126 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. 



(1.) FEEDING CATTLE WITH PEICKLY-PEAR UNDER TEST 

 CONDITIONS AT KIRKEE, POONAH, BRITISH INDIA. 



In the Report {vid. p. 24) reference is made to experiments being prosecuted 

 to which the above description applies. The account of these investigations 

 has noAV been made pubhc in a joint contribution to The Agricultural Journal 

 of India (Vol. IX. Pt. 2, Ap. 1914, pp. 190-196), bearing the title " The Feeding 

 of Prickly-pear," by Messrs. E,W- Horn and S. G. Mutkekar, the latter being 

 Agricultural overseer at Ahmednagar. It is just to hand, and the following is a 

 summary of it : — 



These feeding experiments conducted at the Government Civil Dairy, 

 Kirkee, by its Manager, E. W. Horn, were commenced in January, 1913, and 

 had been continued for six months when the report referred to was made. 



In the first experiment whose object " was to place beyond doubt the 

 possibilities of cactus as an emergency ration in times of scarcity, to decide 

 the best method of preparing and feeding it, and the cost of preparation," six 

 bullocks were used. These had been purchased in the famine-stricken district 

 of Ahmednagar for the purpose, and " were in exceptionally poor condition 

 on arrival, with the exception of one bullock, which was in fair condition." 

 This experiment " clearly demonstrated that the prickly-pear, if properly pre- 

 pared and mixed with 6 per cent, of its weight of cotton seed, is not only enough 

 to support life, but will enable an animal to regain condition even after it has 

 become very poor from semi-starvation, and that the cultivators could save 

 their cattle in times of famine by feeding the above, the cost of preparation 

 being very low." 



At the beginning of the experiment there was a loss of weight varying 

 from 2 pounds to 60 pounds (a very emaciated animal that only commenced 

 to eat pear at all readily towards the end of the experiment) : this, however, 

 was very soon overcome, and a steady gain in weight was made, until a maximum 

 was reached, after which the weight was practically constant, the greatest 

 gain being 70 pounds. The average quantity of pear consumed was 32 pounds 

 per head per day, varying according as the pear contained more or less moisture. 

 This average works out to 72 pounds per 1,000 pounds live weight. The 

 rations as compared with Haeker's standard (.7 lb. protein, 7 lb. carbohydrates, 

 and 1 lb. fat), showing a deficiency of .58 lb. of carbohydrates after the surplus 

 fat and protein had been converted to this nutrient. The pear used was Opuntia 

 elatior* a far more spiny species than the Queensland pest pear, and this, after 

 being singed to remove the " prickles," was passed through a Smalley chaff- 

 cutter. 



In the second experiment the object was to find out if the succulence 

 of the prickly-pear was of any value for increasing the milk yield when no 

 other green fodder was available. In this case 19 cows in milk were utilised. 

 Pear up to 14 lb. per head per day was used, mixed with the ordinary 

 food, which was proportionately decreased in quantity. The report with refer- 

 ence to this states : " for various reasons we were obliged to discontinue this 

 part of the experiment without getting any decided results. This will be tried 

 later on." 



* One of the Commissioners (H. T.) concludes that the Indian Opuntia named in Section II. (India), 

 0. nigricans is 0. elatior. Miller, and thus follows Mr. I. H. Burkill, who has both ably and fully discussed the 

 question(1911— p. 316-317), and would add that not only does it agree with Miller's description of 0. elatior 

 (1768, No. 4), but it also accords with DlUen's Hgure (Hortus Elthamensis, tab. 194), which Miller cites as 

 representing the type, and with Dillen's description of this as having " flowers passing from yellow (flavus).to 

 purple." 



