NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
22
STUDIES ON VENEZUELA GRASS—I
[Vol. XXI, Part I,
organic matter and crude fibre. The leaves contained almost five times as much
calcium as the stem. Hosterman and Hall [1938] came to a similar conclusion from
the leaf nd stem analysis of Timothy.
Comparison of Venezuela grass (pre-flowering stage) with other grasses
Table IV shows the organic and inorganic constituents of Venezuela grass
during the preflowering stage in February, as compared to the composition of a few
other commonly fed fodder grasses.
TABLE IV
Showing the chemical composition of Venezuela grass in the pre-flowering stage (in
February) along with some other fodder grasses
Grasses
1. Venezuela hay (pre-flowering)
2. Pea-hay (Pimm sativum)
3. Gram green fodder (Cicer arietinum)
4. Bajra 'milk stage' (Pennisetum typhoi-
deum)
5. Dub 'prime' (Cynodon dactylon)
6. Palwan 'early' (Andropogon annulatus)
Grasses
1. Venezuela hay
2. Pea hay
3. Gram green
4. Bajra 'milk stage'
5. Dub 'prime'
6. Palwan 'early'
Organic constituents
C. P.
10.06
10.94
10.88
10.56
10.04
9.70
E. E.
2.18
1.91
2.09
2.12
1.42
1.18
C. F.
30.04
29.17
33.05
27.96
31.89
33.03
N. F. E.
45.81
50.32
44.91
50.15
44.00
42.51
T. C.
75.85
79.49
77.95
78.11
75.89
75.54
Inorganic constituents
Total ash
11.91
7.66
9.07
9.21
12.65
13.58
Cao.
0.64
1.58
1.79
0.73
0.81
0.64
P 2 O 5
1.01
0.48
0.52
0.50
0.63
0.56
MgO
1.21
0.33
0.44
0.41
0.42
0.35
Na 2 O
0.33
0.19
0.86
0.19
0.28
0.44
K 2 O
1.58
2.02
2.77
3.38
0.25
2.15
From the above Table IV it will be seen that Venezuela grass in the preflowering
stage is superior to many fodder crops in both organic and inorganic constituents.
Its calcium content is a bit low in comparison with others but is the richest of all in
its contents of total carbohydrates, ether extract and phosphorus. Its crude protein
content is equal to that of dub in its prime stage.
March, 1951]
BARUA,
AYYAR
AND
KEHAR
23
SUMMARY
Investigations on Venezuela grass were undertaken to study its chemical
composition as affected by seasonal variations, and also whether this grass could
be cultivated as a successful fodder crop in India. The results are given below :
The grass appeared to thrive well in poor acid soil, low in calcium, nitrogen and
organic matter without fertilizer applications.
If the grass is cut thrice every year the yield is about 19 tons of green herbage
per acre, whereas two cuttings gave only about thirteen tons.
The chemical composition of Venezuela grass was studied at monthly intervals
for one year. The grass came into flower in the first week of April and one month
prior to inflorescence, i.e. in February to March the grass contained the highest
percentages of all the nutrients. After this there was a gradual decadence of all
the nutrients along with maturity.
There was a progressive fall of crude protein, ether extract, calcium, phosphorus,
magnesium, potassium, sulphur and oxalic acid with the maturity of the plant.
The lime and phosphoric acid contents of the grass were high during the dry
winter spell of the year. No marked inverse relationship was shown by them along
with maturity. The grass is fairly rich in minerals except calcium. It is rich in
phosphoric acid.
Cultivation of the grass under proper manurial treatments may further improve
the quality yielding a still higher return.
REFERENCES
Bews, J. W. (1927). World's grasses, 223, (Longmans Green & Co., London, 1929)
Department of Agriculture, Madras (1946). Indian Fmg. I, 154
Hobbs, C. S., Willis, D. G., and Taylor, B. R., (1945). J. Anim. Sci., 4, 395
Hosterman, W. H., Hall, W. L., (1938). J. Amer. Soc. Agron, 30, 564
James, F. E. and Pratt, A. D., (1942). Tech. Bull. 81, (Virginia)
Lander, P. E., (1942). Indian J. agric. Sci., 12, 407
Schofield, J. L., (1944). Queensland, J. Agric. Sci. 1, 1-58
—
(1945). Queensland, Agric. Sci. 1, 209-244.
—
(1946).
Ibid.
3, 44-80
Stapledon, R. G., (1947). Jour. Ministry Agric., 53, 428
Woodman, H. E., and Evans, R. E., (1935). J. Agric. Sci., 25, 578-597
Woodward, T.E. Hosterman, W. H., Cardon, P. V., and Micomas (1939). Year b. Agric.
956-992
STUDIES ON VENEZUELA (MELINIS MINUTIFLORA,
BEAUV) GRASS
II. DIGESTIBILITY AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF VENEZUELA
GRASS HAY
By J. N. BARUA, N. K. AYYAR, and N. D. KEHAR, Animal Nutrition Section, Indian
Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar
(Received for publication on 15 February 1950)
THE chemical composition of Venezuela grass at different stages of growth has
already been reported from these laboratories by Barua, Ayyar and Kehar
[1951]. In this article the nutritive value of the grass at the preflowering and
flowering stages is presented.
EXPERIMENTAL
The nutritive value of the grass was determined at two different stages of its
growth, viz. (1) preflowering stage and (2) the flowering stage. The preflowering
sample of the grass represented the September cut during its low period of growth and
that of the flowering stage, the April cut when the inflorescence had just emerged.
For the purpose of these experiments six locally bred adult male sheep, more
or less of the same live weights, age and general condition were selected. The
grasses were dried, chopped and fed as hay. The total feeding period covered
fifteen days of which the first ten days were regarded as the preliminary period.
During the last five days twentyfour hourly collection of excreta were made and
analysed by the standard methods used in these laboratories. This period could
not be prolonged owing to the fact that only a very limited amount of hay was
available for experimentation. In these trials in spite of the fine chopping of the
hay the animals by intution showed a special fondness for the tender and leafy
portions of the grass and ate a larger proportion of them leaving mostly the stems
in the residue. The residues were analysed separately and necessary corrections
made in the calculations. The residue left by individual sheep, however, did not
differ much among themselves.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In the digestibility trial with the preflowering stage of grass, the chemical
composition of the feeding stuffs used and of the hay residues left by the animals
is given in Table I.
5
25
26
STUDIES ON VENEZUELA GRASS—II
[Vol. XXI, Part I,
TABLE I
Showing the chemical composition of the feeding stuffs used and of the residues left by the
animals in the digestibility trial with the preflowering stage of the grass
Particulars
Venezuela hay
Linseed cake
Hay residues
Organic constituents
C. P.
4.38
22.44
2.06
D. M.
91.17
93.19
94.73
E. E.
1.02
12.44
0.11
C. F.
37.78
8.34
40.42
N.F.E.
47.99
49.97
52.14
Inorganic constituents
Total
ash
8.83
6.81
5.27
Cal-
cium
0.54
0.42
0.20
Phos-
phorus
0.31
1.07
0.23
Magne-
sium
0.40
0.63
0.34
The food consumption per day and the daily excretions of faeces and urine and
digestion coefficients of the nutrients are set out in Tables II, III and IV respectively.
The digestibility of the hay was determined by the method of elimination, the
digestibility coefficients of the meal being taken from Sen [1938]. During the
period of collection one animal which fell sick had to be removed from the
experiment and the results of the remaining five are given.
TABLE II
Showing the average daily consumption of feeds (on dry matter basis)
Animal
number
2
6
7
10
12
Average
live weight
during
experiment
(lb.)
34
37
36
34
32
Hay
given
(gm.)
633.85
633.85
633.85
633.85
633.85
Residue
left
(gm.)
129.63
182.99
173.02
209.90
127.84
Consum-
ed
from
hay.
(gm.)
504.22
450.86
460.83
423.95
506.01
Consumed
from
cake
(gm.)
37.05
37.05
37.05
37.05
37.05
Total
consumed
(gm.)
514.27
487.91
497.88
461.00
543.06
Consump-
tion of hay
per 100 lb.
live weight
(gm.)
1592
1319
1383
1356
1697
Average consumption per 100 lb. of live weight=1469 gm. or 3.2 lb,
March,
1951]
BARUA,
AYYAR
AND
KEAR
27
TABLE III
Showing the average daily excretion of urine and faeces
Animal number
2
6
7
10
12
Faeces voided in gm.
(on dry matter basis)
210.5
273.8
267.1
242.8
244.4
Urine excreted in c.c.
333
481
447
431
231
Average specific
gravity of urine
1.038
1.030
1.038
1.009
1.050
TABLE IV
Digestibility coefficients of organic nutrients
Animal
number
Intake
Hay
(gm.)
Cake
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Voided
in
faeces
(gm.)
Total
digested
(gm.)
Digested
from
cake
(gm.)
Digested
from
hay
(gm.)
Digesti-
bility
coeffi-
cient of
hay
Average
digesti-
bility
Organic matter
2
6
7
10
12
455.08
404.52
413.98
379.04
456.78
34.53
34.53
34.53
34.53
34.53
489.61
439.05
448.51
413.57
491.31
165.43
192.02
200.13
189.97
196.47
324.18
247.03
248.38
223.60
294.84
24.86
24.86
24.86
24.86
24.86
299.82
222.17
223.52
198.74
269.98
65.8
50.6
53.9
52.4
59.2
56.4
Crude protein
2
6
7
10
12
25.09
23.99
24.20
23.44
25.13
8.31
8.31
8.31
8.31
8.31
33.40
32.30
32.51
31.75
33.44
18.13
18.15
18.86
18.55
18.41
15.27
14.15
13.65
13.20
15.03
5.16
5.16
5.16
5.16
5.16
10.11
8.99
8.49
8.04
9.87
40.3
37.5
35.0
34.2
39.2
37.2
Ether extract
2
6
7
10
12
6.33
6.27
6.28
6.24
6.33
4.61
4.61
4.61
4.61
4.61
10.94
10.88
10.89
10.85
10.94
5.67
5.83
5.93
5.92
5.69
5.27
5.05
4.96
4.93
5.25
4.43
4.43
4.43
4.43
4.43
0.84
0.62
0.53
0.50
0.82
13.3
9.9
8.4
8.0
12.8
10.5
5-A
28
STUDIES ON VENEZUELA
GRASS—II
[Vol. XXI, Part I,
TABLE IV—contd.
Digestibility coefficients of organic nutrients
Animal
number
Intake
Hay
(gm.)
Cake
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Voided
in
faeces
(gm.)
Total
digested
(gm.)
Digested
from
cake
(gm.)
Digested
from
hay
(gm.)
Digesti-
bility
coefficient
of hay
Average
digesti-
bility
Crude fibre
2
6
7
10
12
187.07
165.51
169.54
154.63
187.80
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
190.16
168.60
172.63
157.72
190.89
67.74
64.94
64.24
59.63
69.61
122.42
103.66
108.39
98.09
121.28
0.83
0.83
0.83
0.83
0.83
121.59
102.83
107.56
97.26
120.45
64.9
62.1
63.4
62.9
64.7
63.6
Nitrogen-free extract
2
6
7
10
12
237.66
208.83
214.04
194.81
237.59
18.51
18.51
18.51
18.51
18.51
256.17
227.34
232.55
213.32
256.10
96.52
91.39
88.64
79.56
90.93
159.65
135.95
143.91
133.76
165.17
12.40
12.40
12.40
12.40
12.40
147.25
123.55
131.51
121.36
152.77
61.9
59.1
61.4
62.3
64.3
61.8
Total carbohydrates
2
6
7
10
12
424.73
374.34
383.58
349.44
425.39
21.60
21.60
21.60
21.60
21.60
446.33
395.94
405.18
371.04
446.99
164.26
156.33
152.88
139.19
160.54
282.07
239.61
252.30
231.85
286.45
12.53
12.53
12.53
12.53
12.53
269.54
227.08
239.77
219.32
273.92
63.5
60.7
62.6
62.2
62.4
62.3
The data of food consumption indicate that it was highly relished by the animals.
The average consumption of 1469 gm. or 3.2 lb. of the hay per 100 lb. live weight
may be considered quite high. The hay appears, therefore, to be quite palatable.
The average digestibility coefficients of the organic nutrients of the Venezuela
hay at the preflowering stage are summarised in Table V. The average digestibility
coefficients of organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, nitrogen
free-extract and total carbohydrates have been found to be 56.4, 37.2, 63.6, 10.5,
61.8 and 62.3 respectively.
March, 1951]
BARUA,
AYYAR
AND
KEHAR
29
TABLE V
Showing the digestibility coefficients of the organic nutrients of Venezuela hay (pre-
flowering stage)
Animal
number
2
6
7
10
12
Average
Organic
matter
65.8
50.6
53.9
52.4
59.2
56.4
Crude
protein
40.3
37.5
35.0
34.2
39.2
37.2
Crude
fibre
64.9
62.1
63.4
62.9
64.7
63.6
Ether
extract
13.3
9.9
8.4
8.0
12.8
10.5
Nitrogen
free
extract
61.9
59.1
61.4
62.3
64.3
61.8
Total
carbo-
hydrates
63.5
60.7
62.6
62.2
62.4
62.3
In Table VI the composition and digestibility coefficients of some of the indigen-
ous grass hays [Sen, 1938] at the preflowering stage have been shown along with
Venezuela grass for comparative study.
TABLE VI
Showing the percentage composition and digestibility coefficients of Venezuela hay in the
preflowering stage as compared to some pure variety of indigenous grass-hay and
juar-hay
Serial
num-
ber
1
2
3
4
Hays
Venezuela grass-
hay preflower-
ing
Anjan hay (before
flowering) Pen-
nicetum
cen-
chroides
Spear grass hay
(prime) Andro-
pogon contortus
Andropogon sor-
ghum-juar- hay
(preflowering)
Percentage composition
Crude
pro-
tein
4.38
5.73
4.42
4.30
Ether
extract
1.02
1.42
1.01
1.16
Total
carbo-
hydrate
85.77
80.94
83.51
86.03
Digestibility coefficients
Crude
pro-
tein
37.2
35.0
42.0
41.0
Ether
extract
10.5
30.0
42.0
28.0
Crude
fibre
63.6
..
63.0
60.0
Nitrogen
free-
extract
61.8
..
50.0
44.0
Total
carbo-
hydrates
62.3
59.0
59.0
57.0
30
STUDIES ON VENEZUELA GRASS—II
[Vol. XXI, Part I,
The nutritive value of Venezuela grass based on these digestible coefficients
was calculated and shown in Table VII. For comparative study the figures for
other indigenous grasses are also incorporated.
TABLE VII
Showing the nutritive value of Venezuela hay (preflowering stage) along with somse
selected species
(Per 100 lb. dry material)
Name of hays
Venezuela hay (preflowering)
Anjan hay
Spear grass hay
Juar hay
Crude
protein
(lb.)
1.61
2.01
1.86
1.76
Starch
equivalent
(lb.)
33.7
29.0
29.5
28.74
Total
digestible
nutrients
(lb.)
55.79
50.51
52.19
51.54
Nutritive
ratio
33.7
24.2
27.1
28.28
On raw basis
Venezuela hay
Anjan hay
Spear grass hay
Juar hay
1.45
1.81
1.67
1.58
30.33
26.10
26.55
25.87
50.21
45.54
46.97
46.39
..
..
..
..
From a perusal of the data of the digestible nutrients it is found that as regards
starch equivalent and total digestible nutrients, Venezuela hay stands on the top.
Its digestible crude protein content is comparable to the other hays, and since its
starch equivalent is much higher than the other hays, its nutritive ratio is
naturally high.
The results of balance studies of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus are shown
in Table VIII.
March, 1951]
BARUA,
AYYAR
AND
KEHAR
31
TABLE VIII
Showing the balances of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus
Animal
number
Live
weight
during
experiment
(lb.)
Intake
Hay
(gm.)
Cake
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Excretion
Faeces
(gm.)
Urine
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Balance
(gm.)
Average
retention
in
(gm.)
Nitrogen
2
6
7
10
12
34
37
36
34
32
4.01
3.84
3.87
3.75
4.02
1.33
1.33
1.33
1.33
1.33
5.34
5.17
5.20
5.08
5.35
2.23
2.90
3.02
3.08
2.64
1.89
1.82
1.98
1.70
1.86
4.12
4.72
5.00
4.78
4.50
+1.22
+0.45
+0.20
+0.30
+0.85
+0.60
Calcium
2
6
7
10
12
34
37
36
34
32
3.16
3.05
3.07
3.00
3.16
0.16
0.16
0.16
0.16
0.16
3.32
3.21
3.23
3.16
3.32
2.46
3.07
2.75
2.48
2.32
0.05
0.10
0.11
0.05
0.06
2.51
3.17
2.86
2.53
2.38
+0.81
+0.04
+0.37
+ 0.63
+ 0.94
+0.56
Phosphorus
2
6
7
10
12
34
37
36
34
32
1.66
1.54
1.56
1.48
1.67
0.40
0.40
0.40
0.40
0.40
2.06
1.94
1.96
1.88
2.07
0.88
1.20
1.15
1.04
1.03
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.90
1.22
1.17
1.06
1.05
+1.16
+0.72
+0.79
+0.82
+1.02
+0.70
From the balance sheets it is seen that all the animals recorded slight positive
balances of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus. It is also evident from the data
that two of the animals, Nos. 2 and 12 which consumed proportionately a larger
amount of hay, recorded slightly higher positive balances of nitrogen, calcium and
phosphorus.
Venezuela grass hay (flowering stage)
Another digestibility trial of Venezuela hay at the flowering stage of the plant
has also been carried out in order to evaluate the grass at this stage of growth. This
represented the April cut from the experimental plots just when the inflorescence
emerged. Although six animals were selected for the experiment, two of them fell
sick at a later stage and, therefore, had to be removed from the experiment. The
results obtained with the remaining four are given below. The plan of the experi-
ment was the same as in the first case. The chemical composition of the feeding
stuffs used, the data on food consumption, the daily excretion of faeces and urine
during the experimental period are given in Tables IX, X and XI.
32
STUDIES
ON
VENEZUELA
GRASS—II
[Vol. XXI, Part I,
TABLE IX
Showing the chemical composition of the feeding stuffs and of the residues (on dry matter
basis) in the flowering stage of the Venezuela hay
Dry matter
Nitrogen
Crude protein
Organic matter
Ether extract
Crude fibre
Nitrogen-free-extract
Total ash
Calcium (Ca)
Phosphorus (P)
Mangnesium (Mg)
Venezuela
grass hay
91.26
0.67
4.19
89.86
1.12
36.10
48.45
10.14
0.37
0.29
0.40
Linseed
cake
92.62
3.59
22.44
93.19
12.44
8.34
49.97
6.81
0.42
1.07
0.63
Hay
residues
91.45
0.52
3.25
93.45
1.11
40.50
48.59
6.55
0.22
0.21
0.33
TABLE X
Showing the average daily consumption of feeds (on dry matter basis)
Animal
number
2
7
10
12
Average
Average
live
weight
during
experiment
(lb.)
35
36
38
34
35.7
Hay
given
(gm.)
905.50
905.50
905.50
905.50
905.50
Residue
left
(gm.)
401.23
377.53
483.25
494.25
434.07
Consum-
ed from
hay
(gm.)
504.27
527.97
422.25
411.25
471.43
Consum-
ed from
cake
(gm.)
37.05
37.05
37.05
37.05
37.05
Total
consumed
(gm.)
541.32
565.02
459.30
448.30
508.48
Hay
consumption
per 100 lb.
live weight
(gm.)
1440
1466
1111
1208
1306
or 2.9 lb.
March, 1951]
BARUA,
AYYAR
AND
KEHAR
33
TABLE XI
Showing the average daily excretion of urine and faeces
Animal number
2
7
10
12
Faeces voided in gm.
(on dry matter basis)
250.10
271.80
195.80
225.26
Urine excreted in c.c.
291
377
220
244
Average specific
gravity of urine
1.047
1.047
1.051
1.054
It will be seen that this sample of hay is slightly lower in crude protein and
minerals than the sample of hay at the preflowering stage. The data on food con-
sumption show that the animals consumed a fairly large amount of hay. The
average daily consumption of hay was 1306 gm. per 100 lb. live weight, the consump-
tion being slightly less than in the first experiment. Sheep Nos. 2 and 7 ate about
3.20 lb. of hay per 100 lb. of live weight. The digestibility coefficients of the nutrients
are shown in Table XII. The average digestibility coefficients of organic
matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, nitrogen-free-extract and total
carbohydrates were 57.2, 30.9, 13.6, 61.9, 57.9 and 59.7 respectively.
TABLE XII
Digestibility coefficients of the organic nutrients of Venezuela grass hay at the flowering
stage
Animal
number
Intake
Hay
(gm.)
Cake
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Voided
In
faeces
(gm.)
Total
digested
(gm.)
Digested
from
cake
(gm.)
Digested
from
hay
(gm.)
Digesti-
bility
coefficient
of hay
Average
digesti-
bility
coefficient
Organic matter
2
7
10
12
438.73
460.88
362.08
351.80
34.53
34.53
34.53
34.53
473.26
495.41
396.61
386.33
196.03
214.69
140.29
179.76
277.23
280.72
256.82
206.57
24.86
24.86
24.86
24.86
252.37
255.86
231.46
181.71
57.5
55.5
63.9
51.7
57.2
Crude protein
2
7
10
12
24.88
25.69
22.25
24.56
8.31
8.31
8.31
8.31
33.19
34.00
30.56
32.87
19.70
20.50
19.05
20.53
13.49
13.50
11.51
12.34
5.16
5.16
5.16
5.16
8.33
8.34
6.35
7.18
33.5
32.5
28.5
29.2
31.0
6
34
STUDIES ON VENEZUELA
GRASS—II
[Vol. XXI, Part I,
TABLE XII—contd.
Digestibility coefficients of the organic nutrients of Venezuela grass hay at the flowering
stage
Animal
number
Intake
Hay
(gm.)
Cake
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Voided
in
faeces
(gm.)
Total
digested
(gm.)
Digested
from
cake
(gm.)
Digested
from
hay
(gm.)
Digesti-
bility
coefficient
of hay
Average
digesti-
bility
coefficient
Ether extract
2
7
10
12
5.69
5.95
4.78
4.65
4.61
4.61
4.61
4.61
10.30
10.56
9.39
9.26
5.03
5.27
4.41
4.20
5.27
5.29
4.98
5.06
4.43
4.43
4.43
4.43
0.84
0.86
0.55
0.63
14.8
14.4
11.5
13.5
13.6
Crude fibre
2
7
10
12
164.39
173.99
131.17
126.72
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
167.48
177.08
134.26
129.81
64.04
70.72
51.36
50.89
103.45
106.36
82.90
78.92
0.83
0.83
0.83
0.83
102.62
105.53
82.07
78.09
62.8
60.6
62.5
61.6
61.9
Nitrogen-free-extract
2
7
10
12
243.76
255.27
203.90
198.55
18.51
18.51
18.51
18.51
262.27
273.78
222.41
217.06
109.69
115.92
82.35
96.23
152.58
157.86
140.06
120.83
12.40
12.40
12.40
12.40
140.18
145.46
127.66
108.43
57.5
57.0
62.6
54.6
57.9
Total corbohydrate
2
7
10
12
408.15
429.26
335.07
325.27
21.60
21.60
21.60
21.60
429.75
450.86
356.67
346.87
173.72
186.64
133.71
147.12
256.03
264.22
222.96
199.75
12.53
12.53
12.53
12.53
243.50
251.69
210.43
187.22
59.7
58.6
62.8
57.6
59.7
From a comparison of these data with those obtained in the first experiment
(Table V) it will be seen that the digestibilities of crude protein, crude fibre,
nitrogen-free-extract and total carbohydrates were definitely better at the pre-
flowering stage of the plant than at the flowering stage. The digestion of organic
matter and ether extract was slightly lower in the first experiment than in the
second. The nutritive value of this grass is given in Table XIII.
March, 1951]
BARUA,
AYYAR
AND
KEHAR
35
TABLE XIII
Showing the nutritive value of Venezuela grass hay (flowering stage)
Grass
Venezuela grass hay (flowering stage)
.
.
.
.
Venezuela grass hay (flowering stage)
.
.
.
.
Crude
protein
(lb.)
Dry basis
1.29
Raw basis
1.16
Total
digestible
nutrients
(lb.)
52.11
46.90
Starch
equivalent
(lb.)
31.03
27.93
From the table for the digestible nutrients it is evident that on the whole the
nutritive value of this hay is lower than that of the same hay at the preflowering
stage but it is comparable to the other species given in Table VII except
that in this case the digestible protein is a little low.
The balance studies of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus of the grass are shown
in Table XIV.
TABLE XIV
Showing balances of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus (Venezuela hay flowering stage)
Animal
number
Live
weight
during
experi-
ment
(lb.)
Intake
Hay
(gm.)
Cake
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Excretion
Faeces
(gm.)
Urine
(gm.)
Total
(gm.)
Balance
(gm.)
Average
retention
(gm.)
Nitrogen
2
7
10
12
35
36
38
34
3.98
4.11
3.56
3.50
1.33
1.33
1.33
1.33
5.31
5.44
5.89
4.83
2.11
3.36
3.07
2.95
2.40
1.98
1.70
1.86
4.51
5.34
4.77
4.81
+0.70
+0.10
+0.12
+0.02
+0.24
Calcium
2
7
10
12
35
36
38
34
2.47
2.52
2.29
2.26
0.16
0.16
0.16
0.16
2.63
2.68
2.45
2.42
2.53
2.61
1.90
2.43
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.06
2.58
2.66
1.95
2.48
+0.05
+0.02
+0.50
—0.07
+0.13
Phosphorus
2
7
10
12
35
86
38
34
1.79
1.84
1.62
1.59
0.40
0.40
0.40
0.40
2.19
2.24
2.02
1.99
1.85
2.01
1.43
1.82
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.02
1.88
2.03
1.45
1.84
+0.31
+0.21
+0.50
+0.15
+0.31
36
STUDIES ON VENEZUELA GRASS—II
[Vol. XXI, Part I,
The data show that all the animals have recorded slight positive
balances of these nutrients. It may, therefore, be concluded that the animals can
maintain a positive balance of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus when Venezuela
grass in its flowering stage is fed with a little supplement of linseed cake. It is
noted that the animals can derive enough of these mineral nutrients from this parti-
cular stage of growth of the plant for their maintenance purposes. It is interesting
to note, however, that the average retention of these elements is lower than the hay
made at the preflowering stage. The data for chemical composition and nutritive
value of Venezuela hay at its two different stages of growth (preflowering and
flowering) are shown in Table XV.
TABLE XV
Showing the percentage composition and digestibility coefficients of Venezuela hay at the
preflowering and the flowering stages of growth (per cent on dry matter basis)
Samples
Preflowering stage .
Flowering stage .
Organic constituents
D.M.
91.17
89.86
C.P.
4.38
4.19
E.E.
1.02
1.12
C.F.
37.78
36.10
N.F.E.
47.99
48.45
T.C.
85.77
84.55
Inorganic constituents
Total
ash
8.83
10.14
CaO
0.76
0.52
P 2 O 5
0.71
0.67
MgO
0.48
0.48
Digestibility coefficients
Preflowering stage .
Flowering stage .
56
57
37
31
11
14
64
62
62
58
62
60
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Digestible nutrients per 100 lb.
On dry basis
Venezuela hay (preflowering
stage)
Flowering stage
C.P.
(lb.)
1.61
1.29
E.E.
(lb.)
0.11
0.15
T.C.
(lb.)
53.93
50.48
T.C.N.
(lb.)
55.79
52.11
S.E.
(lb.)
33.7
31.03
N.R.
(lb.)
33.7
39.4
On raw material
C.P.
(lb.)
1.45
1.16
S.E.
(lb.)
30.33
27.93
T.D.N.
(lb.)
50.21
46.90
It will thus be seen that although the nutritive value of the grass at the
flowering stage compares favourably with the other common grasses, the sample
of hay cut during the preflowring stage is superior to that of the flowring stage.
SUMMARY
Feeding trials with Venezuela hay cut at two different stages of growth con-
ducted on local bred adult sheep showed that the animals consumed proportionately
a large amount of hay cut at the preflowering stage than at the flowering stage.
This may be due to higher palatability of the grass owing to the leafy nature of the
herbage.