ABSTRACTS
67
protein and a starch equivalent of 30.6 kg. Among the dairy by-products, whey has
received considerable attention. Attempts are being made to discover a method of
preserving this product with a view to make available a concentrated food rich in protein.
Nutrition tests based on dried whey have shown that its content of nutritive principles
corresponds as a rule to that of forage barley, while its mineral content, chiefly lime,
is higher than that of barley. It can be given freely to pigs, young cattle and grown
calves but the somewhat sour taste sets a limit to the quantity which can be added
to a ration. Poultry were found to refuse dried whey after a few days, probably because
of the high proportion of lactose (45 to 50 per cent) and lack of specific ferments (lac-
tase). Nutrition tests have shown that the use of neutralised whey has no bad effect on
the health of the animals if delivered daily when fresh in wooden containers.
A passing reference has been made in regard to investigation on substitutes, i. e.
substances which are likely to fill in the shortage of concentrates and especially of foods
with a high protein content. The cultivation of yeasts by sacrificing carbohydrates
and inorganic nitrogenous salts, the substitution of protein with non-albuminoid
nitrogenous substances and recent researches in Germany on the utilisation of
wood sugar for livestock feeding have been described. Under the self-sufficiency system
the question of suitable preservation of fodder with the least loss of nutritive principles
is of paramount importance. In this connection, it is observed that the use of hay cocks
in hay making is now widespread and in many countries subsidies are granted by
Government to enable the farmers to purchase them. The most recent models are
made of wire on which the newly mown fodder is hung out to dry. The production of
silage has been gradually improved during the past few years by processes such as
the addition of different acids, of fermentable carbohydrates, lactic ferments, by means
of partial wilting of green fodders, etc. Large Government subsidies have been granted
for the construction of silos and this shows the importance attached to ensilage methods.
Greater attention is also now being paid to artificial drying of fodder crops. The cost
involved appears to be fairly high but the product has a high nutritive value and can
be given to any class of livestock, though particularly useful for feeding milch stock.
The above resume will show that during the last few years, the self-sufficiency
movement has made rapid strides in European countries and the numerous problems
confronting it are receiving concerted attention. Attempts are being made to regulate
the time of calving, lactation periods, etc. , in accordance with the availability of fodders
during different seasons and the present trend does not aim at maximum yield, which
is obtainable only with the aid of foreign concentrates, but good, average yields from
strong healthy stock suited to thrive on the bulkier home-grown fodders and available
vegetable proteins.
In regard to this self-sufficiency problem from the Indian point of view, it is interest-
ing to record that the most recent estimates of the available fodder resources (cultivated)
in this country are as follows :—
(a) Straw of crops (moisture 10 per cent) . . .
(b) Dry matter content of above .
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(c) Green fodder (moisture 80 per cent) .
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(d) Dry matter content of above .
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The amount of concentrate expressed on dry matter basis
is cakes plus cotton seed .
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135,199,082 tons.
121,679,174 tons.
169,056,479 tons.
33,811,296 tons.
3,829,746 tons.
On the basis of 215 million heads of bovines (as we have an available supply of
155,490,470 tons of dry fodder from cultivated sources) it is found that only about 4 4
lb. of dry fodder per head per day are obtainable. Even if bran, pollard, etc. are consi-
dered to be fodder and the amount available is added to the amount of coarse fodder,
this will mean only an addition of a little over an ounce per head per day. In this cal-
culation, sheep, goats and equines are not taken account of. If one assumes an average
body-weight of the Indian animal to be 400 lb. , then the food requirement would be about
8 lb. of dry matter per day (inclusive of the concentrate). For hard working animals
and milch cows the amount will have to be increased. The amount of concentrate
(cakes and cotton seed) and bran, etc. available works out to be about 0.2 lb. per head
per day. As the fodder supply should provide about 8 lb. of dry matter per day and
since only 4.4 lb. are available from cultivated sources, there is a shortage of 45 per
cent of this substance.