176 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VII, III
was all negative while half of CaO was positive and half negative. This
might be due to the resultant effect of a general imbalance under which this feed-
ing was conducted. The results under Guinea-grass and Napier groups, however,
suggest that, in the Hyacinth group, although the general imbalance might be the
aggravating cause, the very high ingestion of lime by itself or potash by itself may
also develop a condition of disturbed metabolism. Thus, in the case of Guinea-
grass, there was otherwise a liberal supply of almost all components whether with
respect to protein and energy or minerals. But CaO ingestion was considerably
in excess as compared to all other experiments (except Hyacinth group), yet the
results have divided into half positive balance and half negative. In other words,
in spite of such heavy ingestion there was as much chance of positive balance as
negative.
It should be stated that from Experiment E, it would appear that a minimum
dose of 24 grms. CaO is likely to effect a positive balance. On this basis, the amount
in the case of the Hyacinth and Guinea-grass groups, has varied from two to two
and a half times as much. Such a large amount is not only uneconomic by itself
(as it would mean a waste) but is likely to react adversely on the metabolism of
other nutrients. There is thus an illustration of this (as indicated from the
negative balance) in the case of both the Hyacinth and the Guinea-grass groups,
and even if the former is excluded on account of a general imbalance in other res-
pects, the behaviour of the Guinea-grass bears out that even when other nutrients
are well supplied, a faulty proportion in lime, potash and possibly soda, is undesir-
able. Thus the heavy ingestion of CaO has not only exhibited a tendency of nega-
tive balance by itself but has also reacted on the K 2 O metabolism. It may be
stated that with a similar dose of potash in Experiments B and D, a positive balance
has generally been obtained.
Turning now to the Napier group, it is very low in lime and very high in potash.
In. fact, the potash ingestion has been the heaviest of all other feeds being as much
as 156 to 173 grms. per 500-lb. live-weight. But in spite of this one has re-
corded a negative balance and this combined with low lime ingestion has also re-
acted on the phosphate metabolism resulting in negative balance in the case of
D 5 which has recorded negative balance for CaO, MgO, K 2 O, P2O5 and N.
The results obtained from the rather limited data on green feeds may be ten-
tatively summed up as follows :—
Guinea-grass is better balanced than Napier and Hyacinth, but it is not advis-
able to feed it ad lib as this entails a heavy ingestion of CaO, nitrogen and soda.
This is wasteful and might probably also be detrimental. Napier and Hyacinth
should on no account be fed ad lib., except when the former has been supplemented
with CaO and both have had an addition of cake. Hyacinth should always
be given in regulated doses, the deficiencies being made up. Napier is quite rich
in P 2 O 5 but Hyacinth is very poor. Hyacinth is really not a, cattle feed but has
sometimes to be used in cases of fodder scarcity.