NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
176 REPLACEMENT OF PLANT PROTEINS IN THE RATIONS
[Vol. XXIII, Part III,
replacing part of the vegetable proteins by animal protein, like blood-meal (skim
milk powder was out of question, as it is needed urgently to meet the shortage for
human consumption) without impairing the reproductive efficiency of artificial
insemination bulls.
EXPERIMENTAL
Eight Kumaon-Hill bulls ranging in weight from 276 to 528 lb. were divided at
random into two lots of four each. Animals in the first group were fed ration
consisting of a concentrate mixture made up as follows :
Crushed oats
Crushed maize
Wheat bran
Linseed cake
150 parts by weight
150 „
„
„
300 „
„
„
300 „
„
„
Animals in the second lot received rations which consisted of a concentrate
mixture containing 200 parts crushed oats and 100 parts wheat bran. To this
mixture sufficient amounts of blood meal were added to make up the deficit in
crude proteins. In practice, the actual deficit in crude protein so made up amounted
on an average to 30 per cent. This was due to non-availability of guinea grass
at times and substitution with grasses having higher protein or starch contents.
The feeding schedule for each animal was separately drawn up as recommended by
Morrison. The roughages consisted of hay or wheat bhusa and green guinea or
monsoon grass. The detailed feeding schedule for each animal is given in Table I.
TABLE I
The feeding schedule of control and blood-meal fed bulls
Bull number
Initial weight
Concentrate
mixture
Green
Wheat bhusa
or hay
Control
1
2
61
64
444 lb.
528 lb.
292 lb.
276 lb.
1¾lb.
2 lb.
1 lb.
1 lb.
5 lb.
5 lb.
5 lb.
5 lb.
3 lb.
3 lb.
3 lb.
3 lb.
Blood-meal fed
8
25
60
63
524 lb.
384 lb.
276 lb.
300 lb.
2 lb.+67 gm.*
1⅔ lb.+48 gm.
1 lb.+34 gm.
l⅛ lb.+39 gm.
5 lb.
5 lb.
5 lb.
5 lb.
3 lb.
3 lb.
3 lb.
3 lb.
*Blood-meal.
178
REPLACEMENT OF PLANT PROTEINS IN THE RATIONS
[Vol. XXIII, Part III,
TABLE II
Details of averages of various semen characteristics, reaction time and live-weight of bulls in the two
treatment groups
Treatment
Control
Average
Blood-meal
Average
Bull number
1
2
61
64
8
25
60
63
Ejaculate
number
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
Volume
in c.c.
1.51(15)
2.02(14)
1.91(17)
1.91(11)
2.11(17)
2.05(17)
1.67(17)
1.24(17)
1.80(125)
2.43(17)
2.76(16)
1.90(17)
1.92(17)
0.66(17)
0.69(11)
1.17(17)
1.16(15)
1.59(127)
Initial
motility
3.53(15)
3.82(14)
4.15(17)
3.13(12)
3.62(17)
3.31(16)
3.32(17)
3.12(17)
3.50(125)
4.03(17)
4.31(16)
2.94(17)
3.53(17)
3.59(17)
2.67( 9)
2.97(17)
3.10(15)
3.39(125)
Sperm
density
(millions
per c.c.)
557.27(15)
841.07(14)
1139.65(17)
854.54(11)
888.29(17)
866.38(16)
763.12(17)
1084.06(17)
874.30(124)
939.41(17)
1071.82(17)
439.35(17)
593.76(17)
1324.53(17)
933.18(11)
1428.12(17)
1134.20(15)
983.05(128)
Per cent
abnormal
sperms
3.60(15)
6.00(14)
3.12(17)
4.00(11)
4.00(17)
4.76(17)
9.24(17)
9.82(17)
5.57(125)
5.47(17)
5.94(16)
5.82(17)
4.18(17)
5.00(17)
6.27(11)
11.47(17)
11.00(15)
6.89(127)
Total
sperm in
ejaculate
(millions)
841(15)
1,699(14)
2,117(17)
1,632(11)
1,874(17)
1,776(16)
1,274(17)
1,344(17)
1,577(124)
2,283(17)
2,958(16)
835(17)
1,140(17)
874(17)
644(11)
1,671(17)
1,316(15)
1,465(127)
Initial
pH
6.00(15)
6.05(14)
6.02(17)
6.16(11)
6.14(17)
6.25(17)
6.10(17)
6.18(17)
6.11(125)
6.04(17)
6.08(16)
5.94(17)
6.06(17)
6.26(17)
6.37(11)
6.16(17)
6.15(15)
6.13(127)
Reaction
time
(seconds)
65.50(14)
85.50(14)
101.76(17)
160.66(9)
69.82(17)
119.06(17)
69.53(17)
61.41(17)
91.65(122)
116.94(17)
114.07(15)
16.41(17)
10.65(17)
96.33(15)
112.73(11)
109.65(17)
69.47(15)
80.78(124)
Initial
weight
(lb.)
444
528
292
276
385
524
384
276
300
371
Final
weight
(lb.)
444
484
304
304
384
496
376
300
320
373
Average
weight
(lb.)
443.35(141)
495.78(14)
297.44(141)
291.69(141)
382.06(564)
512.84(141)
375.46(141)
298.40(141)
312.38(141)
374.77(564)
Average
rate of
gain in
weight
(lb.)
—0.0255
—0.2390
0.1920
0.247
0.0436
—0.160
—0.089
0.228
0.180
0.084
Average
rate of
change in
rate of
gain (lb.)
—0.001
—0.002
—0.00137
—0.00026
—0.00016
—0.0015
— 0.0031
0.0015
0.0022
—0.00023
Note—Figures in brackets denote number of observations.
September, 1953] S. S. PRABHU,S. GUHA AND P. BHATTACHARYA 179
TABLE III
Analysis of variance
Source of variation
Between feeds
Between bulls within feeds
Between ejaculates
Feeds × ejaculates
Residual
D.F.
1
6
1
1
6
Volume
M.S.
0.1870
0.7803
0.0095
0.0077
0.0420
F.
. .
. .
. .
Initial motility
M.S.
0.0462
0.3186
0.0841
0.1089
0.1803
F.
. .
. .
. .
Sperm density
M.S.
47305.16
125481.09
634.16
30290.79
40365.12
F.
. .
. .
. .
Per cent abnormal
sperm
M.S.
7.03
15.72
1.12
1.57
0.56
F.
. .
2.00
2.80
Initial pH
M.S.
0.0016
0.0241
0.0256
0.0009
0.0013
F.
. .
19.69
. .
Total sperm
in ejaculate
M.S.
50176
799089
28900
756
142996
F.
. .
. .
. .
. .
September, 1953] S. S. PRABHU, S. GUHA AND P. BHATTACHARYA 181
TABLE IV
(a) The test of significance of adjusted lot means of the various
semen characteristics
and reaction time
in
control and blood-meal fed groups (by co-variance)
Eja-
culate
No.
I
II
Variation due to
Between treatments
Within treatments
Between treatments
Within treatments
D.F.
1
5
1
5
Volume
M.S.
0.1806
0.9695
0.7099
0.9233
F.
. .
. .
Initial motility
M.S.
0.1057
0.2070
0.0346
0.5630
F.
. .
. .
perm density
M.S.
8639
161233
.69444
102307
F.
. .
. .
Per cent abnormal
sperms
M.S.
46.20
18.79
15-67
13.96
F.
2.45
1.22
Total sperm
in ejaculate
M.S.
23165
1452103
191990
144906
F.
. .
1.32
Initial pH
M.S.
0
0.1946
0.1034
0.1621
F.
. .
. .
(b) The analysis of residual variance after adjustment of the initial weight (by co-variance)
Variation due to
Between treatments
Within treatments
D.F.
1
5
Final weight
M.S.
0.05
95.57
F.
. .
Average weight
M.S.
35.50
87.91
F.
. .
Average rate of
gain in weight
M.S.
0.00057903
0.00096856
F.
. .
Average rate of
change in rate of gain
M.S.
0.0000023355
0.0000045705
F.
. .
182
REPLACEMENT OF PLANT PROTEINS IN THE RATIONS [Vol. XXIII, Part III,
Reaction time. Bulls in the blood-meal group took longer time on an average
to give the first ejaculate than the second, while opposite was the case with bulls in
the control group. The between ejaculates difference, however, was not statistically
significant. The overall group average for the blood-meal fed lot was 80.78 seconds
as opposed to 91.5 second for the controls. The difference between groups, after
adjusting for initial observation, was not statistically significant for both ejaculates.
Body weight. With the exception of the two heavier bulls, namely bulls No. 2
and 8, the other bulls either maintained their initial weight or slightly increased
in weight during the course of the experiment. Bull No. 2 lost about 44 lb. and
bull No. 8 about 28 lb. This in all probability, was due to their receiving slightly
lesser amount of starch-equivalent than their actual requirement. F. ratios for final
weight, average weight, average rate of gain and average rate of change in gain were
not statistically significant, showing no material difference between the liveweight
position of the control and blood-meal fed groups.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Mukherjee and Bhattacharya [unpublished] who studied the seasonal variation
in semen quality and reaction time of Kumauni Hill bulls observed the following
characteristics in these animals during the months of autumn :
(i) Reaction time=73.42 seconds
(ii) Initial pH=6.25
(iii) Volume=2.28 c.c.
(iv) Initial motility=3.48
(v) Sperm density=534.85 millions per c.c.
(vi) Per cent abnormal sperm=5.57 per cent and
(vii) Total number of sperm in ejaculate=1,284.24 million
The chief concern of the person in charge of field artificial insemination centres
is to keep close watch on the following attributes of semen quality and reaction time:
(i) Volume
(ii) Motility and
(iii) Sperm concentration.
According to the observations of the above mentioned authors, significant
difference in 'Reaction-time' was found only between bulls. The differences in
years and seasons were not significant. Same was true of volume of semen. Sperm
concentration was found to vary not only from bull to bull but also between seasons,
while motility varied significantly from bull to bull, year to year and between one
season and another. The reaction time observed in the control of our experiment
with which the observations of Mukherjee and Bhattacharya loc. cit. could be com-
pared, showed longer time. The volume of semen was found to be slightly lower.
These differences could be attributed largely to the individuality of the bulls. The
sperm concentration, however, was decidedly superior to that got by Mukherjee and
Bhattacharya, while the motility rating was approximately of the same order. In
184
REPLACEMENT OF PLANT PROTEINS IN THE RATIONS [Vol. XXIII, Part III
Branton, C., Bratton, R. W. and Salisbury, G. W. (1949). Semen production and fertility of
dairy bulls fed rations containing proteins of plant and animal origin. J. Dairy Sci.
32, 4, 292—300
Fisher, R. A. (1943). Statistical methods for research workers. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburg
Jones, I. R., Haag, J. R. and Dougherty, R. W. (1942). The relation of nutrition to breeding
performance in dairy bulls. J. Dairy Sci. 25, 8, 689—690
Mukherjee, D. P. and Bhattacharya, P. (Unpublished). Seasonal variations in semen quality,
haemoglobin and cell volume contents of the blood in bulls. Abstr. wroc. 34th and 35th
Indian Sci. Congr. 9
Ovsjannikov, C. E. (1939). Standards for feeding stud bulls (Translated title) Abstr. A. B. A. 8;
242. (1949)
Reid, J. T., Ward G. M. and Salisbury. R. L. (1948). Simple versus complex concentrate mixtures
for young breeding bulls—II. Semen production. J. Dairy Sci. 21, 6, 439—449
Snirnov-Ugrjumov, D. U. (1937). The influence of the diet on the sexual activity of stud bulls
(Translated title). Abstr. A. B. A. 5, 410—420. (1937)
Pankevic, A. A. (1940). The effect of the protein level of the diet on the sperm of breeding bulls
(Translated title) Abstr. A. B. A. 13, 24—25. (1945)
EFFECT OF MONTHLY CUTS ON THE CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION OF SOME INDIGENOUS GRASSES
OF INDIA
By NARINDAR NATH and N. B DAS, Indian Agricultural Research Institute,
New Delhi
(Received for publication on 5 January 1953)
(With two text-figures)
T HE desirability of studying the chemical composition of various species of grasses
found in the country under different systems of cutting was emphasised in a
previous publication in which the effect of growth stage on the chemical composition
of some grasses was studied [Narindar Nath and Das, 1952]. In this investigation
the effect of monthly cuts on the chemical composition of some species of grasses is
reported. The object is to bring about condition similar to intermittent grazing
where plants are allowed alternately a large period of unchecked growth followed
by intensive grazing for a short period. In other words the investigation aims at
studying how the chemical composition of grasses varies with season when under
grazing with a month's closure. It is, of course, true that conditions are not exactly
identical with actual grazing which is not so uniform. In grazing the animals
sort out certain plants and even certain parts of the plants and eat them first pre-
ferably leaving the stemy portion while some of the plants are trampled over during
grazing. Moreover, the manuring effect of the excreta of animals in actual grazing
is also absent in this investigation. But, nevertheless, this investigation will be of
interest and practical value in that it will give us the nature of variation of chemical
composition with season under grazing condition.
A monthly system of cutting has been chosen keeping in view the findings of some
earlier workers who showed that longer intervals between two cuttings increase the
yield of dry matter and green herbage but decrease the contents of P 2 O 5 ,K 2 O, protein,
etc. [Lander, 1942 ; Dharmani and Singh, 1946 ; Woodman, et al., 1930.] Of course,
it will also be interesting and helpful to investigate the effect of more severe and more
lenient system of cutting on the chemical composition of these grasses which will
form the basis of another investigation.
EXPERIMENTAL
Material
Ten species of indigenous grasses, viz. Dichanthium annulatum, Amphilo-
phis odorata, Iseilema laxum, Themeda trimula, Amphilophis glabra, Pennisetum
orientale, Panicum repens, Chrysopogon montanus, Sehima nervosum and Heteropogon
contortus were selected for this study. These grasses were brought from different
parts of the country and established in the nursery of Agronomy Division, I.A.R.I.,
New Delhi. A brief description of three of these grasses was given earlier [Narindar
Nath and Das, 1952], that of the other seven grasses is given below:
185
5 AR/53
September, 1953]
N.
NATH
AND
N.
B.
DAS
187
Sampling of grasses
The samples of different species of grasses were collected by hand cutting nearly
all the surface growth of the plants, leaving only about one inch of the herbage. All
these grasses have been grown in sub-plots each comprising an area of 1/300 of an
acre. A fixed number of plants of each grass were cut repeatedly after every 30 days
beginning from May 2, 1949. The rest of the plants were left undisturbed throughout
the period of investigation. The weights of green material obtained for each cutting
for each grass were recorded in the field. The samples were immediately taken to the
laboratory, chopped to small pieces and a representative part of each sample was
dried in oven for moisture content. The dried material was ground and kept in
stoppered bottles for further analysis.
Analysis
Analysis was carried out by the methods recommended by the ' Association of
the Official Agricultural Chemists' [1940].
Meteorological observations
Table I gives the meteorological observations recorded during the period of
investigation at the Farm Observatory, Indian Agricultural Research Institute,
New Delhi. For the sake of comparison rainfall during the corresponding period in
1948 has also been included.
TABLE I
Meteorological observations
Months
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total annual rainfall
Mean daily
relative
humidity
(mean of at
7 A.M. and
2 P.M.)
62.30
59.35
49.30
28.45
33.65
32.80
76.00
70.85
72.00
49.15
39.05
—
Monthly rainfall in inches
1948
}
5.40
7.10
9.05
4.12
0.51
0.00
0.01
26.19
1949
0.07
0.64
0.24
0.00
0.48
0.12
14.72
4.75
3.66
0.01
0.00
0.00
24.69
September, 1953]
N.
NATH
AND
N.
B. DAS 189
Fig. 1. The average crude fibre, protein, lime, phosphoric acid content of different grasses cut monthly
190 EFFECT OF MONTHLY CUTS ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION [Vol. XXIII, Part III,
Fig. 2. Monthly average for all grasses
September, 1953]
N.
NATH
AND
N.
B.
DAS
191
TABLE II
Yield of green matter in pounds for each cutting
Names of grasses
Dichanthium annulatum
Amphilophis odorata
Iseilema laxum
Themeda trimula
Amphilophis glabra
Pennisetum orientale
Panicum repens
Chrysopogan montanus
Sehima nervosum
Heteropogon contortus
Monthly average
Number and date of cutting
1st
2-5-49
5
9
0.5
10
2
10
10
1.5
4
3
5.5
2nd
1-6-49
2
6
1
4
2
6
1
2
5
4
3.3
3rd
1-7-49
1
3
0.5
2
0.5
2.0
0.5
1
2
1
1.35
4th
31-7-49
1
7
4
14.5
4
4
5
2
6
5
5.25
5th
30-8-49
1.0
2.0
0.5
5.5
0.5
2
4
2
3
2
2.3
6th
28-9-49
0.75
1.25
0.5
2.0
0.5
1.0
2.5
1.5
1
1.25
1.23
7th
28-10-49
0.41
0.28
0.14
0.14
0.18
0.24
0.25
0.24
0.36
0.11
0.25
Total
11.16
28.53
7.14
38.14
9.68
25.74
23.25
10.24
21.46
16.36
N.B.—The weights were recorded in pounds with a spring balance except in the last cuttings when yields were
small and were weighed in grams and converted to lb.
TABLE III
Variations in crude protein content (percentage expressed on dry matter basis)
Names of grasses
Dichanthium annulatum
Amphilophis odorata
Iseilema laxum
Themeda tremula
Amphilophis glabra
Pennisetum orientale
Panicum repens
Chrysopogan montanus
Sehima nervosum
Heteropogon contortus
Average
Number and date of cutting
1st
2-5-49
4.28
4.35
5.67
4.61
5.11
6.07
6.55
7.14
7.82
6.10
5.77
2nd
1-6-49
7.14
5.95
8.60
12.30
6.96
8.73
8.47
8.34
8.04
6.35
8.09
3rd
1-7-49
6.30
5.21
6.44
8.41
6.02
5.91
7.16
7.93
7.29
6.16
6.68
4th
31-7-49
9.94
7.73
8.52
10.12
8.64
12.05
10.75
10.66
10.68
8.53
9.76
5th
30-8-49
8.51
7.53
7.95
9.98
7.95
7.80
9.77
9.35
8.83
7.15
8.48
6th
28-9-49
8.45
7.32
8.64
9.73
8.02
7.74
9.01
9.02
9.06
7.15
8.41
7th
28-10-49
7.14
7.01
6.42
8.03
6.86
8.92
7.71
8.65
8.14
6.56
7.54
Average
7.39
6.44
7.46
9.03
7.08
8.17
8.49
8.73
8.55
6.86
7.82
192
EFFECT OF MONTHLY CUTS ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION [Vol. XXIII, Part III,
decreased out-turn at the end of the investigation was due to both climatic condition
as well as the effect of systematic continuous cutting on the plant development. It
has been reported by different workers that continuous cutting results in making the
plant physiologically less active. Another marked feature is that Dichanthium
annulatum did not record any rise in the yield of green matter after the rains, this was
perhaps due to the weeds which affected this grass during the investigation.
TABLE IV
Variations in true protein content
(percentage expressed on dry matter basis)
Names of grasses
Dichanthium annulatum
Amphilophis odorala
Iseilema laxum
Themeda trimula
Amphilophis glabra
Pennisetum orientale
Panicum repens
Chrysopogan montanus
Sehima nervosum
Heteropogon contortus
Monthly average
Number and date of cutting
1st
2-5-49
3.97
3.72
5.20
3.91
4.04
5.49
6.25
6.63
7.23
6.03
5.25
2nd
1-6-49
6.75
5.32
7.92
10.80
6.42
6.05
7.24
5.82
6.88
640
6.93
3rd
1-7-49
6.06
4.77
6.02
7.51
5.88
5.20
6.51
7.39
6.46
5.34
6.11
4th
31-7-49
9.12
7.07
7.85
9.34
7.44
10.32
9.20
9.62
9.42
7.74
8.71
5th
30-8-49
8.00
7.14
7.71
9.31
7.54
7.31
9.23
8.33
7.89
6.72
7.92
6th
28-9-49
7.16
6.47
7.57
9.00
6.86
6.73
7.95
7.83
7.95
6.68
7.40
7th
28-10-49
6.69
6.87
6.31
7.61
6.51
8.48
7.36
7.99
7.82
5.94
7.16
Average
6.82
5.91
6.94
8.21
6.38
7.08
7.68
7.67
7.68
6.36
7.07
Protein
Tables III and IV represent the changes occurring in crude protein and true
protein contents of various grasses. It is seen that the changes are closely corre-
lated to each other. The difference between crude protein and true protein in
continuously cut grasses averages about 10 per cent of the crude protein. It was
pointed out in a previous publication that this difference between crude protein
and true protein becomes small when the plants approach maturity. The data
further reveal that the dry matter of grasses was throughout rich in crude protein
and percentage seldom fell below that recorded in the first cutting, while much higher
values were obtained for samples collected after the onset of rains. This must be
attributed to the influence of systematic cutting on the grasses, as the successive
samples consisted of new growth. It is also seen that the cutting affected the protein
content of different grasses to different extents. Thus first cutting resulted in
raising the protein contents of successive cutting of Dichanthium annulatum to more
than 1½ times, while in case of Themeda trimula this increase was more than 2½ times.
Heteropogon contortus and Sehima nervosum on the other hand did not show
appreciable change in their protein content in the second cutting.
September, 1953]
N.
NATH
AND
N.
B.
DAS
193
Rainfall exerted a good deal of influence on the protein content of grasses. The
highest value for protein content in most of the grasses were recorded in the samples
collected at the end of July, which month also had the heaviest rainfall. The leading
grass in terms of crude protein contents is Themeda trimula with an average value of
9.03 per cent. The last average value is in the case of Amphilophis odorata with an
average of 6.44 per cent.
TABLE V
Variations in ether extract content
(percentage expressed on dry matter basis)
Names of grasses
Dichanthium annulatum
Amphilophis odorata
Iseilema luxum
Themeda trimula
Amphilophis glabra
Pennisetum orientale
Panicum repens
Chrysopogan montanus
Sehima nervosun
Heteropogon contortus
Monthly average
Number and date of cutting
1st
2-5-49
2.55
2.82
2.74
1.75
2.96
3.33
2.48
3.49
2.53
3.37
2.81
2nd
1-6-49
3.36
3.69
3.91
4.21
3.86
3.04
3.29
4.43
3.53
3.27
3.66
3rd
1-7-49
3.17
3.84.
4.27
3.71
3.48
2.99
3.32
4.54
3.73
3.27
3.63
4th
31-7-49
3.50
3.78
3.74
3.69
3.58
3.63
3.56
4.36
3.65
3.58
3.71
5th
30-8-49
3.36
3.89
4.13
4.06
4.02
3.42
3.74
4.15
3.61
3.30
3.77
6th
28-9-49
2.88
3.76
4.18
3.61
3.20
2.82
3.51
4.03
3.18
2.80
3.40
7th
28-10-49
2.32
2.64
2.25
3.67
2.84
2.74
2.12
3.19
2.64
2.01
2.64
Average
3.02
3.49
3.60
3.53
3.42
3.18
3.16
4.03
3.27
3.09
3.38
Ether extract
It is seen from Table V that ether extract content of various grasses increases
with the protein content in the second cutting except in case of Heteropogon contortus.
But after that it is subject to less variations which were not so regular in different
grasses. The monthly averages of ether extract content of all the grasses were
practically same for the samples collected during June, July, August and September.
There was a small decrease in the samples collected on 28 September, but a significant
decline in ether extract contents of all the grasses collected on 28 October. This
fall in, the ether extract contents of all grasses is of practical significance since this
took place with the onset of dry winter season.
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EFFECT OF MONTHLY CUTS ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION [Vol. XXIII, Part III,
TABLE VI
Variations in crude fibre content
(percentage expressed on dry matter basis)
Names of grasses
Dichanthium annulatum
Amphilophis odorata
Iseilema laxum
Themeda trimula
Amphilophis glabra
Pennisetum orientale
Panicum repens
Chrysopogan montanus
Sehima nervosum
Heteropogon contortus
Monthly average
Number and date of cutting
1st
2-5-49
36.00
33.84
28.03
34.18
30.74
26.75
27.73
26.94
30.64
26.24
30.12
2nd
1-6-49
26.39
31.50
27.00
30.21
29.05
27.27
26.00
26.41
30.00
26.68
28.05
3rd
1-7-49
27.99
30.70
24.98
29.95
27.21
27.79
27.10
27.64
28.96
27.08
27.94
4th
31-7-49
24.49
30.40
27.87
30.49
25.70
25.85
25.88
25.72
27.56
30.17
27.39
5th
30-8-49
26.05
29.78
29.06
29.69
26.47
29.74
27.53
28.41
29.16
29.17
28.51
6th
28-9-49
28.26
30.28
28.57
31.64
27.35
28.74
29.75
26.46
29.54
30.53
29.11
7th
28-10-49
28.24
29.30
28.91
29.85
28.00
28.89
28.09
27.53
28.63
27.95
28.58
Average
28.17
30.88
27.77
30.86
27.79
27.86
27.44
27.02
29.21
28.26
28.53
Crude fibre
Crude fibre content (Table VI) was somewhat variant throughout the course of
investigation, though it had a tendency to vary inversely with crude protein. Thus
in most of the grasses the lowest value was obtained in the fourth cutting when the
crude protein content was maximum. The percentage of crude fibre in some of the
samples collected on 28 September decreased with the crude protein content. Again
in Heteropogon contortus it is seen that the samples collected after onset of rains
contained higher percentage of crude fibre and crude protein as compared to those
collected before the rainy season. No definite conclusions can be drawn regarding
the nutritive value of the grass from these changes in crude fibre content. It is
generally said that high crude fibre content of feeds is associated with low digesti-
bility ; while this may be true with regard to mature plants, the changes in crude
fibre content of young immature plants have to be cautiously interpreted, particu-
larly in the light of investigations of some other workers. Woodman, Blunt and
Stewart [1926] have shown that in case of young herbage the crude fibre is as diges-
tible as the soluble carbohydrates. Christensen and Happer [1933] obtained even
higher co-efficients of digestion for crude fibre than for nitrogen-free-extract in April
and October cuttings of hay. The following statement by Warth [1924] may also be
noted. ' In some cases chemically insoluble crude fibre is digested with greater
facility than is readily soluble nitrogen-free-extract. This tendency is more marked
in the case of tropical stock and tropical grown fodder.' It is thus evident that
rise in the fibre content in certain cuttings does not necessarily mean that the
produce is less digestible.