210
ALKALI-TREATED
STRAW
[Vol. XXV, Part III,
It has been shown by Kehar [1954] that if the cost of untreated straw is taken
to be Rs. 2 a maund, the cost of alkali treated straw works out at Rs. 4-6-0 a maund.
Calculations, on a similar basis, indicate that the cost of water-washed straw would
be Rs. 2-10-0 a maund.
Calculating the cost of feeding the processed straw in relation to the augmented
yield of milk, it was found that the net profit resulting from the feeding of processed
straw was only marginal.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS General observations recorded during t
briefly given below:
Rampur. Feeding trials were started on the 21st June 1945, on the dairy cows
of Messrs. Govin Brothers. Soon after the experiment made any headway, the
experimental animals were attacked by foot and mouth disease, and, in course, it
was found that no useful purpose would be served by continuing with the affected
animals.
A fresh batch of 10 cows was selected and the experiment was restarted
on the 10th August 1945. The majority of the animals in the new batch, although
otherwise suitable for the experiment, were unfortunately almost half way through
their lactation period. The duration of the experimental period could not, therefore,
be what was visualized. Though some of the animals were in milk for more than
10 weeks, as one of the animals of the experimental group went dry, the observations
for 10 weeks only were taken into consideration.
Puri. The observations at Puri were conducted on the dairy cows of the local
gowshala. Nothing untoward happened at this centre. Though the experiment
ran for 32 weeks the observations for 21 weeks were only considered as one animal
went dry in the 22nd week.
Sodepur. The observations at Sodepur were carried out on the dairy cows of
the Pinjrapole. Observations for 11 weeks were only taken into consideration when
all the animals were in milk.
Izatnagar. The observations were conducted on cows and buffaloes at the
Animal Nutrition Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar. The
plan of work was almost the same as adopted at the other centres. Due to paucity
of sufficient number of suitable cows, nine cows and nine buffaloes were taken. Each
group thus consisted of three cows and three buffaloes. This, however, provided
an opportunity to study the reaction of buffaloes also towards the treated straw.
After 14 weeks, some of the animals of the experimental group were affected by a
severe outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Later on, all the animals were naturally
affected. Though some of the animals were in milk for 19 to 26 weeks after the
feeding of processed straw was started, observations for 14 weeks were only taken
into consideration when all the animals were in milk.
Sardarnagar. The experimental observations were conducted on cows and
buffaloes at Sir Surendra Singh Majithia's farm. The pian of investigation was
practically the same as adopted at Izatnagar. Soon after the experiment was started,
an outbreak of foot and mouth disease was observed and the experiment was stopped
for some time. After six months the work was restarted with a new batch of animals,
and feeding observations were continued for 10 weeks when all the animals were in
milk.