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KAURA
141
(definitely given a negative balance; while inspite
of heavy P 2 O 5 ingestion (39 to 59 gm.) a negative
balance has been recorded up to the stage of 43
gm. This is probably due to the presence of
phosphorus in the rice bran mainly as phytin
which is not readily assimilable. Rice bran should,
therefore, be supplemented with lime and chlorine
on one side, while its phosphorus compound should
be brought into assimilable form by hydrolysis.
In the case of green feeds, Guinea grass is better
balanced than Napier and Hyacinth, but the feed-
ing should be regulated in order to avoid a large
ingestion of lime. Napier grass should be supple-
mented with CaCO 3 and both Napier and Hyacinth
should be so regulated as not to involve a larger
ingestion of potash through them. They both
(specially Hyacinth) require some cake supple-
ment. Hyacinth is often used as a fodder in some
parts of Bengal when there is a fodder scarcity.
Chatterjee [1942] has stated that in the rice-
growing tracts rice straw has been and will proba-
bly remain the chief roughage and as its use must
have largely contributed towards the present
situation its judicious feeding is of much impor-
tance to the future well-being of cattle. The
main deficiency with rice straw is that it is very
poor in protein and phosphorus and contains a
large quantity of crude fibre on one side and an
interfering substance (oxalic acid) against a proper
absorption of lime on the other. Again depending
on the nature of feed combinations, the digesti-
bility of straw protein varies from nil or even
negative to 3, 4, 5 per cent going up to 37 per
cent. When a balance sheet was drawn of the
intake and outgo of the essential body components,
more protein, lime, magnesia and phosphorus
were drained out of the body than were supplied
in the feed, with the inevitable result that
the animal lost in condition, body weight and
thriftiness. As soon as the animals were provided
with a suitable concentrate (linseed cake) a valu-
able combination of protein and phosphorus
ensued with the result that not only did the general
appetite and consumption go up but there was
definitely better utilization and assimilation of the
food components and the animals gained in the
weight.
Ramiah [1939] has stated that an area in the
Kurnool district was investigated as a deficient
area in phosphoric acid as revealed in the pasture
survey. A disease commonly known as Vayu-
Potlu resembling ostomalacia or arthritis is ende-
mic in that area. Blood phosphorus was very low,
giving a blood picture of pronounced imbalance.
The presence of fluorine and mineral imbalance are
factors operative in the incidence of the disease.
A similar field survey of cattle in South Kanara
district showed less pronounced symptoms of
deficiency resulting in general poverty of condition
in cattle. Herbage protein studies revealed that
manuring has a marked effect on the total nitrogen
content and type of distribution of nitrogen in the
herbage of cereals.
Anwar Ullah [1939] has stated that most of tne
constituents, especially the minerals in the fodders,
tended to decrease with advancing age, the main
exception being in the case of nitrogen-free ex-
tract which always increased with age. In certain
cases, of course, this did not hold true which is
mainly explained by some disturbing conditions,
such as damages due to drought, flood, etc., or
disturbing conditions like manuring, etc. In-
fluence of soil conditions in Bihar was very marked
and it may be said that all fodders grown at
Sabour, Darbhanga, Pusa and Patna are expected
to be rich in most constituents, especially the
important ones like protein, calcium and phos-
phoric acid, whereas the fodders grown at Kanke,
Jamui, Nawada and Banka are generally ex-
pected to be poorer. Exceptions, of course,
exist but these show the general trend. Though
there were no controlled experiments on the effect
of seasons on the composition of fodders, yet it is
observed in a general way that the fodders grown in
the 1938 season were richer than the fodders
grown in 1936 or 1937. In some cases the 1936
crop was also richer than the 1937 crop, which
seem to have been the poorest in recent years.
SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
To elucidate precisely the causes of degeneration
of cattle in various parts of India is a difficult and
complicated problem requiring systematic in-
vestigation and involving considerable expense
and time. For such an investigation it is necessa-
ry that data should be collected from the affected
areas regarding local environment, e.g., climatolo-
gical factors, condition of soil and water, nutritional
deficiency including that of important minerals
like calcium and phosphorus or their imbalance
and of vitamins, especially fat soluble vitamins,
A, D and E, the excess or absence of trace elements
like fluorine, cobalt, manganese, etc. and the inci-
dence of diseases and parasitic infestations in-
cluding blood parasites etc. The probable causes
of deterioration in these areas should first be sorted
out and the point settled whether the various
suspected causative factors act singly or in combi-
nation by actual experimentation upon batches of
local cattle and cattle imported from good areas
where deterioration is not marked. The actual
number of these batches will depend upon the
number of suspected etiological factors, e.g., cli-
mate, diet, parasites, etc. and the possible com-
binations in which these factors may be operating,
keeping suitable control.
In each experimental batch the unwanted factor
or factors should be completely eliminated as far