NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
42
CUTANEOUS ERUPTIONS OF RINDERPEST IN GOATS [Vol. XXIII, Part I,
SUMMARY
An outbreak of cutaneous rinderpest in goats is recorded for the first time.
Animals with cutaneous lesions showed the disease in a milder form as com-
pared with those which suffered from the systemic form of the disease.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors feel grateful to Major A. C. Aggarwala, B.Sc. (Hons.), M.R.C.V.S.,
A.I.R.O., Director, Veterinary Services and Warden of Fisheries, Punjab,for constant
encouragement and useful suggestions and to Shri M. R. Dhanda, L.V.P., M.S.
(Mich.), Dip. Bact. (London) Officer in charge, Pathology and Bacteriology Section,
Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar, for laboratory examinations of
the material.
REFERENCES
Hutyra, F., Marek, J. and Manninger, R. (1938). Special Pathology and Therapeutics of the
Diseases of Domestic Animals, 4th Ed., I, 272
MacGregor, A. D. (1944). Indian J. vet. Sci. 14, 56
Mohan, R. N. (1944). Ani. Rep. Vet. Investigation Officer, Bengal, for 1943-44, 1944-45
Mohan, R. N. (1948). Indian J. vet. Sci. 18, 27
EFFECT OF GROWTH STAGE 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 18 June 1952)
(With one text-figure)
I MPROVEMENT of livestock is closely connected with the improvement in
the supply of feeds and fodder. One important requirement for bringing about
the desired improvement in the fodder supply is a thorough knowledge of the chemical
composition and nutritive value of different feeding stuffs available in the country
and thereby grading them according to their nutrient contents. Grasses cultivat-
ed or naturally grown constitute a major portion of the animal ration and the lack
of knowledge about the nutritive value of different species of grasses found in the
country makes the judicious selection and cultivation of good varieties rather
difficult. Moreover, some of the grasses which are ordinarily taken to be good
from nutritive point of view may be deficient in some nutrients at certain stages
of growth or at a certain period of the year, since the chemical constituents of plants
are known to vary considerably with the stage of growth, methods of harvesting,
soil, season and climate. Such changes in the chemical composition and con-
sequently in the nutritive value of plants are correspondingly reflected on the pro-
ductivity of the cattle to whom they are fed. Therefore, in order to assess the suit-
ability of a particular species of a grass, the knowledge of its chemical composition
under different systems of cutting is important. If such data about various feed-
ing stuffs are available, it may also help to put the nutrition of animals on a scientific
basis by supplementing the rations of animals by those nutrients which are actually
required and when they are required.
Several investigations dealing with the chemical composition of plants have
been reported from India and abroad. Ray and Sen [1933] observed that with
the growth of the plant and increase in rainfall the percentage of lime and phosphoric
acid increased. Ramiah [1933] noted a striking parallelism between the variations
of phosphoric acid and nitrogen and opposite variation in lime. Iyer [1935] found
that with advance of maturity, nitrogen and potash fluctuated considerably while
lime and magnesia showed negligible variations. Iyer and Kayasth [1931] found
that the soil exerts a pronounced effect in determining the chemical composition.
Narayana Iyer [1939] reported that uncultivated grasses are poorer than the British
natural pastures. Mathur and Ray [1943] found that crude protein and phosphoric
acid decreased while lime increased with maturity. Lander [1942] concluded that
longer intervals between two cuttings increased the yield of green herbage and dry
matter but decreased the contents of protein, phosphoric acid and potash of grasses.
These findings of Lander were later confirmed by Dharmani and Singh [1946] with
43
10
44
INDIGENOUS
GRASSES
OF
INDIA
[Vol. XXIII, Part I,
berseem. Talapatra and Dev Goswami [1949] noted a decrease with age in the
mineral and protein content of aquatic grasses of Assam. Srivastava, Mukerjee
and Shrikhande [1950] recorded decrease in digestible protein, ether extract and
other nutrients with growth and found that cuts improved the nutrient status.
Das Gupta [1942] also studied the composition of berseem as affected by
maturity.
In the present investigation three important grasses, namely, Amphilophis
odorata, Iseilema laxum and Amphilophis glabra have been analysed for their chemi-
cal constituents at four different stages of growth, young, preflowering, flowering
and ripe stages.
EXPERIMENTAL
Sampling. The various species of grasses studied include some of the grasses
brought from different parts of the country and established in sub-plots of 1/300
acre for eaoh of the grasses in the Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Re-
search Institute, New Delhi, in the year 1943. The nursery has been maintained
since then under irrigation and ammonium sulphate is applied at the rate of two
maunds per acre. The grasses were cut at four stages of growth irrespective of the
chronological dates. For young stage, all the three grasses were cut in May when
they had reached sufficient height and were fit for grazing purpose. Samples for
the preflowering and flowering stages of growth were taken on the same date, the
reason being that preflowering period is a long one extending from the young stage
to the time when the plants flower. So in order that the samples of different grasses
represent the same preflowering stage of growth, the sampling was done when more
than half the plants had flowered. Those plants which had not flowered were taken
as preflowering ones while those with flowers were collected for the flowering stages.
Samples for the ripe stage were collected when the plants begin to drop
seedlings.
Samples were collected by hand cutting nearly all the surface growth leaving
only one inch to two inches of the herbage. The dust was removed by shaking the
plants and the samples were immediately taken to the laboratory, chopped to small
pieces and a representative part of each sample was dried in an air oven for moisture
content. The dried material was ground and kept in stoppered bottles for
analysis.
Analysis. The methods, adopted for the determination of various chemical
constituents, were mostly those recommended by the Association of Official Agri-
cultural Chemists [1940]. Potassium and sodium were estimated by a method
given in the Agricultural Analysis by Wright [1938] by converting and separating
them as mixed sulphates. Potassium is further determined in the mixed sulphates
by Piper's method and sodium was estimated by difference.
Amphilophis glabra is a densely tufted perennial grass, one of the common
fodder grasses of the Deccan [Blatter and McCann, 1935]. The data refers to a
strain of the grass from Delhi. It flowers in August to September.
March,
1953]
N.
NATH
AND
N.
B.
DASS
45
TABLE I
The chemical composition of Amphilophis glabra (Stapf) at four different stages of
growth
(Percentage expressed on dry matter basis)
Stage of growth
Date of sampling
Crude protein
True protein
Ether extract
Crude fibre
Nitrogen-free-extract
Crude ash
Silica and insoluble residue
Silica-free-ash
Lime (CaO)
Phosphoric acid (P 2 O 5 )
Potash (K 2 O)
Soda (Na 2 O)
Magnesia (MgO)
Chlorine (Cl)
Original moisture
Young
2-5-1949
5.11
4.04
2.96
30.74
51.02
10.17
6.03
4.14
0.83
0.48
1.33
0.28
0.46
0.45
54.20
Pre-flowering
31-8-1949
5.08
4.41
2.92
32.75
47.07
12.18
8.91
3.27
0.85
0.42
0.82
0.26
0.54
0.38
66.20
Flowering
31-8-1949
4.68
3.90
2.84
33.16
44.10
15.22
11.58
3.64
0.94
0.30
0.98
0.31
0.55
0.29
62.50
Ripe
25-11-1949
3.70
3.54
2.51
35.84
47.14
12.81
9.90
2.91
1.00
0.29
0.73
0.16
0.42
0.25
37.20
TABLE II
The chemical composition of Iseilema laxum (Hack) at four stages of growth
(Percentage expressed on dry matter basis)
Stage of growth
Date of sampling
Crude protein
True protein
Ether extract
Crude fibre
Nitrogen-free-extract
Crude ash
Silica and insoluble residue
Silica-free-ash
Lime (CaO)
Phosphoric acid (P 2 O 5 )
Potash (K 2 O)
Soda (Na 2 O)
Magnesia (MgO)
Chlorine
Original moisture
Young
2-5-1945
5.67
5.20
2.74
28.03
51.78
11.78
6.70
5.08
1.30
0.63
1.45
0.30
0.71
0.45
40.00
Pre-flowering
31-8-1949
4.98
4.69
3.15
32.98
49.60
9.29
5.28
4.01
1.01
0.49
1.08
0.39
0.60
0.44
68.80
Flowering
31-8-1949
5.44
5.07
3.31
34.04
48.22
8.99
5.51
3.48
0.84
0.59
1.00
0.35
0.47
0.36
64.00
Ripe
25-11-1949
3.05
2.83
2.69
36.58
48.10
9.58
6.79
2.79
0.84
0.23
0.74
0.14
0.43
0.27
44.60
10A
46
INDIGENOUS
GRASSES
OF
INDIA
[Vol. XXIII, Part I,
Iseilema laxum is considered to be one of the bast fodder grasses in India and
is known by different names such as 'mdshi', 'ushel', 'tamburt' and. 'mushyal',
etc. 'This is widely spread common grass growing in somewhat moist situation,
[Ranga Achariyar, 1921]. According to Duthie [1888] the grass is abundant in
Bundelkhand and is largely made use of as a fodder. It is a perennial grass grow-
ing in tufts. The present data refers to a strain from Nagpur and it flowers in
August to September.
TABLE III
The chemical composition of Amphilophis odorata (A. cannus) at four stages of growth
(Percentage expressed on dry matter basis)
Stage of growth
Date of sampling
Crude protein
True protein
Ether extract
Crude fibre
Nitrogen-free-extract
Crude ash
Silica and insoluble residue
Silica-free ash
Lime (CaO)
Phosphoric acid (P 2 O 5 )
Potash (K 2 O)
Soda (Na 2 O)
Magnesia (MgO)
Chlorine
Original moisture
Young
2-5-1949
4.35
3.72
2.82
33.84
49.2
9.07
5.41
3.66
0.82
0.52
1.15
0.26
0.40
0.50
50.60
Pre-flowering
17-10-1949
3.58
3.31
3.01
31.61
52.24
10.56
7.54
3.02
0.72
0.34
0.85
0.22
0.45
0.44
57.50
Flowering
17-10-1949
3.49
3.40
2.88
32.57
49.59
11.47
8.04
3.43
0.78
0.40
0.86
0.16
0.48
0.34
52.50
Ripe
25-11-1949
2.26
2.20
2.59
35.45
49.46
10.28
7.44
2.44
0.81
0.35
0.78
0.11
0.37
0.46
46.20
This grass Amphilophis odorata was brought from Bareilly and is known by
such names as 'bhos', 'usadhana' and 'vaidia-gavat'. According to Lisoba [1896]
this grass contains an essential oil. It flowers in the month of October. As seen
from Table I, the grass shows a decrease of various nutrients with age.
DISCUSSION
General, The general behaviour of the variations of different chemical con-
stituents with age of the grasses studied shows a marked similarity. The important
March, 1953]
N. NATH AND N. B.
DASS
47
SHOWING THE PROTEIN, CRUDE FIBRE, PHOSPHORIC ACID AND LIME OF GRASSES
AT FOUR STAGES OF THEIR GROWTH
STAGE OF GROWTH
Y—Young stage of growth
P—Preflowering stage of growth
F—Flowering stage of growth
R—Ripe stage of growth
Marbh,
1953]
N. NATH AND N. B. DASS
49
Crude ash, silica, insoluble residue and soluble ash. Crude ash as such does
not give any idea about the mineral content as it includes both the essential ele-
ments as well as inert silicous matter, but it forms a basis for determination of vari-
ous minerals. Silica and, insoluble residue is mainly responsible for the changes
in crude ash. The more valuable part, namely soluble ash is actually found to
decrease with the growth of the plants, being least in the ripe stage.
Lime and phosphoric acid. The variations in lime content with plant develop-
ment were different in different species. Percentage of lime increased progres-
sively from young to ripe stage in Amphilophis glabra. In case of Iseilema laxum
there was a steady decrease upto the flowering stage but no further fall in the ripe
stage of growth. Lime content of Amphilophis odorata decreased slightly in the
preflowering stage, otherwise it tended to remain more or less constant throughout
the plant development. Phosphoric acid displayed variations similar to that in
protein content and decreased with the advance in maturity of the plants. In
addition to the actual amounts of lime and phosphoric acid in plants, their ratio is
equally important for their proper assimilation by the animal. It has been reported
by various workers that this ratio should be between 1 to 1.5 parts of lime for each
part of phosphoric acid. Table IV shows that if the plants are allowed to grow to
maturity, the ratio deviates more from the standard and under these conditions
these grasses become ill-balanced with respect to lime and phosphoric acid, being
relatively low in the latter.
TABLE IV
Lime/phosphoric acid ratio at four stages of growth
Stages of growth
Amphilophis glabra
Iseilema laxum
Amphilophis odorata
Young
1.73
2.06
1.58
Pre-flowering
2.02
2.06
2.12
Flowering
3.13
1.42
1.95
Ripe
3.45
3.48
2.31
It is further seen that in case of Iseilema laxum the most suitable lime/phos-
phoric acid ratio is in the flowering stage when the protein content too has not
decreased appreciably as compared to that in the young stage. This fact is of
practical significance as it points out that Iseilema laxum can be kept for late harvest-
ing without much decrease in the nutrient status, to suit the convenience of the
farmers who are busy sowing and in other operations during early part of the year
and in the rainy season. Amphilophis odorata and Amphilophis glabra on the other
hand contain lime and phosphoric acid approaching the standard in the young stage.
Potash and soda. Potash and soda contents were high in early stages of growth
and fell to a minimum value in the ripe stage in all the species.
Magnesia. Magnesia content like lime displayed no regular variations. The
changes with plant development were different in each species. The percentage of
magnesium decreased with maturity in Iseilema laxum. In case of Amphilophis
50
INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF INDIA
[Vol. XXIII, Part I,
odorata and Amphilophis glabra, the magnesia content increased in the flowering
stage and then fell in the ripe stage.
Chlorine. The percentage of chlorine decreased successively from young to
ripe stage of growth. There was, however, a slight rise in the ripe stage in case of
Amphilophis odorata.
SUMMARY
Stage of growth was found to exert a pronounced effect on the chemical com-
position of Amphihphis odorata, Iseilema laxum and Amphilophis glabra.
Protein, soluble ash and phosphoric acid contents of the grasses decreased with
the advance in the maturity of the plants.
Variations in the percentage of lime, magnesia and ether extract were different
in all the species of grasses, though ether extract decreased appreciably in the ripe
stage in the three grasses.
Crude fibre increased with age while nitrogen-free-extract varied irregularly,
though tending to decrease with age.
Soda, potash and chlorine contents of the grasses studied were high in early
stages of growth and fell to minimum in ripe stage.
Allowing the grasses to grow to maturity disturbs the lime/phosphoric acid
ratio, being relatively low in phosphoric acid.
Out of the three grasses studied, Iseilema laxum tends to retain its high nutrient
content to a later stage, namely flowering stage and thus seems to be best suited
for late harvesting.
Out of these three grasses studied, Iseilema laxum possesses the highest average
contents of protein, ether extract and minerals.
In the case of Amphilophis glabra and Amphilpphis odorata, lime/phosphoric
acid ratio approaches the standard in the young stage when the protein content is
also highest and thus they were suitable as fodder in the young stage.
Iseilema laxum has the optimum CaO/P 2 O 5 ratio in the flowering stage;
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Thanks are due to Mr. P. M. Dhabadgao, M.Sc., Assistant Agrostologist, Division
of Agronomy for his help in collecting samples of grasses and supplying informa-
tion about the places from which these grasses were brought.
REFERENCES
Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (1940). Official and tentative methods of Analysis,
Washington, D. C.
Blatter, E. and McCann, C. (1935). I. C. A. R. Scientific Monograph No. 5
Das Gupta, N. C. (1942). Indian J. vet. Sci. 12, 30
Dhannani, L. C. and Singh, A. (1946). Indian J. agric. Sci. 16, 284
Duthie, J. F. (1888). The fodder grasses of Northern India
Hart, E. B. and Bentley, W. H. (1915). J. biol. Chem. 22, 477
March, 1953]
N. NATH AND N. B. DASS
51
REFERENCES-contd.
Iyer, A. V. (1935). Indïan J. vet. Sci. 5, 129
Iyer, A. R. P. and Kayasth, R. N. (1931). Agric. Livestock, India. 1, 526
Lander, P. E. (1941). Indian J. Agri. Sci. 12, 409
Lander, P. E. (1942). I.C.A.R.
Misc. Bull. 16
Lisoba, J. C. (1896). List of Bombay grasses and their uses
Mathur, N. L. and Ray, S. C. (1943). Indian J. vet. Sci. 13, 274
Narayana Iyer, K. R. (1939). Proc. Meeting Ani. Husb. Wing. Bd. Agri. Ani. Husb., India.
3, 302
Piper, C. S. (1944). Soil and Plant Analysis, Adelaide
Ray, A. C. and Sen, K. C. (1933). Agric. Livestock, India. 3, 437
Ramiah, P V. (1933). Indian J. vet. Sci. 3, 65
Ranga Achariyar, K. (1921). A Hand-Book of South Indian Grasses
Srivastava, B. P., Mukherjee, S. K. and Shrikhande, J. G. (1950). Indian J. vet. Sci. 20, 169
Talapatra, S. K. and Dev Goswami, M. N. (1949). Indian J. vet. Sci. 19, 19
Wright, C. H. (1938). Agricultural Analysis, London
SELECTION FOR BUTTERFAT PER CENT IN SOME
DAIRY HERDS
By. K., A. ALIM, PH.D., Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture,
Farouk I University, Alexandria
(Received for Publication on 7 July 1952)
R ENDEL and Robertson [1950] discussed the possibilities of estimating the genetic
improvement which had in fact taken place in a herd of dairy cows without,
confusing improvement in management with genetic gain. They concluded that
the best way was to make a direct estimate from the selection practiced and the
heritability of the character.
The application of Rendel's and Robertson's [1950] method and the, estima-
tion of genetic gain in milk yield due to selection in some Ayrshire herds in Scotland,
was, however, carried out by Mahadevan [1950]. Afterwards, Rendel, Robertson
and Alim [1951] adopted the same method and calculated the amount of genetic
gain for milk yield in England. The genetic gain due to selection for butterfat
per cent will be discussed in this paper.
Collection of the data. Eleven herds of pedigree dairy cattle, situated in England,
were used in this study. These herds belonged to six breeds: Ayrshire, Guernsey.
Jersey, Red Poll, Shorthorn, and Kerry. The production records in these, herds,
except, the Kerry, were maintained on the English. Milk Marketing, Boards System.
In this study all the lactations that were diseased, or lactations less than 200 days,
were excluded.
Effect of culling. The average differences in butterfat test between non-culls
and all cows in each lactation for the different herds studied were calculated. In
Table I, the over-all differences between all the cows and the remainders in each
lactation for all the herds was obtained as a weighted average.
TABLE I
Phenotypic selection differential for butterfat per cent
Lactation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Number of cows
830
639
430
170
116
55
29
Number of culled per cent
32.7
61.2
47.3
43.7
62.2
60.5
45.4
Differences
between non-culls
and all cows
—0.47
+0.72
—0.98
—0.92
+ 1.89
4.2.11
—0.68
It will be seen that no regular trend exists in the different lactations both in
the amount of selection for butterfat test and in the rate of culling. The results
53
12
March, 1953]
K.
A.
ALIM
55
TABLE II
Heritability of butterfat per cent
Number of records averaged
1
2
3
4
Heritability butterfat per cent
0.65
0.79
0.85
0.88
They have been calculated on the assumption that repeatability and heritability
of butterfat per cent of a single record 0.65. Only the first four lactations were
used as heritability based on four lactations is as high as heritability based on more
than four. The results obtained from the study of butterfat test in 11 herds are
set out in Table III.
TABLE III
Selection for butterfat per cent of dams of heifers
Herd
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Breed
Ayrshire
„
„
Guernsey
„
Jersey
„
Red Polls
Shorthorn
„
Kerry
Average and Total
Total
generation
length
in years
19.41
19.41
19.41
19.41
19.41
14.58
13.82
18.09
18.93
17.24
13.5
17.56
Genetic
superiority
on 1-4
lactations
—0.0710
—0.1580
—0.0803
—0.0065
—0.1759
—0.0382
—0.1130
+0.0051
—0.1117
—0.1320
—0.0083
—0.0597
Annual
improvement
—0.0036
—0.0081
—0.0041
—0.0003
—0.0091
—0.0026
—0.0081
+0.0003
—0.0064
—0.0072
—0.0006
—0.0032
Number of
daughters
329
18
118
121
44
29
17
37
245
26
354
1360
It will be seen that the over-all annual genetic superiority has a negative value
of —0.0032. This shows that in these herds no selection has been made between
dams of heifers to increase the per cent of butterfat during the period studied.
13
56
SELECTION FOR BUTTERFAT PER CENT IN DAIRY HERDS [Vol. XXIII, Part I,
The variation in the generation lengths between different herds and breeds are
expected since they are influenced by, (1) age at first calving, (2) intervals between
calving, (3) age of animals used for. breeding purposes and (4) variation in number
of the population. The estimates obtained for the total generation lengths of both
the Ayrshires and the Shorthorns were used for Guernseys and Red Polls respec-
tively. The values reported for the Shorthorn are in fair agreement with those
reported by Rendel and Robertson [1950]. They found that the total generation
lengths for the Shorthorn was 19.10 years. For the Ayrshire, Mahadevan [1950],
obtained a value of 19.50 years. The present results compare favourably with
the results here.
Selection in the breeding of bulls. The annual genetic superiority in butterfat
test of the dams of bulls retained in the herds in which they were bred, and the
corresponding figures for the dams of bulls sold to other pedigree dairy herds are
presented in Table IV.
TABLE IV
Selection for butterfat per cent of dams of bulls
Herd
1
2
3
6
7
9
10
11
Average
Kept 6
Sold 70
Sold 1
Kept 4
Kept 7
Sold 19
Sold 6
Kept 13
Sold 58
Kept 13
Sold 41
Kept 24
and total—
Kept 67
Sold 195
Genetic superiority
based on 1-4 lactations
+0.0380
+0.0580
—0.5056
—0.0490
—0.5590
+0.0629
+0.0063
—0.2120
—0.0695
—0.2020
—0.1030
—0.0759
—0.1724
—0.0006
Annual improvement
+0.0019
+0.0029
—0.0260
—0.0025
—0.0383
+0.0043
+0.0004
—0.0122
—0.0040
—0.0111
—0.0056
—0.0056
—0.0107
—0.0001
Number of daughters
242
1838
8
20
134
266
40
234
640
290
785
239
Degrees of freedom
1201
3384
These results show that the average annual genetic superiority in butterfat
per cent of dams of bulls retained in the herds studied was —0.0107 and for those