N.N. Pathak

Fermentation of cattle waste for animal feeding

Abstract Cattle waste was mixed with green maize and wheat bhoosa in the ratio of 2:2:1 respectively, on a fresh weight basis. The premix was enriched with urea (0, 0·5 and 1%) and molasses (0, 1 and 2%) prior to ensiling in miniature silos. The urea adversely affected the wastelage characteristics, while molasses had a beneficial effect on the fermentation process. For nutritional studies, the wastelage was prepared in stainless steel tower silos. Cattle waste, green oat and wheat bhoosa (2:2:1) were enriched with urea (0·5%) and molasses (5%). After fermentation for 2 months the wastelage was fed to sheep by replacing oat hay at three levels—0, 50 and 100%. The digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, cell contents, hemicellulose and soluble ash decreased with increasing levels of wastelage in the diet. The nitrogen balance was found to be reduced with increased level of wastelage in the ration.

Nutritive value of oak (Quercus semecarpifolia) leaves in pashmina kids.

Abstract In order to find the nutritive value of oak ( Quercus semecarpifolia ) leaves, native to temperate and humid Himalayan ranges (29°25′N and 79°35′E), containing (% DM basis) 9.49, CP; 94.86, OM; 4.07, EE; 64.20, NDF; 50.60, ADF; 1.60, Ca; 0.2, P and 4.40, tannins; four male pashmina kids (5–6 months age and 12.9±1.39 kg body weight) were fed freshly lopped green-leaves as a sole feed for 180 days involving a metabolism trial at the end. The kids, on average, consumed 3.1±0.20 kg DM 100 −1 kg body weight and 63.5±2.59 g DM kg W −0.75 and grew 27.3±0.71 g day −1 . The digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF and ADF was found to be 48.4, 50.5, 51.3, 33.2, 41.1 and 29.1%, respectively. All the kids were on positive nitrogen and negative calcium and phosphorus balances. The oak leaves contained 4.9±0.5% DCP and 49.3±1.06% TDN. The results indicate that the oak leaves can be used as a fodder source for maintenance and to support a little growth in pashmina kids provided supplemented with minerals.

Autofermentation of pig excreta for use as animal feed

Abstract A wastelage of swine faeces, wheat bhoosa, chaffed oat forage (Avena sativa) and molasses in the ratio of 3:3:3:1 on a fresh weight basis was prepared on a laboratory scale by ensiling in polythene bags and on a large scale in a stainless steel cylindrical tower silo. The process of ensiling resulted in improvement of flavour and a significant decrease in the number of pathogenic micro-organisms. There was a marked increase in the number of lactic acid-producing bacteria and acidity of the wastelage (the fermented product) and a decline in the total number of bacteria, and in fungi, clostridia, salmonellae and coliforms. The pH of the wastelage was in the range 4·1 to 4·3 at various depths of the stainless steel silo. The nutritional evaluation of wastelage showed that the dry matter intake was 2·07 and 2·33 kg per 100 kg body weight in sheep and buffalo, respectively. The digestible crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrient (TDN) contents in wastelage dry matter were 3·23 and 47·05 for sheep and 3·30 and 50·30 for buffalo, respectively. The animals maintained their body weights during the course of an experiment on ad libitum feeding of wastelage.

Studies on the utilisation of ensiled poultry excreta as a ration for replacement stock of cross-bred dairy cattle

Abstract Four silages, of green maize (silage A) and poultry excreta + green maize (silage B) in experiment (1), poultry excreta + Johnson grass (silage C) in experiment (2), and poultry excreta + green maize (silage D) in experiment (3), were studied. In silages (C) and (D) 8% molasses was added before ensiling. The pH ranged between 4·3 and 4·6 in the different silages. In experiment (la) green maize silage was fed alone; the poultry excreta + green maize silage was fed alone in experiment (1b) and with 1 kg molasses in experiment (1c); the silages were fed with 0·5 kg wheat brain in experiment (2) and with 0·5 kg crushed maize in experiment (3). The voluntary dry matter intake was lowest in experiment (2) and highest in experiment (3). The digestibility of proximate principles, except that of crude protein, improved on supplementation with molasses (1c). Supplementation with maize resulted in increased digestibility of proximate principles except crude fibre. The digestible crude protein content increased with the incorporation of poultry excreta and was proportional to the poultry excreta content of the silages. The balances of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus were positive. The mean daily gain was 121, 91, 151, 194 and 218 g in experiments (1a), (1b), (1c), (2) and (3) respectively. Inadequate energy intake adversely affected the body weight gain. Such silages, being deficient in energy content, warrant supplementation with higher quantities of energy-rich feeds for supporting production functions.

Utilization of cane molasses as a source of energy in the diet of young pigs

Abstract The effect of addition of different levels of cane molasses in the diet of young pigs was studied. During early periods (0–7 weeks) growth rate was depressed by above 10% levels of molasses, but in later periods (7–19 weeks) compensatory growth in the high molasses groups (20, 40% levels) resulted in no overall (0–19 weeks) difference in growth performance among different groups. While feed efficiency was reduced in high molasses groups, there was no effect on carcass quality. It was concluded that more than 10% molasses was not safe for young pigs, but adult, or near-adult, pigs could tolerate up to 47·5% of molasses in their diets.

Ensiling characteristics of cattle waste fermented with wheat straw and green berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum)

Abstract Cattle waste was fermented using 4 different treatments. The ingredients of the premix were wheat straw, cattle dung, berseem and sugarcane molasses in the ratios 20:0:75:5, 20:25:50:5, 20:50:25:5 and 20:75:0:5, respectively, in Treatments 1–4. The dry matter in the premix varied between 32 and 34%. The biochemical characteristics of silage were studied after 7 and 28 days of fermentation. With an increasing level of waste in the premix, there was a decrease in the soluble sugar content, lactic acid volatile fatty acid production. There was also a decrease in the production of ammonia nitrogen and soluble nitrogen during the process of ensiling with every unit increase of cattle waste in the premix. However, the ratio of lactic acid to volatile fatty acids increased and the ammonia nitrogen as a percentage of total nitrogen decreased with the inclusion of cattle waste in the wastelage premix. Cattle waste can be included in berseem silage at a level of 13–26% of the total dry matter without adversely affecting the silage characteristics.

Nutritional evaluation of gram (Cicer arietinum) and arhar (Cajanus cajan) chunies for cattle

Abstract Chunies (residues containing the germ and part of the husk) of gram and arhar are customarily given to dairy animals in India. The nutritive value of these chunies was determined for cross-bred yearling heifers. Both the chunies were quite palatable. The voluntary intake of dry matter was 2.61 ± 0.20 and 2.44 ± 0.15 kg 100 kg body weight on sole feeding of gram and arhar chunies, respectively. The palatability of chunies was affected when wheat-straw replaced about one third of either chuni in the ration of animals. The mean percentage concentration of digestible protein (D.P.) and total digestible nutrients (T.D.N.), respectively, was 10.6 ± 0.14 and 59.6 ± 0.50 for gram chuni, and 9.0 ± 0.15 and 57.0 ± 0.15 for arhar chuni. Rations composed of chunies and wheat-straw in the ratio of 2 : 1 supplied adequate nutrients for growth in cross-bred yearling heifers.