NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
198
FLUORINE
INTOXICATION-II
[Vol. XXV, Part III,
26 per cent was retained, whereas in the case of calf No. 5, 40 grams out of the 119
grams fed was retained, i.e. 34 per cent retention (cf. Table VI). Wadhwani [1953]
has shown in rats that the fluorine retention was 57.6 per cent of that absorbed as
against 43.9 per cent of that absorbed by animals placed on diets deficient in Ca
and P. But he contends that the F-toxicity was less in the higher F-retained group.
This lower retention of F in the Ca and P deficient group is exactly the reverse of
our observation in this study. Confirmation of our work is, however, seen in the
work of Lawrenz and Mitchell [1941] with rats and in the work of Majumdar, Ray
and Sen [1943] where an increase in dietary calcium depressed the retention of
fluorine.
Improvement by bonemeal feeding
Lawrenz and Mitchell [1939, 1941] had shown by separate studies on the effect
of dietary calcium and phosphorus on the assimilation of fluorine that fluorine
retention was depressed from 13 to 16 per cent due to dietary calcium and that
dietary phosphorus does not modify appreciably the total retention of fluorine.
A similar finding was reported by Ranganathan also [1941]. In the present study,
bonemeal had failed to prevent the symptoms of fluorosis, particularly exostosis,
ankylosis, and overgrown hoofs, from making their appearance. It had only caused
an increased excretion of fluorine and consequently lesser storage than the 'no bone-
meal' group animals. This factor combined with the correction of the phosphorus
deficiency present in the fluorosis affected areas of the Ceded Districts [Mariaku-
landai and Venkataramaiah, 1939-41] can result in some improvement. Calf No. 4
retained only three-fourth of what calf No. 5 had retained. And so, it may be
possible in a place where the fluorine content of water was near about the toxic
level, i.e. 1 p.p.m., and animal with bonemeal supplement can escape toxicity as
it will be retaining only three-fourth of what another animal with no bonemeal
supplement would normally retain.
SUMMARY
1. Fluorosis was experimentally induced in four calves by sodium fluoride
feeding in water for over a period of 300 days. Chronic fluorine intoxication symp-
toms, like cachexia, anorexia, inanition, ankylosis, bone exostosis and overgrown
hoofs were produced.
2. Fluorine feeding was found to produce symptoms chiefly in the bones, hoofs
and alimentary canal.
3. Fluorine feeding was found to have no effect on the normal blood content of
(a) inorganic blood phosphorus; (b) serum calcium; and (c) blood fluorine. Fluo-
rine ingestion also had no effect on the retention of CaO and P 2 O 5 Fluorine was
found to be stored predominantly in the bones.
4. Bonemeal supplements to fluorine-fed calves were found to cause perceptible
lower retention of fluorine. The bonemeal-fed calf retained approximately three-
fourth of what the fluorine group animal retained.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT The work was done from 1939 to 1942 u
Scheme which was financed by the Imperial (now Indian) Council of Agricultural
Research, New Delhi.
EFFECT OF FEEDING ALKALI AND WATER-TREATED
CEREAL STRAWS ON MILK YIELD*
By K. SAHAI, P. N. JOHRI and N. D. KEHAR, Animal Nutrition Division,
Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, U. P.
(Received for publication on 18th January 1955)
I N a previous article, Kehar [1954] pointed out that the feeding of alkali-treated
straws was, in general, beneficial for the growth of young animals. It was also
observed that in places where the plane of nutrition was low, the feeding of alkali-
treated straws accentuated the rate of growth and showed a significant saving of
time for the gain of 100 lb. in body weight. Encouraged by these findings it was
decided to study the effect of alkali and water-treated straw on milk yield by simple
feeding experiments in gowshalas, pinjrapoles and private farms. It was decided
that during the course of experimentation, except introducing the particular straw,
untreated and treated for the control and experimental groups respectively, the
routine procedure practised in these places in regard to the feeding and manage-
ment of animals, should be maintained undisturbed. The investigation was con-
ducted in several centres representing wheat and paddy zones.
From the data arising out of these experiments, the economies of large scale
feeding on alkali and water-treated straws was worked out. In the present com-
munication the results obtained on milch animals are presented.
EXPERIMENTAL
Selection of animals
Apparently healthy animals, more or less identical with regard to age, live-
weight, period and number of lactations, breed and other conditions, were selected
and divided into two groups of six each. The animals in the control group were
fed on the farm ration containing untreated straw. The same dietetic prescription
was followed for the experimental groups, except that alkali or water-treated straw
was fed in place of the untreated straw. The supplementary feeding stuffs were
the same in both the groups, depending on the availability of the material on the
farms. During the course of the experiment all the animals were weighed every
week and the record of food consumption and daily milk yield was regularly main-
tained. Any untoward symptoms exhibited by the animals during the experi-
mental period were also recorded. The observations extended over a full lactation
period.
*This investigation was carried out under the auspices of the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research, New Delhi.
201
27 AR/55
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ALKALI-TREATED STRAW
[Vol. XXV, Part III,
Selection of centres
The centres selected for studying the effect of alkali-treated straw on growth of
young animals [Kehar, loc. cit.] were used for these experiments also.
It was, however, realised by experience at these four centres that the quantity
and quality of the concentrates fed to the animals were very much dependant on
their availability and prevailing prices. As a result, the ration, more often than
not, did not conform to any scientific formulation. It was well recognised that
milk secretion is very susceptible to variations with the current nutrition of milch
animals. If the concentrate feeding happens to be haphazard, the trend of milk
secretion will be erratic and under such circumstances the relative merit of treated
and untreated straw will be difficult to assess. Thus, to make this investigation
wider in its application, it was felt that certain amount of controlled feeding was
imperative. Unfortunately, however, to introduce this control, one was to upset
the routine practice followed at the farms which was neither considered practicable
at this stage nor did it form a part of the technical programme. Apart from the
feeding difficulties, there are other important factors associated with milk record-
ing. In most of these farms, the weaning is not practised. The calves are always
allowed to suckle preparatory to milking. The quantity of milk suckled is difficult
to assess, as it varies with the whims and fancies of the milkers.
In view of these difficulties it was proposed that one experiment with such
animals might be carried out at the Animal Nutrition Division, Indian Veterinary
Research Institute, Izatnagar, which would be similar to the field centres but would
be free from such uncontrolled factors as mentioned above, and would have the
advantage of close supervision.
The number and type of animals used as also the duration of experiment (Table
I) differed at different centres. The number and type of animals selected for the
experiment was determined by their availability and although the experiment was
intended for full lactation, the reason for different observation periods at different
centres was that, if in one group one animal went dry, its counterpart in other group
or groups was also discontinued.
TABLE I
Number and type of animals used and the duration of experiment
Centre
Rampur
Puri
Sodepur
Izatnagar
Sardarnagar
Duration
of experi-
ment
(in weeks)
10
21
11
14
10
Straw
used
Wheat
Paddy
do.
do.
do.
Number and type of animals
Cows
Untreated
straw
group
5
6
6
3
3
Alkali-
treated
straw
group
5
6
6
3
3
Water-
washed
straw
group
..
..
..
3
3
Buffaloes
Untreated
straw
group
..
..
..
3
3
Alkali-
treated
straw
group
..
..
..
3
3
Water-
washed
straw
group
..
..
..
3
3
September 1955] K. SAHAI, P. N. JOHRI AND N. D. KEHAR 203
Treatment of straw
The procedure adopted for the treatment of straw with dilute alkali was the
same as reported earlier by Kehar [1953 and 1954]. Water washing of the straws
was carried out in the same tanks and by the same procedure except that alkali
was not added to water.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Average straw consumption
In all the centres, the animals were given free access to straw after they had
consumed their scheduled allowance of concentrate and green fodder. The animals
at Puri were stall fed, whereas those at Rampur, Sodepur, Izatnagar and Sardar-
nagar were let out for grazing also. The average consumption of straw by the
animals of the experimental and control groups at different centres is summarised
in Table II.
TABLE II
Average straw consumption in pounds per animal per day in different centres
Centre
Rampur
Puri
Sodepur
Izatnagar
Sardarnagar
Type of straw
Wheat straw
Rice straw
do.
do.
do.
Alkali treated
straw group
Cows
8.0
14.0
8.0
9.5
11.5
Buffaloes
..
..
..
11.8
12.0
Water-washed
straw group
Cows
..
..
..
9.5
11.5
Buffaloes
..
..
..
11.5
12.8
Uutreated-straw
group
Cows
8.0
14.0
6.0
9.5
11.5
Buffaloes
..
..
..
11.5
12.5
It is apparent from the data in Table II that the consumption of treated and
untreated-straw was almost the same. The treated straw was, however, preferred
as the experimental group animals always took less time in eating than the control
group.
Milk yield
Milk data collected at centres other than Izatnagar could not be considered
as scientifically accurate due to their being affected by various extraneous factors
such as the allowance of free suckling, collection of data from farm registers instead
of being recorded by the supervisors, and the most important of all, the uncontrolled
and unspecified nutritional levels at various centres. Accordingly, it was felt
that the milk yield data collected at Izatnagar alone, which did not suffer from any
of the above disabilities, should be subjected to statistical analysis.
The particulars of the animals selected at Izatnagar as also the data in regard to
milk yield of cows and buffaloes at this centre are given in Tables III, IV and V.
204
ALKALI-TREATED STRAW
[Vol. XXV, Part III,
TABLE III
Particulars of animals selected at Izatnagar centre
Animal
No.
Breed
Order
of
lactation
Live-
weight
in lb.
Date
of
calving
Milk
yield
in lb.
Ration
Remarks
Control Group
Cows
1
2
3
Hariana
do.
do.
2
3
3
660
530
740
6-4-46
13-5-46
3-6-46
1.9
8.2
16.7
1. Paddy straw
2. Green fodder
3. Conc. Mix.
4. Grazing
5. Salt
10 lb.
15 lb. for 3 weeks and 10 lb. for
the remaining 11 weeks.
1½ lb. for maintenance and 1 lb.
for every two lb. milk.
2 oz.
After third week the
animals were allow-
ed to go out for
grazing.
Buffaloes
1
2
3
Murrah
do.
do.
4
2
3
1,250
1,140
950
10-4-46
15-4-46
29-4-46
17.1
17.0
16.7
1. Paddy straw
2. Green fodder
3. Conc. Mix.
4. Grazing
5. Salt
12 lb.
20 lb. for 3 weeks and 19 lb. for
the remaining 3 weeks.
2½ lb. for maintenance and 1 lb.
for every 2 lb. milk.
2 oz.
September 1955] K. SAHAI, P. N. JOHRI AND N. D. KEHAR 205
Alkali-treated group
Cows
1
2
3
Hariana
do.
do.
2
3
3
550
650
770
10-4-46
3-5-46
20-6-46
5.0
9.1
15.7
Same as in the control group except that alkali-treated straw
was substituted for untreated straw.
Buffaloes
1
2
3
Murrah
do.
do.
4
2
3
1,220
1,160
940
2-4-46
12-4-46
24-4-46
19.7
16.4
17.9
Water-washed group
Cows
1
2
3
Hariana
do.
do.
2
3
3
560
630
700
12-4-46
18-5-46
28-5-46
5.2
9.4
18.1
Same as in the control group except that water-treated straw
was substituted for untreated-straw.
Buffaloes
1
2
3
Murrah
do.
do.
4
2
3
1,240
1,150
930
4-4-46
10-4-46
20-4-46
18.3
15.1
13.0
206
ALKALI-TREATED STRAW
[Vol. XXV, Part III,
TABLE IV
Weekly milk yield of cows in pounds expressed as average per day at Izatnagar centre
Weeks
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Control group
1
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.6
2.3
2.2
2.5
3.1
3.0
2.6
3.1
2.1
1.9
1.4
1.5
2
8.1
8.2
9.6
9.6
8.8
9.6
9.4
9.1
8.5
7.2
7.0
3.3
5.9
5.4
4.0
3
16.7
16.7
18.3
15.9
15.9
15.1
13.8
14.6
13.0
12.9
14.9
12.4
11.6
8.3
8.3
Average
8.9
8.9
9.6
9.0
9.0
9.0
8.6
8.9
8.2
7.6
8.3
5.9
6.5
5.0
4.6
Alkali-treated straw group
1
5.0
4.2
3.9
3.9
3.9
4.3
5.0
5.0
4.4
4.4
4.1
3.8
4.1
3.9
4.0
2
9.1
9.0
10.7
10.9
10.3
11.0
9.9
9.1
9.8
8.0
8.6
8.0
8.5
7.0
6.7
3
15.7
17.6
18.0
17.4
17.3
16.1
14.2
14.9
14.7
15.2
15.0
15.7
13.5
12.0
12.9
Average
9.9
10.3
10.9
10.7
10.5
10.5
9.7
9.7
9.6
9.9
9.2
9.2
8.7
7.6
7.9
Water-washed straw group
1
5.2
4.7
4.3
4.0
4.1
5.5
5.2
5.1
4.3
4.0
5.1
4.5
3.6
3.6
3.7
2
9.4
10.5
11.1
12.1
11.5
12.0
10.6
9.8
8.3
6.1
6.9
5.4
5.2
5.2
5.9
3
18.1
18.7
20.6
19.8
20.8
18.1
17.0
19.0
16.7
15.3
15.6
15.4
11.6
10.9
7.4
Average
10.9
11.3
12.0
12.0
12.1
11.9
10.9
11.3
9.8
8.5
9.2
8.4
6.8
6.6
5.7
September 1955] K. SAHAI, P. N. JOHRI AND N. D. KEHAR 207
TABLE V
Weekly milk yield of buffaloes in pounds expressed as average per day at Izatnagar
centre
Weeks
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Control group
1
17.1
17.1
15.9
15.2
16.8
16.3
16.6
16.0
16.3
15.9
15.8
15.8
14.8
14.7
14.1
2
17.0
17.8
15.7
15.5
15.6
15.4
16.9
16.3
16.3
16.2
15.4
14.1
14.5
11.6
12.5
3
16.7
17.3
15.1
14.6
15.4
15.7
15.3
14.0
15.2
14.4
14.1
13.1
12.7
11.3
10.0
Average
16.9
17.6
16.5
15.4
15.1
15.5
15.4
16.1
15.2
15.8
15.3
14.8
13.6
13.6
11.5
Alkali-treated straw group
1
19.7
19.5
22.0
19.5
22.3
22.6
22.2
21.1
21.0
21.5
20.8
18.9
18.1
19.1
18.6
2
17.9
15.4
17.7
13.9
15.1
14.9
13.5
12.9
13.5
13.2
13.2
11.9
12.2
11.7
10.9
3
16.4
16.4
17.7
14.4
16.3
17.3
17.1
16.5
16.1
15.9
15.9
15.7
14.8
14.4
14.0
Average
18.0
17.1
19.1
15.9
17.9
18.3
17.6
16.8
16.9
16.9
16.6
15.5
15.0
15.1
14.5
Water-washed straw group
1
18.3
18.1
17.6
17.6
18.1
17.5
17.8
18.7
18.6
17.6
15.9
16.5
13.7
14.3
15.4
2
15.1
15.6
13.1
12.3
12.3
12.4
12.2
9.9
9.9
9.7
8.3
7.6
7.8
5.0
8.1
3
13.0
15.5
15.4
15.6
15.4
14.7
15.0
14.7
14.8
13.8
13.8
11.3
13.0
11.4
11.0
Average
15.5
16.4
15.4
15.2
15.3
14.9
15.0
14.4
14.4
13.4
12.7
11.8
11.5
10.2
11.4
208
ALKALI-TREATED
STRAW
[Vol. XXV, Part III,
Similar data were collected for other centres also, but since these have not been
subjected to statistical analysis, they have not been reported here. Like other
centres the milk data for Izatnagar centre also referred to unknown lactation
numbers of some animals. It is well-known that milk yield depends a good deal
on the lactation number. The randomisation of this factor, as has been done in
the present case, has, therefore, increased the inherent variation in the data but
has not made the application of a statistical test invalid. The results of statistical
analysis of the data are presented in Table VI.
TABLE VI
Analysis of variance of milk data from feed trials on cows, collected at Izatnagar
Source of variation
Between weeks
Between groups
Interaction between weeks and groups
Between feeds
Interaction between feeds and groups
Error
TOTAL
Analysis of variance table for yields
from cows
d.f.
10
2
20
2
4
60
98
M. S. (lb.)2
7.3501
177.3786
1.1798
60.9811**
41.0784
0.9439
Standard error of difference between two feed means
Critical difference for such means=0.239 x 1.96
=0.239
=0.468
Means of feed
Alkali-treated straw
17.15
Control
15.67
Water-washed straw
14.43
All different significantly
September 1955] K. SAHAI, P. N. JOHRI AND N. D. KEHAR 209
Analysis of variance of milk data from feed trials on buffaloes, collected at Izatnagar
Source of variation
Between weeks
Between groups
Interaction between weeks and groups
Between feeds
Interaction between feeds and groups
Error
TOTAL
Analysis of variance table for yields
from baffaloes
d.f.
10
2
20
2
4
60
98
M. S. (lb.) 2
8.9712
1293.1280
40.9620
41.8771**
3.7906
0.5633
Standard error of difference between two feed means
Critical difference for such means=1.85 X 1.96
=.185
=.363
Feed means
Water-washed straw
10.67
Alkali-treated straw
9.95
Control
8.46
All significantly different.
It will be seen from the above analysis of variance that there appears to be
significant difference between feeds, no pair being of equal effect. The feed effects,
when tested against their critical differences, can be arranged in the following
descending order of efficacy.
Cow milk. Alkali-treated straw: control: water-washed straw group.
Buffalo milk. Water-washed straw: alkali-treated straw: control.
It can be seen that in so far as the augmentation of both cow and buffalo milk
is concerned, the alkali-treated straw proved better than the untreated straw but the
results in respect of water-washed straw were not homogeneous for the two types of
milk. It proved best for buffalo milk and worst for cow milk.
This is possibly
due to one cow in the water-washed group having a severe attack of foot and mouth
disease while another had mastitis.
Economics of alkali and water-treated straw feeding
Since the only variant in the feeding trial is the treated and untreated straw,
the economic appraisal will obviously hinge round the gain in the form of augmented
amount of milk against the cost of treatment.
27 AR/55
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ALKALI-TREATED STRAW
[Vol. XXV, Part III
is hundred or above. The individual farmers could improve the straw by treating
it in large earthen pots (kunds). In places where water is not abundantly available
the straws could be soaked in water and the waste water could be used, as pointed
out by Kehar [1953], by adding 0.5 per cent lime.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Grateful thanks are due to Sir Datar Singh, Sir Surendra Singh Majithia, Messrs.
Govin Brothers, and the Directors, Veterinary Services, U. P., Orissa and Bengal,
and the management of the pinjrapoles at Sodepur and gowshala at Puri for their
wholehearted co-operation in extending every facility in executing this project.
We take this opportunity of expressing our gratitude to the Statistician, Indian
Council of Agricultural Research, for analysing the experimental data.
The authors also express their appreciation of the assistance rendered by Messrs.
Niamat Khan, Asgher Ali, S. L. Mukerjee and N. Patnaik, Supervisors at Rampur.
Sardarnagar, Sodepur and Puri respectively.
REFERENCES
Kehar, N. D. (1953). Indian Fmg. II, 11, 14
——
(1954). Indian J. vet. Sci. XXIV, 3
Sen, K. C., Ray, S. C. and Talapatra, S. K. (1942). Indian J, vet. Sci. 12, 263
HORMONES AND LACTATION
By S. N. LUKTUKE, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar
(Received for publication on 27th July 1954)
(With one text-figure)
S TERILITY in cattle accounts for much of the wastage occurring in dairy
herds throughout the world. The work on artificial induction of lactation by
hormonal methods has opened a new era and it has become possible to make many
unproductive animals produce milk. The aim of this article is to describe in brief
as to how the mammary gland in a cow develops, what hormones are called into
action for this development and initiation and maintenance of lactation, and how
lactation can be produced artificially in dry barren cows.
GROWTH OF THE MAMMARY GLAND
The mammary gland is concerned with the production of milk. The structure
of the udder reveals the presence of a net-work of milk ducts which have an outlet
in the teat. It is composed of (i) alveoli, where the cells are actually involved
in the production of milk, (ii) ducts, through which the manufactured milk is
drained and is accumulated in the cistern and (iii) cistern (milk tank) in which
the milk is stored temporarily prior to its letting down. The mammary glands are
rudimentary in the immature females and remain so till puberty. At puberty they
undergo striking change in size.
The development continues till fourth or fifth lactation when the udder attains
full size. The development of the mammary gland, the initiation of milk production
and maintenance of lactation is controlled by a wonderful co-ordination between
various endocrine glands. These endocrine or ductless glands produce hormones
which are carried by blood or lymph vessels from their place of manufacture to the
different parts of the body. The endocrine glands which are concerned with the
development of the udder and the initiation and maintenance of lactation are as
follows:
(i) Pituitary [Hypophysis]. This lies beneath the brain and regulates
the activity of the other endocrine glands by means of its own hormones.
(ii) Ovary. This gland in addition to the production of ova (eggs), also
produces a hormone called oestrogen. This is responsible for producing
desire for mating, popularly known as 'heat'.
(iii) Corpus luteum. (Yellow body in the ovary)—This appears in the
ovary for a short time after each period of 'heat' and also persists
during pregnancy. A hormone called progesterone is produced by this
gland.
(iv) Thyroid. This is located in the throat region round the wind pipe
and produces a hormone called thyroxine.
213
27 AR/55
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214
HORMONES
AND
LACTATION
[Vol. XXV, Part III,
Fig. 1. Hormones responsible for the development of the mammary gland and initiation and main-
tenance of lactation.
1. Adrenocorticotrophin influences lactation through adrenals.
2. Gonadotrophins (F.S.H. and L.H.) influence the development and function of gonads.
3. Oxytocin aids in discharge of formed milk.
4. Prolactin (Lactogenic hormone) initiates and maintains lactation.
5. Mammotrophins (A—duct growth factor and B—lobule alveolar growth factor) cause develop-
ment of the mammary gland.
6 and 7. Oestrogen and progesterone in conjunction with mammogenic hormones stimulate
development of the mammary gland.