66
ABSTRACTS
regards proteins. The large quantities of protein necessary to increase the milk yield
cannot be obtained by adding hay, silage, cereals bran to a basic ration drawn from the
fodder crops produced on the farm, without making it impossible for the animal to absorb
the whole ration because of its high dry matter content. ' On the basis of the available
results of investigation in different countries, it is concluded that ' when the diet is
limited to fodders produced on the farm, the hope of obtaining maximum yields must
be abandoned. ' Therefore, when selecting animals for breeding purposes, preference
should be given to those maintaining a good average yield on the available fodder rather
than high yielders.
In regard to measures for increasing the fodder output, the generally recognised
methods are enumerated, viz. (a) extension of cultivated areas, (b) increase in yield and
more rational use of meadows and grazing lands, (c) increase in fodder crops. It is
stressed that ' it is the manner of using the meadows which determines the protein
content and the influence of every other factor is of less importance, being almost
always indirect '. Under the self-sufficiency system adopted by several countries, the
meadows and grazing lands acquire all the more importance in that they supply the
greater part of the necessary protein. With regard to obtaining increase in fodder
crops, it is observed that' by a rotational selection of fodder plants, by encouraging the
cultivation of those giving the best yields or by reducing the fallow periods of arable
land (inter-row cultivation and catch crop), it is possible either to increase the quantity
of fodder harvested over the same area or to reduce the area cultivated while main-
taining production at the same level '. As regards the plants to which preference
should be given it is suggested that those producing the greatest quantity of nutritive
substance over an equal area are to be preferred. It is stated that a plant of capital
importance has been found in the sweet lupin, especially when grown in sandy
soil and the green fodder produced from it is much liked. Repeated feeding trials
with dairy cattle, sheep, horses, pigs and poultry show that sweet lupin seeds
are pleasant to taste, easily digested and that their effects correspond to their
theoretical nutritive value. It has been observed that in feeding pigs and poultry,
it is necessary to supplement the protein content of the lupin seeds with albumi-
noids of animal origin in order to improve its biological value. All kinds of animals
like the green fodder obtained from the sweet lupin and it does not become woody till
very old. Another fodder plant of recognised value, the cultivation of which is steadily
increasing, is the marrow kale (Brassica oleracea acephala). The green material
contains an average of 2.0 per cent of digestible crude protein, 1.5 per cent of net
digestible protein and its starch equivalent is 8.0 kg. Feeding trials have shown that
considerable quantity of protein can be economised by feeding this plant to dairy cows.
Considerable attention is also being paid to catch crops. An effort is being made through
these crops to increase the output of feeding stuffs and consequently the quantity of
vegetable protein also ; at the same time most of the silage is made from these crops.
The most important forage plants grown as catch according to the kind of soil, climate
and season at which the sowings are made, are the following : red clover, several other
varieties of clover and grasses, sweet lupin, serradelle, forage cabbage, mustard, rye,
colza, turnip, rape, green maize, fodder mallow, etc. The commonest mixtures are grass
and red clover ; rye and vetch ; oats, barley, vetch and peas ; beans, peas and vetch.
Certain waste and by-products have always played an important part in the feeding
of animals. Innovations such as the ' Anti-Wash Campaign ', i. e. collection and utili-
sation of household rubbish have led to the accumulation of large quantities of com-
plimentary feeding stuff for animals. This is mostly used for pig feeding. The use of
meat meal and powdered blood is not a novelty in itself but considerable progress has
been made in regard to the inexpensive collection and processing of these products.
Much work has been done on the collection and preservation of beet leaves which
are a valuable feeding stuff for livestock on account of their protein content and rela-
tively less proportion of roughage. With the modern technique of artificial drying the
loss of nutritive value has been reduced to 25 per cent of digestible crude protein and
10 per cent of its starch equivalent. Efforts have also been made to extract protein
from the juice which is generally lost in the process of preparing potato starch and several
dry products of proved nutritive value have been obtained for feeding sheep and pigs.
Increased cultivation of linseed has led to the discovery of a valuable fodder in the
husks of the seed. It has been shown that the husk contains 5.3 per cent of digestible