NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
218
Investigations of Famine Rations
[Vol. XVIII, Part IV
Calcium and phosphorus balances
All the three animals showed a negative calcium balance, while the extent of negative phos-
phorus balance was negligible. It is thus desirable that in feeding ripe kans calcium should be supple-
mented. The balance data are shown below.
TABLE XII
Ca and P balance under ripe kans feeding
Animal No.
39
177
193
39
177
193
Kans
8.56
7.80
7.56
3.06
2.79
2.70
Intake
Cake
3.01
2.26
2.26
4.35
3.42
3.42
Total
11.57
10.06
9.82
7.41
6.21
6.12
Fæces
Calcium
11.71
10.65
10.48
Phosphorus
7.22
5.78
5.90
Output
Urine
2.30
1.90
1.74
0.40
0.50
0.60
Total
14.01
12.55
12.22
7.62
6.28
6.50
Balance
—2.46
—2.49
—2.40
—0.21
—0.07
—0.32
Considering the enormous potentialities of kans and its possible use in future as a fodder on a
large scale, a long term experiment was conducted from 1 January 1940 to 10 August 1940, on
dry kans as the sole source of roughage balance by supplementation with wheat-bran, cake and molas-
ses. Two Kumauni bulls were used for the experiment. Since this fodder was originally intended
for scarcity periods, when animals could not be supplied with the normal amount of food, these ex-
perimental animals were kept on 75 per cent of their ration for 10 days. The mean weight of the
group (Fig. 1) then fell from 280 lb. to 246 lb. They were then fed the experimental ration consisting
of 6 lb. of chaffed ripe kans, 1 lb. molasses, ½ lb. wheat-bran, and ½ lb. mustard-cake. The chaffed
kans was moistened with water 24 hours before offering to the animals. Then molasses, mixed with
equal weight of water, was sprinkled over the roughage. The animals began to relish it after a couple
of days and regained their normal weight within 15 days. During the following 10 days they gained
8 lb. more than their original weight. At this stage Izatnagar was passing through a cold wave,
and as the animals could not be furnished with bedding on the cement-floored stalls for fear of their
eating it, they lost a few pounds, but they resumed the weight increase immediately the cold wave
was over till they reached a peak showing an increase of 30 lb. on the 150th day of the experimental
feeding period.
In order to determine whether the animals on return of favourable monsoon would be useful
for work on this ration, they were sent to the farm for about four hours' work every day from the
105th day to the 190th day of the experiment. They then maintained their body weights and were
in fairly satisfactory state of health.
December 1948]
N. D. KEHAR
219
Meanwhile two more kumauni bullocks were placed on the same ration on the 55th day of experi-
mentation. They started relishing this ration from the beginning and by the 120th day their weight
had increased from 244 lb. to 272 lb. Unfortunately at this stage one animal developed fever and
had to be discontinued and was replaced after 10 days by another. The mean weights of the two
animals on the 130th day of the experiment was 251 lb., which rose to 278 lb. on 210th day when
feeding was discontinued. From the above long term feeding trial extending over a period of about
nine months it is evident that ripe kans can be fed as a roughage without adverse effect.
FIG. 1. Average weight of two Kumaoni bullock under 'Kang' feeding.
Amount of kans available in India. It has not been possible to obtain precise information on
this point, nor of the percentage that is satisfactorily utilized. The Chief Conservators of Forests
and Directors of Agriculture of different provinces were asked to supply information as to the exact
acreage under kans, along with its approximate yield but the replies were disappointing. Whereas
all the officers reported that leans grows over large areas the amount of kans per acre was reported to
vary from two md. in Assam to 100 md. in the Punjab. Nowhere has systematic work been done on
the exact yield of kans per acre under a given set of conditions. In order to arrive at an approxi
mate estimate, a plot measuring 65 feet square was selected at the Clutterbuckganj nursery through
the courtesy of Mr. Kanjilal, Silviculturist, U. P., and the Chief Conservator of Forests, the United
Provinces since the intention was to record the maximum yield the plant was cut when it reached the
pre-flowering stage or a height of about 3 ft. Four cuts could be obtained in a year. The date of
cutting and the yield per cut along with the chemical composition are given in Table XIII.
D
220
Investigations of Famine Rations
[Vol. XVIII, Part IV
TABLE XIII
Samples of kans collected at different intervals
Date
Amount of green kans in lb
Total ash
Ether extract
Crude protein
Crude fibre
Nitrogen-free extract
CaO
P 2 O 5
18-8-46
292
10.56
1.54
4.12
35.44
48.34
0.61
0.56
28-9-45
209
9.76
0.62
6.95
38.72
43.95
0.52
0.72
13-6-46
284
23.65
1.04
3.47
27.27
44.57
1.20
0.72
15-8-46
240
15.51
3.19
4.60
35.13
41.57
0.60
0.82
It will be observed that the total annual yield per acre under Clutterbuckganj conditions with
an average rainfall of about 30 in., is 10568 lb. (4861 lb. dry matter) containing 2039 lb. starch equi-
valent and 3189 lb. of total digestible nutrients.
Samples from all these four cuts were analyzed and it was found that if 4 per cent. crude protein,
0.4 per cent CaO and 0.5 per cent P 2 O 5 are taken as the criteria of a good quality fodder, green kans
warrants a place in that category.
The foregoing observations indicating green kans at the pre-flowering stage to be equivalent
to some of the cultivated fodders and ripe kans equal to some of the common cereal straws, will in-
troduce a reorientation in our views about the use of kans. Although these experiments were origi-
nally intended to make available some feeds to cattle under famine conditions, on the basis of the
results reported above it can be safely recommended as a normal cattle feed.
SUMMARY
In an effort to exploit hitherto unutilized sources of feeding stuffs, attempts have been made to
find it Saceharum spontaneum (kans), which is not economically used much at present and is consi-
dered a pest, can be used as cattle feed during famine periods. On chemical analysis kans was found
to be fairly rich in protein and other constituents. Feeding trials on the pre-flowering and dead
ripe stages of kans indicated that :
1. Green kans at the pre-flowering stage forms a maintenance ration and can be fed as a single
feed. In regard to chemical composition and nutritive value it compares favourably with some of
the cultivated fodders like guinea grass and napier grass.
2. Ripe kans compares favourably with common cereal straws like wheat and rice straw. The
digestibility coefficient of protein of kans is far superior to that of wheat or rice straws.
3. Ripe kans roughage fed for about eight months showed no adverse effect on the health of
animals.
It has not been possible to ascertain the total quantity of kans available in India but from in-
formation obtained from the various provincial Chief Conservators of forest and Directors of Agri-
culture, it is assumed that it grows in every province over millions of acres. Each acre roughly
produces about 10568 lb. of green kans, giving 2039 lb. of starch equivalent and 3189 lb. of total
digestible nutrients.
December 1948]
N. D. KEHAR
221
Although these observations were originally intended to find some feed for starving animals to
enable them to tide over drought periods, these findings indicate that kans can be recommended as
a normal cattle feed.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author thanks Dr S. K. Talapatra and Mr. R. Chanda for technical assistance.
REFERENCES
Bor, H. L. (1941). Ind. Forest. Rec. 2, 85
Brown, W. M. & Fischer, A. F. (1918). Forest. Bur. Phillippine Islands Bull. 16
Hall, W. T. (1946). Personal Communication
Hole, R. S. (1911). Ind. Forest. Mem. 1, 54
Howard, A (1927). Agric. J. India, 18, 39
Howard, A and Howard, G. L. C. (1929). The application of Science to Crop production, Cambridge University
Press
Jenkins, W. J. (1944). Indian Farm 5, 6
Kehar, N. D. (1944). Indian J. vet. Sci. 14, 40
Chanda, R (1945). Indian J. vet. Sri. 15, 280
————— (1946). Prospective, Oct. (In press)
————— Chanda, R. (1946). Indian J. vet. Sci. (In press)
Ware, F. (1943). Technological Possibilities of Agricultural Development in India, by W. Burns
INVESTIGATIONS ON FAMINE RATIONS CARTHAMUS OXYCANTHA
Bieb (KANTIARA)
BY N. D. KEHAR, K. SAHAI AND R. S. CHAUDHRY, Animal Nutrition Section, Indian Veterinary
Research Institute, Izatnagar
(Received for publication on 25 February 1947)
A CCORDING to a recent estimate the quantity of roughages available in India falls short of the
requirement of the livestock population by about 45 per cent. This shortage is felt all the
more when there is a partial or total failure of monsoon. Wars and famines have multiplied needs
and created further shortages. To meet this quantitative insufficiency, efforts have been made to
utilize so far unexploited fodder resources for animals. Observations on 'munj' Saccharum munj
and molasses [Kehar 1944] and on Kans (Saccharum spontaneum)—[Kehar 1946] have already
been reported. This article, presents observations on the use of Carthamus. oxycantha Bieb as
a fodder for livestock.
Carthamus oxycantha— (Kantiara, Miankalai—Punjab ; Kuzbural, Khareza—Trans-Indus ;
Kantila—U. P.) is a native of the dry and arid tracts of North India. It grows wild in the
United Provinces, Punjab, Baluchistan, Afghanistan and westwards to the Caucasus during the
months of May and June. The spinosed clumps constitute an objectionable feature of the grassy
tracts. The village herds even though they have nothing else to graze during the hot months of
May and June, would not eat the luxuriously growing ' Kantiara ' due to its spinosed leaves. In
the early stages, however, Kantiara has no spines and in some parts of the country the weeds from
wheat fields which include Kantiara also, are fed to cattle with chaffed Jowar wheat straw.
EXPERIMENTAL
The plant was chemically analyzed and as shown in Table I, it contains a high percentage of
protein and calcium. Toxicological analysis gave no indication of the presence of any component
of toxic nature.
TABLE I
Chemical composition of ' kantiara
(Percentage on dry basis)
Carotene
Crude protein
............
Ether extract
............
Fibre
Nitrogen-free-extrant
...........
Total ash
Calcium
Phosphorus
Plant (excluding roots)
Leaf and
flower
............
Stalk and little of leaf
11.03
1.23
22.31
51.53
13.90
1.30
0.133
16.7µ
9.45µ
2.09µg
Inspite of its richness in the nutritive components, it was extremely difficult to feed the plant
to the animals on account of its sharp spines. After several trials and failures, an easy and workable
method acceptable to the animals was found out. The spines were rounded off by beating the dry
plants with thick wooden sticks (commonly known as mugris), until the material, when pressed in
the hand, would no longer prick.
223
E
224
Investigations on Famine Rations
[Vol. XVIII, Part IV
The plants, after rounding of their spines, were placed before the animals. They showed no
disinclination but did not consume their full quota of dry matter. It was, therefore, supplemented
with molasses and it was observed that the dry matter consumption rose to about 1.75 lb. per 100 lb.
body weight. Two adult Kumauni bullocks were then fed for a period of 15 weeks on a ration
consisting of 2¼ lb. barley straw, 2¼ lb. Kantiara ½ lb. cake and ½ oz. salt. The quantity of barley*
straw and Kantiara was soon raised to 3 lb. each. The animals presented a healthy appearance and
the average body weight of the animals rose from 233 lb. to 245 lb. during the observation period.
Two more adult animals were then fed on a ration* consisting of Kandiara and oat hay in equal
proportion. After the first three weeks of the observation period both the animals suffered from a
severe infection of ' foot and month ' and lost 22 lb. in weight. On recovery, they started picking
up and gained an average weight of 10 lb. during the observation period of ten weeks.
Kantiara when young, say up to six inches in height, has no spines and can therefore be fed to
animals, as such. Young Kantiara (below six inches) mixed with wheat bhusa was next fed to a
set of three adult bullocks for a period of five weeks. Towards the end of the period a metabolism
trial was conducted by the procedure detailed in a previous article [Kehar 1944]. Two of the animals
fell victim to ' foot and mouth ' disease and the trial could, therefore, be conducted on one animal
only. The nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance was found to be positive and the animal gained
44 pounds in weight.
Another feeding trial was next conducted on three adult bullocks. A mixture of dry Kantiara
and wheat bhusa in the proportion of 1 : 2 was fed to them. The proportion of Kantiara was
gradually raised and wheat bhusa withdrawn until the ration contained 60 per cent of Kantiara.
The ration finally given to each animal consisted of ½ lb. rape cake, 4 lb. Kantiara and 2 lb. wheat
bhusa. In addition to the above, each animal was given one oz. of common salt daily.
The ration was fed for a period of eight weeks. Average dry matter consumption was 1.8 lb.
per 100 lb. body weight. It will be observed from Table II that two of the animals gained in weight
while the third showed a slight decrease. The net result was an average increase of 7.3 lb. in body
weight on the experimental ration.
Table II
Live weight record of animals
(Weight in pounds)
Date
3rd January
1946
(Date of first feeding)
7th January
1946
14th January
1946
21st January 1940
23rd January 1946 .
.
...
2nd February 1946 .
...
4th February 194(5
12th February 1946
18th February
1946
25th February
1946
27th February 1946
Animal No. 239
256
260
260
268
268
264
264
256
264
260
264
Animal No. 24()
304
364
360
362
362
364
304
384
378
384
384
Animal No. 267
276
280
284
280
280
Meta-
bolism
278 period
278
268
268
264
270
Change in weight
+8 lb.
+20 lb.
—6 lb.
Avenge gain in weight 7.3 lb.
* In both those feeding trials two pounds of green fodder was fed twice a week to provide carotene
December, 1948]
N. D. KEHAR et al
225
The animals all along presented a healthy appearance. After about three weeks of feeding on
this ration a metabolism experiment was conducted on the animals. The results showing the
digestibility coefficient, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance of the whole ration and the
digestibility coefficients of Kantiara are given in Tables III, IV, V and VI, respectively.
TABLE III
Digestibility coefficient of whole ration
Animal
No.
239 . .
240 . .
267 . .
Mean .
Dry
matter
46.0
42.6
43.0
43.9
Organic
matter
52.0
46.5
50.5
49.7
Crude
protein
56.1
57.3
59.2
57.5
Ether
extract
53.7
54.9
61.1
56.6
Crude
fibre
52.5
55.4
48.0
52.0
Nitrogen
free extract
50.9
39.4
49.5
46.6
Total
carbohydrate
51.4
44.8
62.8
53.0
TABLE IV
Nitrogen balance
Animal No.
239 . .
240 . .
267 . .
Kantiara
27.71
25.07
24.65
Intake (gm.)
Rape cake
10.31
10.31
10.31
Wheat
bhusa
4.70
4.65
4.65
Total
42.72
40.03
39.61
Excretion (gm.)
Faeces
18.75
17.10
16.15
Urine
12.21
17.92
15.04
Total
30.96
35.02
31.19
Balance
(gm.)
+ 11.76
+ 5.01
+ 8.42
Biological
value
72.63
57.85
64.33
TABLE V
Calcium and phosphorus balance
Animal No.
239 . .
240 . .
267 . .
Calcium (gm.)
Total intake
24.94
22.98
22.63
Total excretion
18.75
18.16
17.53
Balance
+ 6.19
+ 4.82
+ 5.10
Phosphorus (gm.)
Total intake
5.95
5.74
5.70
Total excretion
4.77
5.24
4.38
Balance
+ 1.18
+ 0.50
+ 1.32
TABLE VI
Digestibility coefficient of Kantiara
Animal No.
239 . . . . . . .
240. . . . . . .
267. . . . . . .
Mean.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Crude protein
54.9
56.5
59.6
57.0
Ether extract
27.9
27.8
40.3
32.0
Nitrogen free extract
45.9
51.0
36.1
44.3
December 1948]
V. R.
GOPALAKRISHNAN
231
SUMMARY
Details are given of investigation of Stephanofilariasis among buffaloes in Assam and of its
occurrence as a specific cutaneous microfilariasis of the ear. The disease usually occurs sporadically
but at times, it prevails in the form of an epidemic. Full particulars of its seasonal occurrence and
localities affected, are given.
Symptoms, course, means of control and treatment are described. The disease is generally
confined to buffaloes. It is very rarely fatal though the incidence of affected animals in an outbreak
varies from 20 to 50 per cent.
The causal parasite, both mocrofilaria and adult nematode, has been recovered from the lesion
of ear-sore. The morphological characters of the parasite have been found apparently identicals
with those of Stephanofilaria assemensis [Pande 1936], causing hump-sore of cattle in India. The
findings have been confirmed by Mukteswar Institute and by Officer-in-charge, Helminthiasis Scheme,
Lucknow University.
Skin affections of cattle in India and elsewhere, caused by Stephanofilaria sp., are cited. The
occurrence of Stephanofilaria sp. in buffalo—a different species of animal causing ear-sore, is recorded.
Observations on certain identical features of hump-sore of cattle and ear-sore of buffaloes are
discussed.
The work has been carried out under a scheme of research financed by the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, India.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dr. G. S. Thapar, Officer-in-charge, Helminthiasis Scheme,
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Lucknow University, Lucknow, and to Dr. S. C. A. Datta,
Officer-in-charge, Veterinary Zoology Section, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar,
for examination of specimens. I wish to place on record acknowledgment of help and facility received
from Rai Bahadur S. C. Ghose and from Mr. A. K. Mitra, Director of Veterinary Department, Assam.
To Mr. Nag Chowdhury, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Patharkandi, my thanks are due for his
assistance in the field work.
REFERENCES
Bhalerao, G. D. (1939). Indian J. vet. Sci. 9, 371
——(1947).
Proc. Indian Sci. Cong. 34, 15
Datta, S. C. A. (1935). Proc. Indian. Sci. Cong. Calcutta
Kapur, H. R. (1940). Ann. Rep. V. 10. Bihar (1939-40), 2
Nathani, R. C. and Sankaranarayanan N. S. (1940). Ind. Coun. Agric. Res. Misc. Bul. 33, 7
Pande, P. G. (1935). Indian J. vet. Sci. 5, 332
——(1936).
Ibid. 6, 346
Sen, S. K. (1931). Ibid. 1, 143
Srivastava, H. D. (1939). Ibid. 9, 389
G
December 1948]
NOSHIR
N. DASTUR, et
al
235
Attempts were also made to first precipitate the enzyme with NaCl, (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 and MgSO 4 , dissolve
the salt free precipitates in H 2 O and then again precipitate with acetone. The precipitates so
obtained did not prove more active than the enzyme obtained by precipitation from the original
water extract. The final process evolved for the preparation of the enzyme by acetone precipitation
was as follows : 1,000 gm. of Withania coagulans berries were extracted with two volumes of H 2 O
and centrifuged when a clear extract was obtained. One volume of this extract was treated with
two volumes of acetone with stirring. After about 15 minutes, the supernatant liquid was decanted
off and the precipitate washed two to three times with a little acetone. It was then dried over
H 2 SO 4 under vacuum. 1,000 ml. of extract gave 10-15 gm. of a grayish powder, which was quite
stable even when stored at room temperature. To enhance the activity of this concentrate, one
part of the dry enzyme was mixed with two and a half times its weight of anhydrous CaCl 2 .
The activity of the material obtained as above can be increased by dissolving it in water and
reprecipitating with acetone as shown below, but for studies described here only the once precipi-
tated enzyme was used.
Clotting time with 10 per cent Hansen's liquid rennet
.
.
.
.
.
Clotting time with single ppted. enzyme (5 per cent soln. in 12.33 per cent CaCl 2 ) .
Clotting time with thrice ppted. enzyme (5 per cent soln. in 12.33 per cent CaCl 2 ) .
40
52
44
The activity of the once precipitated enzyme was compared under identical conditions with
Hansen's liquid and powder rennets as shown in Table I. Vegetable rennet was dissolved in 12.33
per cent CaCl 2 . The activities were compared at 37°C. and 45°C., the latter as shown later, was
the optimum temperature for vegetable rennet.
TABLE I
Comparative activity of vegetable and animal rennets (expressed as time taken to curdle 50 ml. of milk
by 1 ml. of rennet solution)
At 37°C.
Hansen's
liquid
rennet
10 per cent
20
Vegetable
rennet
5 per cent
34
Hansen's
rennet
powder
1 per cent
20
At 45°C.
Hansen's
liquid
rennet
10 per cent
16
Vegetable
rennet
5 per cent
7
Animal
rennet
powder
1 per cent
13
Animal
rennet
powder
1.5 per cent
11
The results show that at its optimum temperature, the enzyme from Withania coagulans is very
active and compares favourably with the imported materials. On this basis it is estimated that one
part of the vegetable rennet will coagulate 90,800 parts of milk in nearly 30 minutes.
(d) Properties of Withania coagulans enzyme
(i) Optimum temperature : A 5 per cent solution of the enzyme in 12.33 per cent CaCl 2 was used.
Side by side, trials were also made with a 10 per cent solution of Hansen's liquid rennet for comparison.
The results are shown in Table II.
TABLE II
Optimum Temperature of Withania coagulans enzyme
Vegetable rennet . . .
Animal rennet . . .
Temperature °C.
37
40
45
50
55
60
65
70 75
Coagulation time in seconds
68
28
50
24
21
23
21
19
23
20
22
21
23
25
25
90
60
H 2
236
Preparation of Vegetable
Rennet
[Vol. XVIII, Part IV
The optimum temperature of the vegetable rennet was between 45-65°C. The optimum tempera-
ture of the animal product also lay within the same range. At temperature below 45°C. the activity
of vegetable rennet was markedly affected and at 37°C. it was only about a third of the activity at
45°C. The activity of the animal rennet was affected comparatively to a small degree by changes in
temperatures within the range indicated.
(ii) Effect of pH. Milk was adjusted to different acidities and the pH determined using quin-
hydrone electrode. The enzyme solutions were of the strength indicated before.
TABLE III
Optimum pH. of Withania coagulans enzyme
Acidity of
(per cent lactic)
0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18
0.20
0.22
Milk
pH
6.80
6.68
6.56
6.46
6.38
6.24
Trial No. 1
Vegetable
rennet
Animal
rennet
(Coagulation time in seconds)
100
99
75
67
62
55
100
79
47
38
30
25
Trial No. 2
pH
6.60
6.48
6.35
6.22
6.11
6.01
Vegetable
rennet
Animal
rennet
(Coagulation time in seconds)
93
85
75
67
62
58
90
65
47
40
35
32
With the increase in acidity, the time of coagulation was found to decrease both with vegetable
and animal rennets. This increase in activity was more in the case of animal product.
(iii) Effect of heat. 10 ml. of solutions of vegetable and animal enzymes were placed in a test
tube and the tube immersed in a beaker of water maintained at a particular temperature. After
the solution had attained the required temperature, it was maintained at that temperature for 5
minutes. The results are shown in Table IV.
TABLE IV
Effect of heat on rennets
––
Vegetable rennet . . . . .
Animal rennet . . . . .
Temperature °C.
37°
40°
50°
60°
70°
80°
Coagulation time in seconds
60
32
58
32
60
32
73
51
152
Over 600
Over 600
. .