48
Famine Rations for Livestock
of abortions or any significant decrease in reproduc-
tive efficiency as a result of feeding molasses. In
a fifteen weeks' experiment, however, he showed
that cows fed on molasses averaged 1 lb. heavier
per head than those on the control ration.
In the present observations from January till 8
August, it was observed that the dried tough munj
which is ordinarily considered refuse, was relished
when molasses was added to it. In fact, molasses
acted as a condiment.
Health of the animals. Labh Singh and Ghambir
Singh [1934] pointed out that bullocks receiving
molasses in winter apparently enjoyed as good
health as other animals, but, if the feeding was
continued in summer also [ibid 1935], the animals
went off feed and their faeces became dark and
watery. Morrison [1937] stated that molasses was
apt to produce scour in calves if they were allowed
all the molasses they could eat. Galloway [1940],
however, in Lousiana trials found that, if calves
were fed small quantities in the beginning and the
amount was gradually increased, there was no
trouble from scouring.
In the present experimental observation on the
Kumauni hill bulls who were fed the munj-molasses
ration for about eight months and on the eight
calves similarly fed for three months, it was noticed
that all the animals were healthy and the bulls
were capable of mild work.
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
During famine when home-grown feeds are rare
the prices of purchased feeds are exhorbitantly
high, while money for buying feeds is not plentiful
with the agriculturists who have suffered a total or
partial crop failure, it becomes imperative to
furnish the most in feeding value for every rupee
spent.
The cost of the suggested munj-molasses ration
will, therefore, be that of cutting and transporting
munj plus the cost of transporting molasses, since
the value of munj in rural areas and of molasses at
the factory head will be negligible.
It is estimated that the cost of this experimen-
tal ration, suited to the needs of scarcity areas,
is 25 to 35 per cent that of the standard ration.
SUMMARY
In this article, a reference is made to the
famine problem in India. It has been pointed out
that non-irrigated arid and semi-arid areas are
occasionally subject to famine.
To help starving livestock to survive extreme
drought conditions, efforts have been made to
discover new sources of fodder.
The observations reported here were made on
munj (saccharam munj Roxb) as roughage and on
molasses as the chief source of carbohydrate. This
plant grows abundantly and thrives in typically
xerophylous places.
The first experiment was conducted on Kumauni
bulls for about eight months. The animals gained
in weight and remained in good health. In the
second experiment Hariana calves were used. The
calves also showed a fairly satisfactory growth as
compared with the control group fed on the Insti-
tute scheduled ration. No animal showed any
untoward symptom during the observation period
of 90 days.
The cost of feeding both the Kumauni bulls and
Hariana calves on the experimental ration was 25
to 35 per cent that of the standard ration.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author is indebted to Dr F. C. Minett not
only for valuable suggestions and advice but also
for the encouragement he has given in elaborating
the programme of work which forms the subject of
this first article. He also wishes to express his
gratitude to Dr K. C. Sen, Officer-in-charge,
Animal Nutrition Section, for his valuable sugges-
tions, Sir Colin C. Garbett, formerly Financial
Commissioner, Government of the Punjab, for
granting facilities for investigating the famine prob-
lem in the affected areas of the Punjab, the Direc-
tors of Veterinary Services, Punjab and Sind, the
Revenue Minister, Jaipur State, his colleagues
of this Institute, and the Staff of the Civil Vete-
rinary Departments of the Punjab and Sind who
have helped him in this work in the field and
in the laboratory.
REFERENCES
Blatter, E. and McCann, C. (1935). The Bombay Grassee
I. C. A. R. Scientific monograph No. 5, 48
Bor, N. L. (1941). Ind. Forest Rec. 11, 188
Briggs, H. M. and Hellen, V. G. (1940). J. Agric. Res.
60, 65
Chandra, N. C. (1939). Punjab Govt. Famine Bull. 3, 3
—
(1939), 1. Punjab Govt. Famine Bull. 8, 10
—
(1939), 2. Punjab Govt. Famine Bull. 6, 3
Cunningham, I. J. (1934). N. Z. J. of Sci. & Technol. 16,
81
Galloway, G. M. (1940). Lusiana Bull. 180
Harris, R.S.Mosher, L.M. and Bunker (1939). Am. J. Diges.
Lis. 6, 459
Henke, L. A. (1934). Agri. & Livestock in India 5, 34
Labh Singh and Ghambir Singh (1934). Agri. & Livestock
in India 4, 156
—
(1935). Agri. & Livestock
in India 5, 34
Morrison, F. B. (1937). Feeds and Feeding. The Morri-
son Publishing Co., Ithaca, New York
Skinner, I. H. and King, F. G. (1936-37). Purdu Univ.
Agric. Expt. Sta. Bull. 430
Snell, M. G. and Taggart, W. S. (1933). Proc. Am. Soc.
Animal Production 110-12
—
(1935). Lusiana Stat. Univ. Agric. Expt. Sta.
Bull. 266, 22
Wright, N. C. (1937). Report on the development of the
cattle and dairy industries in India. Govt. of India Press,
Simla