus
1
2
3
4
9.42
8.38
8.60
10.61
10.36
8.63
8.98
10.84
0.10
0.15
0.07
0.05
10.46
8.78
9.05
10.89
—1.04
—0.40
—0.45
—2.28
Nitrogen
1
2
3
4
68.60
61.00
62.63
77.25
26.0
22.8
24.2
30.8
24.13
21.33
23.47
24.96
50.13
44.13
47.67
55.76
+ 18.47
+ 16.87
+ 14.96
+ 21.49
26 THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF THE INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM [Vol. XIX,Part I,
(b) The grass dal as a hay and silage
While the feeding of the aquatic grasses as green fodders leads to helminthic
infection, the question of utilising the stuffs in the form of either hay or silage has
become the subject matter of our present studies. In order, therefore, to ascertain
the best form in which these grasses should be conserved, a number of metabolism
exsperiments were conducted, the details of which are given below.
Metabolism trials with the conserved dal grass.—Two hundred maunds of the
green dal at the flowering stage were collected from places round about our labora-
tory, of which 100 maunds were ensiled and the rest made into hay according to
the 'Tripod system', the description of which as also the method of making had
formed part of a separate paper. Adult Assamese bullocks having an average body
weight of about 400 lb. were used as experimental subjects. The trial with hay was
conducted first and the same animals were later on switched on to silage feeding
and after the preliminary experimental period, urine and faeces were collected as
usual. The chemical composition and the digestibility coefficients of the hay and
silage are shown in the following Tables:
TABLE VIII
Chemical composition of the hay and silage on dry basis
—
Crude protein . . . . . . . . . .
Ether extract . . . . . . . . . .
Ash . . . . . . . . . .
Organic matter . . . . . . . . . .
Fibre . . . . . . . . . .
N-free extract . . . . . . . . . .
Total carbohyrates . . . . . . . . . .
Calcium (Ca) . . . . . . . . . .
Phosphorus (P) . . . . . . . . . .
Hay
7.5
1.43
12.90
87.10
29.20
48.97
78.17
0.141
0.186
Silage
6.94
1.85
17.90
82.10
27.80
45.51
73.31
0.175
0.094
The data in the above Table show that both the samples are almost identical in
chemical makeup. The hay is, however, slightly richer in protein than the silage.
March, 1949] S. K. TALAEATRA AND M. N. DEV GOSWAMI 27
TABLE IX
Digestibility coefficients of the organic nutrients of dal grass when fed as hay and silage
Animal Number
Intake grams
Voided in
faeces grams
Amount
digested grams
Per cent
digestibility
Average
Dry matter
Hay feeding
Silage feeding
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
3,360
3,201
2,869
4,326
4,031
3,473
3,992
5,064
1,400
1,428
1,206
2,000
1,625
1,532
1,522
2,197
1,960
1,773
1,663
2,326
2,406
1,941
2,470
2,867
58.4
55.4
57.3
53.8
59.7
55.9
62.0
56.6
56.2
58.5
Crude protein
Hay feeding
Silage feeding
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
252.0
240.1
215.2
324.5
279.8
241.0
277.0
351.4
148.1
132.5
125.0
189.4
157.1
131.3
149.4
209.4
103.9
107.6
90.2
135.1
122.7
109.7
127.6
142.0
41.2
44.8
41.8
41.6
43.8
45.5
46.0
40.4
42.4
43.9
Ether extract
Hay feeding
Silage feeding
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
48.05
45.77
41.03
61.86
74.57
64.25
73.85
93.68
28.42
27.13
25.93
38.20
43.88
39.83
42.62
54.05
19.63
18.64
15.10
23.66
30.69
24.42
31.23
39.63
40.8
40.7
36.7
38.2
41.1
38.0
42.2
42.3
39.1
40.9
G
28 THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF THE INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM [Vol. XIX, Part I,
TABLE IX—contd.
Digestibility coefficients of the organic nutrients of dal grass when fed as hay and silage
Animal Number Intake grams
Voided in
faeces grams
Amount
digested grams
Per cent
digestibility
Average
Crude fibre
Hay feeding
Silage feeding
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
981.4
934.7
837.7
1,263.2
1,120.6
9,65.5
1,109.8
1,407.8
282.1
271.3
229.4
404.0
346.1
293.2
319.9
454.8
699.0
663.4
608.3
859.2
774.5
672.3
789.9
953.0
71.2
70.9
72.6
68.0
69.1
69.6
71.6
67.6
70.7
69.3
N-free extract
Hay feeding
Silage feeding
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
1,645.4
1,567.5
1,404.9
2,118.4
1,834.5
1580.6
1,816.8
2,304.6
602.6
658.6
529.0
868..4
683.0
684.7
669.1
949.1
1,042.8
908.9
875.9
1,250.0
1,151.5
895.9
1,147.7
1,355.5
63.3
57.9
62.3
59.0
62.7
56.6
63.1
58.8
60.6
60.3
Total carbohydrates
Hay feeding
Silage feeding
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
2,626.5
2,502.3
2,242.6
3,381.6
2,955.1
2,546.1
2,926.6
3,712.4
884.7
929.9
758.4
1,272.4
1,029.1
977.9
989.0
1,403.9
1,741.8
1,572.3
1,484.2
2,109.2
1,926.0
1,568.2
1,937.6
2,308.5
66.3
62.8
66.1
62.3
65.1
61.5
66.2
62.1
64.4
63.7
March, 1949] S. K. TALAPATRA AND M. N. DEV GOSWAMI 29
The data from the above Table may be summarised as follows :—
—
Dry matter . . . . . . . . . . .
Crude protein . . . . . . . . . . .
Ether extract . . . . . . . . . . .
Crude fibre . . . . . . . . . . .
N-free extract . . . . . . . . . . .
Total carbohydrates . . . . . . . . . . .
Average digestibility
coefficients
Hay
56. 2
42.4
39.1
70.7
60.6
64.4
Silage
58.5
43.9
40.9
69.3
60.3
63.7
The above data will show that there is very little difference in the digestibility
coefficients of the organic nutrients under the two sets of feeding. From the average
digestibility figures the starch equivalent (Kellner's) has been calculated and is
found to be 31.22 and 12.34 in the case of hay and silage respectively.
TABLE X
Calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen balances under hay and silage feeding
Animal Number
Intake grams
Voided in
faeces grams
Voided in
urine grams
Total
voided grams
Balance
grams
Calcium
Hay feeding
Silage feeding
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
4.74
4.51
4.05
6.10
7.05
6.08
7.00
8.86
5.72
5.04
4.19
7.13
8.26
6.36
5.63
7.98
0.81
0.14
0.15
0.43
0.12
0.20
0.40
1.50
5.90
5.18
4.34
7.56
8.38
6.56
6.03
9.48
—1.16
—0.67
—0.29
—1.46
—1.33
—0.48
+0.97
—0.62
30 THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF THE INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM [Vol. XIX, Part I,
TABLE X—contd.
Calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen balances under hay and silage feeding—contd.
Animal Number
Intake grams
Voided in
faeces grams
Voided in
urine grams
Total
voided grams
Balance
grams
Phosphorus
Hay feeding
Silage feeding
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
1 .
2
3 .
4 .
6.25
5.95
5.33
8.05
3.79
3.26
3.75
4.76
4.20
5.28
4.64
6.80
4.71
4.23
3.70
5.02
0.05
0.06
0.02
0.10
0.10
0.03
0.08
0.04
4.25
5.36
4.66
4.90
4.81
4.26
3.78
5.06
+2.00
+ 0.59
+ 0.67
+ 3.15
—1.02
—1.00
—0.03
—0.30
Nitrogen
Hay feeding
Silage feeding
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
40.32
38.41
34.43
51.91
44.74
38.55
44.31
56.21
23.7
21.2
20.0
30.3
25.14
21.00
23.90
33.50
13.74
9.30
12.94
17.10
8.47
7.87
8.60
9.32
37.44
30.50
32.94
47.40
33.61
28.87
32.50
42.82
+2.88
+7.91
+1.49
+4.51
+11.13
+9.68
+ 11.81
+ 13.39
It appears from the data shown in the above Table that a positive calcium balance
is not assured whether the grass is fed as a green fodder, hay or silage. The positive
phosphorus balance under hay feeding is difficult to account for, the only explanation
is that the ingestion of this element under hay feeding was almost double than that
of silage feeding. A positive nitrogen balance is noticed under both sets of feeding.
It has been found that 100 maunds of the aquatic grass dal yield the following
quality and quantity of hay and silage at the flowering stage:—
March, 1949] S. K. TALAPATRA AND M. N. DEV GOSWAMI 31
Dal grass
taken
Maunds
100
100
Conserved
product
Hay .
Silage .
Quality
Medium
„
Yield
Maunds
32
75
Dry matter
per cent
84
30.8
Digestible
D.P.
Maunds
0.848
0.713
nutrients
S.E.
Maunds
0.999
0.926
It is obvious that whichever method is adopted, the results appear to be the
same. While silo-making requires a greater technical skill, hay making is simple.
In conclusion it may be stated that the grass can be fed to cattle at the flowering
stage as a green fodder, hay or silage. If it is fed as green, the animals are exposed
to the danger of helminthic infection. The grass is deficient in calcium.
(c) The grass uridal as a hay
It has already been stated that the feeding of the aquatic grasses as green
fodders leads to worm trouble, attempts have, therefore, been made to utilise them
as hay or silage. Accordingly, large quantities of hay and silage were made from
this grass. The silage, however, turned highly acidic and could not be fed to animals
up to appetite.
Excellent quality hay was prepared out of this grass by the 'Tripod system'.
About 50 per cent of the original green colour of the grass could be retained, even
though the hay was nine months old. The results of the metabolism experiment
are shown below. It may be mentioned that the hay was fed to three adult bullocks
an exclusive feed.
TABLE XI
(Uridal) hay consumption as compared to paddy straw
Animal Number
Uridal
Paddy-straw
1 .
2
3 .
5 .
6 .
Body weight lb.
392
380
370
350
340
Total dry
matter consumed
lb.
10.0
8.5
8.5
5.3
5.7
Dry matter
consumed per
100 lb. (lb.)
2.6
2.2
2.3
1.5
1.7
Average
consumption per
100 lb. (lb.)
2.4
1.6
Although the grass is not much eaten either as a green fodder or as a silage,
the hay consumption, as shown in the above Table, seems to be very satisfactory.
It is quite interesting to note that compared to paddy straw, the hay consumption
is 50 per cent more.
H 2
TABLE XII
Digestibility coefficients of uridal hay
Number
Intake of
hay grams
Voided in
faeces grams
Amount
digested grams
Per cent
digestibility
Average
Dry matter
1
2
3
4,530
3,860
3,805
2,040
1,754
1,700
2,490
2,106
2,105
55
55
55
55
Crude protein
1
2
3
371.2
316.3
311.9
185.0
152.5
162.5
186.2
163.8
149.4
50
52
48
50
Ether extract
1
2
3
79.7
67.9
67.0
61.2
53.3
52.7
18.5
14.6
14.3
23
22
21
22
Crude fibre
1
2
3
1,449.6
1,235.2
1,217.6
408.0
326.2
309.4
1,041.6
909.0
908.2
72
74
75
74
N-free extract
1
2
3
1
2
3
1,916.6
1,633.2
1,609.9
3,366.2
2,868.4
2,827.5
838.4
749.0
732.7
1,078.2
884.2
877.2
Total carbo-
hydrates
1,246.4
1,075.2
1,042.1
2,119.8
1,793.2
1,787.4
56
54
54
63
62
63
55
63
March, 1949] S. K. TALAPATRA AND M. N. DEV GOSWAMI 33
The digestibility figures for uridal hay are quite satisfactory. The starch
equivalent as calculated by Kellner's method was found to be 28.12 per cent.
It may be seen from the figures shown below in Table XIII that when made into
hay, the grass uridal is superior to that of dal in so far as the content of digestible
protein is concerned.
TABLE XIII
Dal hay as compared to uridal hay as cattle food
Nutrionts
Dry matter
Crude protein
Ether extract
Crude fibre
N-free extract
Total carbohydrates
Chemical composi-
tion
Dal hay
84.0
7.5
1.43
29.20
48.97
78.17
Uridal hay
85.0
8.19
1.76
32.0
42.31
74.31
Average
digestibility
coefficients
Dal hay
56
42
39
71
61
64
Uridal hay
55
50
22
74
55
63
Digestible nutrients
Dal hay
D.P.
2.65
S.E.
31.2
Uridal hay
D.P.
3.49
S.E.
28.1
34 THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF THE INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM [Vel. XIX, Part I,
Calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen balances under uridal feeding.—It has already
been stated that the aquatic grasses are normally calcium poor and hence all the
animals have shown a deficit calcium balance. The data are shown in the following
Table:—
TABLE XIV
Calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen balances
Animal Number
Intake grams
Voided in
faeces grams
Voided in
urine grams
Total voided
grams
Balance
grams
Calcium
1
2
3
6.99
5.96
5.87
8.16
7.33
7.70
0.10
0.15
0.08
8.26
7.48
7.78
—1.27
—1.52
—1.92
Phosphorus
1
2
3
7.61
6.48
6.39
7.04
6.17
5.76
0.10
0.22
0.09
7.14
6.39
5.85
+0.47
+0.09
+0.54
Nitrogen
1
2
3
59.4
50.6
49.9
29.6
24.4
26.0
17.5
18.7
19.9
47.1
43.1
45.9
+12.3
+7.5
+ 4.0
March, 1949] S. K. TALAPATRA AND M. N. DEV GOSWAMI 35
Mineral nutrition of cattle following the feeding of the aquatic grasses.—
Summarising the position on the subject, it is to be found that although the
aquatic grasses are fairly rich in those nutrients which are considered useful in the
calculation of ration for maintenance and productive purposes, the adverse calcium
balance seems to be the limiting factor. For the sake of easy reference, the balance
data of the 15 individual tests reported in this paper are shown below:—
TABLE XV
Calcium and phosphorus balances under dal grass feeding
Particular
Green dal . . . . . .
Dal hay . . . . . .
Dal silage .
.
.
.
.
.
Uridal hay . . . . . .
Animal
Number
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
Calcium
Intake
grams
5.94
5.29
5.43
6.70
4.74
4.51
4.05
6.10
7.05
6.08
7.00
8.86
6.99
5.96
5.87
Balance
grams
—2.76
—1.29
—1.59
—2.88
—1.16
—0.67
—0.29
—1.46
—1.33
—0.48
+ 0.97
—0.62
—1.27
—1.52
—1.91
Phosphorus
Intake
grams
9.42
8.38
8.60
10.61
6.25
5.95
5.33
8.05
3.79
3.26
3.75
4.76
7.61
6.48
6.39
Balance
grams
—1.04
—0.40
—0.45
—2.28
+2.00
+ 0.59
+0.67
+3.15
—1.02
—1.00
—0.03
—0.30
+0.47
+0.09
+0.54
It is obvious from the above data that only one animal recorded positive calcium
balance. In the case of phosphorus, 50 per cent of the animals under the tests
showed negative balance due to obvious reasons. Under green dal feeding due to
unbalance of calcium and phosphorus ratio, the animals failed to record positive
balance. Under silage feeding however, the total intake of phosphorus was so low
that a positive balance could not be expected. Finally, it may be stated that when
the aquatic grasses constitute the major bulk of the ration, the addition of a suitable
calcium salt or some other grasses rich in this mineral is desirable.
30 THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF THE INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM [VOL. XIX, PART I,
SUMMARY
The aquatic grasses are fairly rich in protein and phosphorus but poor in
calcium. Even at the worst stage, they are leafy, soft and succulent and contain
protein above the hay level. As green fodders they are not much relished by cattle.
When made into hay by the 'Tripod system', considerable green colour is retained
and the stuff is very much relished by cattle.
Metabolism experiments have shown that the crude fibre digestibility of the
grasses is high, which indicates that the fibre is not coarser in ligno-cellulose aggrega-
tion.
A positive retention of calcium is not assured whether the grasses are fed as
green fodder, hay or silage.
It has been observed that the aquatic grasses should preferably be utilised in the
form of hay, as green feeding leads to considerable worm trouble.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The first acknowledgment is due to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
for providing the grant. The authors are also indebted to R. C. Woodford Esq.,
O.B.E., Director of Agriculture, Assam, for his keen interest in their work.
REFERENCES
Kehar, N. D. (1947). Annual Report, I. V. R. I., Izatnagar, U. P., Official and Tentative Methods
of Analysis (A.O.A.C.), (1945)
Sen, K. C., (1937). I. C. A. R., Misc. Bull. No. 25
Talapatra, S. K., Ray, S. C., and Sen, K. C., (1942). Indian J. Vet. Sci. & Anim. Husbd. Vol. 12,
page 263
INVESTIGATIONS ON FAMINE RATIONS
JAMAN (EUGENIA JAMBOLANA, LAM.) SEED AS A CATTLE FEED
BY
N. D. KEHAR AND K. SAHAI, Animal Nutrition Section, Indian Veterinary
Research Institute, Izatnagar
(Received for publication on 31 July, 1949)
I NDIA is one of the food deficit countries. The shortage of concentrates is
much more acute than that of roughages. According to a recent estimate
[Kehar, 1946] the supply of concentrates falls short of the adult bovine requirement
by about 62 per cent. This estimate does not take into account the growth require-
ments of young stock and production requirements of milch and draught cattle.
The magnitude of the shortage appears all the more serious, when the requirements
of 48 million sheep, 38 million goats, 4.5 million equines, 1 million camels and 173
million fowls are also taken into consideration.
With a veiw to meet this shortage of concentrates Kehar and Chanda [1945]
have shown that mango seed kernel, which was largely thrown away as a waste,
could be satisfactorily used as a partial substitute for grains and oil cakes in cattle
rations, thereby making available 70 million lb. of digestible protein and 760 million
lb. of starch equivalent. Likewise, entrails, which are not economically utilized at
present, were found by Kehar and Chanda [1947] to be a rich source of protein for
cattle and they would make available about 47.4 million lb. of excellent protein
material. This article presents observations on the use, as cattle feed, of Jaman
seeds, which are found in enormous quantities and are at present thrown away as a
waste. Jaman is an evergreen tree met with throughout India and Burma,
ascending the hills to about 6,000 feet. It is also known as Blackplum, Jaman-
plum, Jambul and Blackberry, etc.
EXPERIMENTAL
The seeds, collected from the waste heaps or from sweepings under the trees,
were washed to remove the adhering sand, dried and analyzed for organic and inor-
ganic constituents. The chemical composition of jaman seeds, as also of some common
grains, on dry basis is given in Table I.
37
I
38
INVESTIGATIONS ON FAMINE RATIONS
[Vol. XIX, Part I,
TABLE I
Composition of jaman seed compared to some common grains on dry basis
—
Jaman seed .
Barley . .
Maize . .
Oats . .
Rice . .
Wheat . .
Corn * . .
Rye * . .
Crude
protein
8.50
9.48
11.11
10.07
8.33
9.65
8.60
8.30
Ether
extract
1.18
1.67
4.39
6.55
0.88
1.27
3.60
1.30
Fibre
16.90
5.23
1.90
12.71
0.38
2.41
2.00
0.60
Nitrogen
free
extract
51.70
79.09
80.66
65.88
89.13
84.70
63.00
77.30
Ash
21.72
4.53
1.94
4.79
1.28
1.97
1.30
0.90
Calcium
(Ca)
0.41
0.18
0.01
0.11
0.16
0.23
0.01
0.02
Phospho-
rus
(P)
0.17
0.37
0.41
0.41
0.21
0.41
0.25
0.29
*American figures
It will be seen that the seed is fairly rich in crude protein and calcium, the latter
being twice that of wheat which is the richest in calcium in this list.
Three adult Kumauni bullocks, identical in age, body weight and general con-
dition, were selected for a long term feeding experiment. They were fed on wheat
straw and a concentrate mixture composed of rape cake and jaman seed in equal
proportions. The animals relished the concentrate after a couple of days and con-
sumed the entire quantity offered to them. Two weeks later, the proportion of
jaman seed in the concentrate mixture was raised to 75 per cent. The ration given
to the animals is shown in Table II.
TABLE II
Ration fed to the experimental animals
Animal Number
1 . . .
2 . . .
3 . . .
Body weight
200
204
202
Rape cake
¼ lb.
¼ lb.
¼ lb.
Jaman seed
3/4 lb.
3 /4 lb.
3/4 lb.
Wheat straw
6 lb.
6 lb.
6 lb.
Common salt
1 oz.
1 oz.
1 oz.
The feeding observations extended over a period of 30 weeks. After about
five weeks of feeding on this ration a metabolism experiment was conducted by the
usual procedure to find out the nutritive value of jaman seed.
March, 1949]
N.
D.
KEHAR
AND
K.
SAHAI
39
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
After a few weeks of feeding this ration, it was observed that the adult animals
which ordinarily maintained weight on the Institute scheduled ration started gain-
ing in weight and showed an average increase of 32 lb. at the end of 30 weeks.
TABLE III
Live weight record
Date
August 22,1946* . . . . .
August 29, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
September 5, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
September 12, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
September 19, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
September 26, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
September 28, 1946 . . . . .
October 8, 1946.
.
.
.
.
.
October 15, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
October 22, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
.
October 29, 1946 . . . . .
November 6, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
November 13, 1946 . . . . .
November 20, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
November 27, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
December 4, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
December 11, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
December 18, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
December 25, 1946
.
.
.
.
.
January 1, 1947 . . . . .
January 8, 1947
.
.
.
.
.
Weight in lb.
Animal No. 1
200
200
200
204
208
204
208
208
212
212
212
204
208
204
212
216
212
214
218
218
216
Animal No. 2
204
204
208
212
216
220
226
226
224
226
220
222
228
228
226
224
230
228
224
226
228
Animal No. 3
202
206
212
216
218
220
224
226
224
220
222
226
228
224
226
228
230
226
232
228
230
metabolism period
*Date of first feeding
J2