September 1955] K. SAHAI, P. N. JOHRI AND N. D. KEHAR 211
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Earlier observations [Sen et al., 1942] in the Animal Nutrition Laboratories,
Izatnagar, showed that alkali treatment increased the digestibility coefficient of total
carbohydrates from 51 to 72 and from 57 to 76 for wheat and paddy straws res-
pectively. This increased digestibility enhanced the total digestible nutrients in
the straws to the extent of about 45 per cent. Further, it was also found that
alkali treatment removes 70 to 80 per cent of the deleterious potassium oxalate
in the straw, as a result of which the assimilation of calcium from a ration containing
treated rice straw is materially improved. It was also shown that the feeding of
treated straw affects greater utilization of protein.
In view of these findings a developmental scheme was undertaken to study
by simple feeding experiments, the practicability of using alkali-treated and water-
washed wheat and paddy straws in the ration of milch animals under field conditions.
These feeding experiments were thus carried out in the paddy straw area at the
Sodepur pinjrapole in Bengal, the gowshala at Puri in Orissa, at the Animal Nutrition
Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, and at Sir Surendra
Singh Majithia's dairy farm at Sardarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. In the wheat straw
area the dairy farm selected was that of Messrs. Govin Brothers at Rampur in
Uttar Pradesh.
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 practice in these piaces in regard to feeding and manage-
ment of animals should remain undisturbed.
Feeding trials showed that the palatability of the treated and untreated straw
was almost the same with the only difference that the alkali-treated straw was
preferred by the animals and they always took less time in eating their quota.
As regards the effect of alkali-treated and water-washed straws on milk produc-
tion, the data obtained at centres other than Izatnagar, lacking scientific precision,
essentially, in view of (i) free suckling of calves for priming purposes, (ii) unscientific
formulation of ration, and (iii) lack of control over milk records, have not been subject-
ed to statistical analysis. The statistical analysis was, thus, confined to Izatnagar
centre only which did not suffer from any of the above disabilities. The results have
not been uniform for cow and buffalo milk yields particularly, in respect of the
water-washed straw which proved best for buffalo milk while worst for cow milk.
The economics of the feeding of these straws have been worked out and there appears
to be only a small marginal profit (after deducting the cost of treatment of straws).
In view of the non-uniform results for cows and buffaloes it is considered necessary
to repeat the experiments on a larger scale under properly controlled conditions.
From these findings, however, it appears that if one is only to consider in terms
of milk augmentation, there is hardly any economic advantage. But considering
the effect of the improved fodder, from which the deleterious substances have been
removed, and the greater utilization of protein, it may be advisable to feed milch
animals also with the treated straw.
It may, however, be emphasized that the feeding of the treated straw can be
undertaken with advantage on a large scale in Government or private farms, pin-
jrapoles and gowshalas or in villages on co-operative basis where the number of animals