NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
December, 1950]
S.
K.
TALAPATRA
233
The consumption of hay is considered most satisfactory and there is no reason
to believe that the grass, because of its sharp edges, cannot be utilised with entire
satisfaction.
In the present experiment, the hay was fed to 4 adult animals as an exclusive
feed for a sufficiently long period which was followed by a 10-day period of collection.
TABLE VII
Digestibility co-efficients of arali hay
Animal
number
3
4
5
6
Average
Dry
matter
50
48
47
49
49
Crude
protein
42
34
36
38
38
Ether
extract
30
37
31
27
31
Crude
fibre
65
66
67
65
66
N-free
extract
51
50
50
50
50
Total carbo-
hydrates
56
55
55
53
55
From the average digestibility co-efficients, the net energy value of Kellner has
been calculated and shown below along with some of the well-known hays.
TABLE VII A
The nutritive value of the arali hay as compared to the well-known hays of the country.
Hays
Arali hay
Anjan hay
Bolaram hay
Guinea grass hay
Jowar hay
Oat hay
Ambala hay
Per 100 lb. of hay
D.P. (lb.)
2.0
1.5
2.0
1.9
2.5
2.1
2.2
S.E. (lb.)
23.9
29.2
27.8
19.9
24.8
42.2
23.5
The arali hay is, therefore, comparable with most of the hays of the country.
The hay as compared to the green arali
As a result of a fairly large number of trials, it has been observed that in the
hot and humid climate of Assam, it is extremly difficult to preserve the original
nutritive value of the grass when it is turned into hay. A sort of slow fermentation
takes place in the stack which appears to be responsible for the poor protein digesti-
bility. In the present case, the grass was dried in the fields up to 60 per cent dry
234 INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM III
[Vol. XX, Part IV,
matter, the rest of the drying, however, took place over a frame so as to preserve
as much of the green colour as possible. It may be seen from the Table VIII that
the hay is comparable with that of the green grass from which it was made.
TABLE VIII
Comparative digestibility co-efficients of green arali and hay
Parti-
culars
Feed
Arali
green
Arali
hay
Chemical composition on dry basis
Crude protein
5.83
6.3
Ether extract
2.1
1.5
Ash
16.7
14.9
Crude fibre
28.4
31.4
N-free extract
47.0
45.9
Total carbohydrates
75.4
77.3
Calcium
0.19
0.146
Phosphorus
0.14
0.135
Digestibility coefficients
Crude protein
40
38
Ether extract
23
31
Crude fibre
63
66
N-free extract
54
50
Total carbohydrates
57
55
Digestible
nutrients
per 100 lb.
raw
material
D. P. (lb.)
0.82
2.0
S.E. (lb.)
11.9
23.9
The data in Table VIII show that there is little difference in the digestibility
coefficients of the various nutrients under the two sets of feeding. The protein
digestibility, however, is slightly lower in the case of hay.
The data in Table IX indicate that a positive nitrogen balance is fully assured
when hay forms the exclusive diet. It may be mentioned that about 119 and 117
gm. of digestible protein were required to effect a positive nitrogen balance under
green and hay feeding experiments respectively for animals of about 500 lb. Due
probably to insufficient supply, both calcium and phosphorus balances are negative.
TABLE IX
The nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances under arali hay feeding
Animal
number
Intake
(gm.)
Excretion
Faeces
(gm.)
Urine
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Balance
(gm.)
Nitrogen
3
4
5
6
48.2
52.8
48.7
48.8
28.1
34.6
33.0
30.1
15.3
13.2
14.3
13.2
43.4
47.8
47.3
43.3
+4.8
+5.0
+1.4
+5.5
December, 1950]
S.
K.
TALAPATRA
235
TABLE IX—contd.
The nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances under arali hay feeding
Animal
number
Intake
(gm.)
Excretion
Faces
(gm.)
Urine
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Balance
(gm.)
Calcium
3
4
5
6
6.95
7.63
7.03
7.05
8.18
8.27
8.88
8.04
0.5
1.41
0.74
1.05
8.68
9.68
9.62
9.09
—1.73
—2.05
—2.59
—2.04
Phosphorus
3
4
5
6
6.43
7.05
6.50
6.52
6.91
7.47
6.82
6.14
0.20
0.21
0.11
0.32
7.11
7.68
6.93
6.46
—0.68
—0.63
—0.43
+0.06
II. The grass Arundo donax Linn. (nal) as a cattle feed
(a) Nal as a green fodder in November
Satisfactory results are not obtained when the other variety of the semi-aquatic
grass nal was tried under indentical conditions. Unlike that of arali, November-cut
nal was not relished at all when fed as an exclusive feed. The consumption of dry
matter by the animals was on an average 0.95 lb. per 100 lb. body weight. The
digestibility of dry matter was only 30 per cent. For obvious reasons, metabolism
studies were abandoned. It seems to us that it is not worth feeding at this stage.
(b) Nal as a hay at the prime stage
While great difficulty is experienced to make hay from the other leafy indigenous
grasses during the full swing of monsoon, this grass can be turned into hay even in the
shed over a frame. The hay thus made retains considerable green colour and appa-
rently no fermentation was noticed. The chemical composition and other relevent
data are shown in the following tables. It may be mentioned that this was fed as
an exclusive feed to 3 adult animals for digestibility determination.
236
INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM III
[Vol. XX, Part IV,
TABLE X
Composition of nal hay on dry basis
Crude protein
Ether extract
Ash
Crude fibre
N-free extract
Total carbohydrates
Calcium
Phosphorus
Nitrogen
Whole plant
8.81
1.06
12.40
33.0
44.73
77.73
0.154
0.154
1.41
Stem
6.08
0.08
11.50
40.00
42.34
82.34
0.108
0.139
0.973
The hay was quite rich in protein but its consumption was only about 1.4 lb.
per 100 lb. body weight.
TABLE XI
Digestibility coefficients of nal hay
Animal number
4
5
6
Average
Dry
matter
43
39
36
39
Crude
protein
44
46
40
43
Ether
extract
29
33
20
27
Crude
fibre
55
44
46
48
N-free
extract
40
39
36
38
Total
carbo-
hydrates
46
41
40
42
December, 1950]
S.
K.
TALAPATRA
237
The digestibility coefficients of nal hay may be regarded as unsatisfactory,
specially when the content of protein in the hay was about 9 per cent. The protein
digestibility is definitely low and the very low crude fibre digestibility indicates
that the grass is considerably lignified even at the prime stage. The starch value
of the hay is only about 13.7 lb. per 100 lb. of the material. It is, therefore, not
worth feeding the grass in the form of hay even at the prime stage. The nitrogen,
calcium and phosphorus balances are shown in Table XII.
TABLE XII
The nitrogen calcium and phosphorus balances under nal hay feeding
Animal number
Intake
(gm.)
EXCRETION
Faeces
(gm.)
Urine
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Balance
(gm.)
Nitrogen
4
5
6
62.0
40.1
46.2
34.6
21.7
27.8
20.2
20.0
14.7
54.8
41.7
42.5
+7.2
—1.6
+3.7
Calcium
4
5
6
6.73
4.31
4.99
6.79
4.69
5.94
0.36
0.30
0.20
7.15
4.99
6.14
—0.42
—0.68
—1.15
Phosphorus
4
5
6
6.39
3.57
4.54
5.64
4.07
5.01
0.10
0.15
0.20
5.74
4.22
5.21
+0.65
—0.65
—0.67
The nitrogen balance as shown above indicate that a maintenance ration may
be provided by ad lib feeding of the hay. Even then considering the transport
and other operational charges, it is better to avoid making hay unless a great
scarcity of cattle feed is anticipated. The calcium and phosphorus balances are
negative, because of the low intake. One animal, however, recorded a slight posi-
tive phosphorus balance.
The green feeding experiment at the prime stage could not be taken up due to
very bad weather condition and irregular supply of the grass from a distant place.
However, arrangements were specially made to study the grass just after the first
few showers of rain in April and May.
(c) The grass nal as a green fodder at the early stage.
Mature bullocks were fedexclusively with the grass at about 3 ft. height
when the plant consisted mostly of soft leaves (shoots) and little or no stem.
B
238 INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM—III [Vol. XX, Part IV,
Since it is a tall grass which grows to a height of about 10 to 15 ft. it is possible to get
a large supply of it in the above form during the early part of May. Even at this
stage the content of dry matter is about 32 per cent. The chemical composition,
dry matter consumption, etc. are shown in the following tables.
TABLE XIII
Chemical composition of early cut ' nal ' (dry basis)
Nutrients
Crude protein
Ether extract
Ash
Crude fibre
N-free extract
Total carbohydrates
Calcium
Phosphorus
Nitrogen
Per cent.
13.2
1.95
15.05
28.5
41.3
69.8
0.231
0.150
2.112
The grass is definitely rich in protein at this stage and appears to be poor in
both calcium and phosphorus.
TABLE XIV
Dry matter consumption of early cut ' nal '
Animal number
1
2
3
4
Body weight
(lb.)
490
480
470
475
Consumed
(lb.)
8.8
9.0
8.3
8.8
Consumed
per 100 lb.
body weight
(lb.)
1.8
1.9
2.0
1.9
Average
(lb.)
..
1.9
..
..
It is evident from the above data that at this stage, the grass is much relished.
There is, therefore, some possibility of utilising the feed for productive purposes,
if the digestibility coefficients are normal.
TABLE XV
Digestibility coefficients of early cut ' nal '
Animal number
1
2
3
4
Average
Dry
matter
63
65
71
68
67
Crude
protein
72
75
74
74
74
Ether
extract
53
62
57
52
56
Crude
fibre
66
66
75
69
69
N-free
extract
63
64
72
67
67
Total
carbo-
hydrates
64
64
72
70
68
December, 1950]
S.
K.
TALAPATRA
239
The digestibility figures shown above indicate that the early-cut ' nal ' (mostly
shoots) is a valuable cattle feed. The crude protein digestibility seems to be very
high. The buffaloes in this part, it seems, travel great distance in search of these
shoots. However, such high digestibility coefficients have recently been reported
by Maymone [ 1945 ] working with fig leaves (Ficus carica, L.). According to this
investigator, fig leaves containing 33 per cent dry matter showed digestibility co-
efficients of 72, 38, 69 and 81 per cent of crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre
and N-free extract respectively. The protein content of the sample on dry matter
basis was 13 per cent and the starch value as determined by Kellners' method was
17.5 per cent per 100 kg. of the fresh fig leaves. In the present case, however, with
the early cut ' nal ' the net energy value of Kellner was found to be 15 lb. per 100 lb.
of the fresh shoots. The nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances are shown in
TABLE XVI.
TABLE XVI
The nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances
Animal number
Intake
(gm.)
EXCRETION
Faeces
(gm.)
Urine
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Balance
(gm.)
Nitrogen
1
2
3
4
84.5
90.6
79.4
79.2
23.7
22.4
21.0
22.0
40.5
43.8
41.7
42.3
64.2
66.2
62.7
64.3
+20.3
+24.4
+16.7
+14.9
Calcium
1
2
3
4
9.24
9.91
8.69
9.22
7.40
5.75
5.15
6.03
0.30
0.55
0.20
0.40
7.7
6.3
5.35
6.43
+1.54
+3.61
+3.34
+2.79
Phosphorus
1
2
3
4
6.00
6.34
5.64
5.99
5.25
5.17
4.17
4.90
0.15
0.11
0.21
0.14
5.40
5.28
4.38
5.04
+0.6
+1.06
+1.26
+0.95
The heavy retention of nitrogen is perhaps purely of a temporary nature
particularly with adult animals kept on a high plane of nutrition. Contrary to
expectation, the Ca and P balances are definitely positive. It may be mentioned
240 INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM—III [Vol. XX, Part IV,
that with similar intakes, most of the indigenous grasses when fed alone, have almost
invariably shown a deficit balance in these mineral elements. The positive reten-
tion in the present case may possibly be due to a high intake of protein ; for a
liberal intake of protein seems to have some influence on the absorption of both
calcium and phosphorus [ Lehmann, et al, 1942; McCance, et al, 1942 ].
SUMMARY
Of the various semi-aquatic grasses, the Leersia hexandra (arali) and Arundo
donax, Linn. (nal) seem to grow in abundance in many parts of Assam under natural
conditions.
It is difficult to introduce the grass arali in the dietary of cattle before November
till the fields are dried up. During this month, it is seen in flowers and contains
about 6 per cent of protein on dry matter basis, of which 40 per cent is digestible ;
the net energy value (Kellner's) being 11.9 lb. per 100 lb. of the green feed. When
turned into hay at this period by the well-known tripod system, there is little loss
in the digestible fractions of the various organic nutrients, particularly protein and
the hay retains an excellent green colour. When fed as an exclusive feed either
as a green fodder or as a hay, the grass provides about 0.5 lb. of digestible protein
in terms of 1000 lb. body weight, which seem to maintain adult animals in a positive
nitrogen balance, though the calcium and phosphorus balances are negative.
Under identical conditions, the other semi-aquatic grass turns woody and fibrous
and is not much consumed by cattle. Even at the prime stage, it is not very much
relished. However, it is found to grow in the form of shoots upto a height of
3 ft. and available in considerable quantities during the early part of May. At
this stage, it contains about 32 and 13 per cent of dry matter and crude protein,
respectively, of which over 70 per cent of the latter is in a digestible form. The
S. E. value of the fodder at this period is about 15 lb. per 100 lb. of the fresh shoots.
The calcium and phosphorus balances are positive.
The shoots are therefore considered as most valuable cattle feeds. Since the
grass is practically useless at a later period, it should be cut and fed in the form of
shoots.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The first acknowledgment is due to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
for providing the grant. The author is indebted to L. K. Handique Esq., B.Sc.,
Agri., (Edin.)., Director of Agriculture, Assam for his interest in the work. The
author is also indebted to Sree P. G. Pandey, M.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., principal, U. P.
College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mathura for his suggestions.
REFERENCES
Lehmann, H., and Pollock, L. (1942). J. Physiol. 100, 17
Maymone, B., and Petruccl, E. (1947). English summary in Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews
17, 264 and private coommunication
McCance, R. A., Widdowson, E. M., and Lehmann, H. (1942). Biochem. J. 36, 686
Talapatra, S. K., and Devgoswami, M. N. (1949). Indian J. vet. Sci. 19, 19
THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF THE INDIGENOUS
GRASSES OF ASSAM
IV. THE HILL GRASSES AS CATTLE FEEDS
By S. K. TALAPATRA, U. P. College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry,
Mathura
(Received for publication on 19 January 1950)
W HILE a great scarcity of cattle feeds is almost invariably to be experienced du-
ring the major part of the year for domestic animals in this part of the country,
the tall and quick growing grasses in the lower regions of the Himalaya continue to
supply thousands of wild herbivorous animals like buffaloes, rhinos, etc., with foods
enough for their growth, maintenance and reproduction. The robust skeletal
formation of the wild cattle and buffaloes is apparent, while useful animals in the
plains of Assam suffer from mineral deficiency and are very dwarf in size.
In our previous communications, we have shown that the aquatic grasses
[ Talapatra et al., 1949 ], predominant species of the pasture grass [ Talapatra,
1950 ] and some of the semi-aquatic grasses [Talapatra*, 1950] though appear to be
poor in calcium and phosphorus, could be profitably introduced in the dietary of
cattle in various forms. Information on the nutritive value of some of the pre-
dominant species of the indigenous hill grasses is lacking. The fact that a con-
siderable portion of the state is covered by hills and the ranches stationed in these
hills and hillocks seem to provide the best cattle, it has been considered desirable,
to study some of the hill herbages.
During the course of our survey, it has been observed that the predominant
species, which are eaten in large quantities by wild animals, are of two kinds com-
monly known as dhus (Eraianthus longsetosus Anderss. ex Bth) and kharika (Micro
tegium ciliatum A. Camus). These are used by the wood cutters as also by the
ranchers for feeding cattle. They normally grow in a moist but not water-logged
soil between 200 to 6,000 feet or beyond.
I. The grass dhus as a cattle feed
It is a tall-growing perennial grass, grows to a height of about 15 to 20 ft.
Several cuttings can be obtained. The leaves are broad and soft which look like
young maize leaves. It is available in considerable quantities in most of the Assam
hills from May upto the end of January, when it begins to flower and shortly after
flowering, it dies up and new shoots appear almost simultaneously. It is eaten
in large quantities by wild buffaloes, as seen by their excreta in the natural planta-
tion of the grass.
During early growth, about 4 feet from the bottom and at the later stage about
4 feet from the top were fed to cattle to ascertain the nutritive value of the grass.
It is true that these uncultivated grasses cost nothing, but in view of the transport
* These references refer to the articles now printed in these series.
241
C
242 INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM—IV [Vol. XX, Part IV,
and other incidental charges, we have designed the above experiments to satisfy
our requirements ; less valuable part of the plant is left in the forest, so as to mini-
mise the cost per unit of the digestible nutrients.
(a) Early cut dhus in May. Four adult animals were fed exclusively with the
grass for a sufficiently long period. The chemical composition, dry matter con-
sumption, the digestibility coefficients and the nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus
balances have been shown in the following tables :
TABLE I
Composition of the early and late cut dhus (dry basis)
Nutrients.
Crude protein
Ether extract
Ash
Crude fibre
N-free extract
Total carbohydrates
Calcium
Phosphorus
Nitrogen
EARLY CUT
Whole
plant
8.00
2.25
9.20
35.00
45.55
80.55
0.207
0.157
1.280
Stem
3.2
0.86
7.05
45.40
43.49
88.89
0.112
0.094
0.514
LATE CUT
(TOP PORTION)
Whole
plant
7.50
2.40
9.10
32.20
48.8
81.0
0.204
0.100
1.20
Stem
5.88
0.80
7.42
42.50
43.5
86.0
0.107
0.066
0.940
The chemical analysis shown above indicate that a fairly uniform level of
nutrition may be expected if the top portion of the grass is fed when the lower half
turns woody and fibrous. Even in December, the late cut tops showed almost
identical chemical composition with that of the early cut one. The dry matter
content at the early stage in May was about 25 per cent, while the tops showed 35
per cent in December.
TABLE II
Dry matter consumption of early cut dhus
Animal number
1
2
3
4
Body
weight
(lb.)
525
500
500
503
Dry matter
consumed
(lb.)
8.8
9.4
8.8
8.6
Dry matter
consumed
per 100 lb.
body weight
(lb.)
1.7
1.9
1.8
1.7
Average
(lb.)
..
1.8
..
..
The consumption of the grass is fairly uniform and satisfactory.
December, 1950]
S.
K.
TALAPATRA
243
TABLE III
Digestibility coefficients of the early cut dhus
Animal Number
1
2
3
4
Average
Dry
matter
56
55
57
54
56
Crude
protein
52
50
51
53
52
Ether
extract
34
30
34
32
33
Crude
fibre
65
61
64
62
63
N-free
extract
67
64
65
62
65
Total
carbo-
hydrates
66
63
65
62
64
As may be seen from the data above that the digestibility coefficients are quite
satisfactory. From the average digestibility coefficients, the net energy value
has been calculated by Kellner's method and shown in Table VIII along with the
some of the cultivated fodder plants.
TABLE IV
The nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances
Animal number
Intake
(gm.)
Excretion
Faeces
(gm.)
Urine
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Balance
(gm.)
Nitrogen
1
2
3
4
58.1
59.4
57.6
57.7
31.0
29.6
28.2
30.0
20.1
18.7
20.1
20.5
51.1
48.3
48.3
50.5
+7.0
+11.1
+9.3
+7.2
Calicum
1
2
3
4
9.14
9.42
9.02
9.04
8.16
8.10
8.15
7.58
0.90
1.00
0.60
1.60
9.06
9.10
8.75
9.18
+0.08
+0.32
+0.27
—0.14
Phosphorus
1
2
3
4
6.84
7.09
6.74
6.76
5.61
6.45
5.53
6.52
0.25
0.30
0.40
0.50
5.86
6.75
5.93
7.02
+0.98
+0.34
+0.81
—0.26
244 INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF ASSAM—IV [Vol. XX, Part IV,
As expected the nitrogen balance is definitely positive, while a positive calcium
and phosphorus balance is almost fully assured.
(b) As a green fodder in December. Winter fodder crops do not grow well in
Assam due to high acidity of the soil and extremely limited provision for irrigation.
A wide spread scarcity of green fodder is thus experienced, apart from the normal
shortage of roughages. This experiment has been conducted to note whether it is
at all worth feeding the grass at this period. The leaves of the plant remains soft
even at the worst stage.
The analysis shown in Table I indicates that the early cut grass and the top
portion (4 ft. from the top) of the December cut is almost indentical in chemical
composition. It will now be of some interest to know whether the utilisation of
the various nutrients of the stuff in the animal body is more or less the same. It is
quite obvious that the information is desirable from the stand point of economy
in the feeding of cattle.
As usual four adult animals were taken and fed exclusively with the tops after
chopping as in the previous experiment. The relevant data are shown in the fol-
lowing tables :
TABLE V
Dry matter consumption
Animal number
5
6
7
8
Body weight
(lb.)
488
457
530
554
Dry
matter
consumed
(lb.)
10.8
9.8
13.3
13.5
Consumed
per 100 lb.
body weight
(lb.)
2.2
2.1
2.5
2.4
Average
(lb.)
..
2.3
..
..
It is obvious from the above data that the grass even in this form is very much
relished. Animal No. 7 and 8, however, consumed a little more. They are not our
regular experimental animals and were brought from the farm stock for this experi-
ment.
TABLE VI
Digestibility coefficients of dhus tops
Animal number
5
6
7
8
Average
Dry
matter
57
57
60
57
58
Crude
protein
54
53
51
51
52
Ether
extract
20
29
30
29
27
Crude
fibre
68
63
67
65
66
N-free
extract
57
59
63
61
60
Total
carbo-
hydrates
61
61
64
63
62
December, 1950]
S.
K.
TALAPATRA
245
It is obvious from the data shown above that even by the end of December,
when a great scarcity of green feeds is experienced, the tops from the grass seem to
provide good cattle feeds. The net energy value by Kellner's fibre method is found
to be 15.4 lb. per 100 lb. of the green feed. For the sake of easy reference, the com-
position and the digestibility coefficients under the two sets of feeding are shown
in the following tables.
TABLE VII
Chemical composition and digestibility coefficients of dhus grass at two stages of growth
Feed
Early cut
Late cut (top
portion)
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Crude protein
8.0
7.5
Ether extract
2.25
2.4
Ash
9.2
9.1
Crude fibre
35.0
32.2
N-free extract
45.55
48.8
Total
carbohydrates
80.55
81.0
Calcium
0.207
0.204
DIGESTIBILITY COEFFICIENTS
Phosphorus
0.157
0.100
Crude protein
52
52
Ether extract
33
27
Crude fibre
63
66
N-free extract
65
60
Total
carbohydrates
64
62
The data shown in Table VII indicate that a uniform level of nutrition can be
maintained from May to December if the grass is utilised as suggested. There is
practically little difference either in the chemical composition or the digestibility
coefficients. The digestible nutrients in the grass at two stages have been shown
below along with some of the important and recommended cultivated fodder plants
grown in the country.
TABLE VIII
Digestible nutrients in dhus as compared to cultivated fodder plants
Green feeds
Dhus (tops)
Dhus (early)
Bazra
Elephant grass
Guara
Guinea
Maize
Per 100 lb. of
green feed
D. P.
(lb.)
1.40
1.04
1.08
0.96
1.33
1.11
1.04
S. E.
(lb.)
15.4
10.5
11.9
9.6
6.2
7.3
11.7