N. L. MATHUR AND S. C. RAY                                   275

lb. The total feeding period covered eight days,
of which the first three were regarded as the preli-
minary period. During the last five days, 24
hourly collections of excreta were made. It was
not possible to increase the number of animals un-
der experiment nor to prolong the feeding period
owing to the fact that only a very limited amount
of hay was available for experimentation. In
Table II is given the chemical composition of the
feeding stuffs used. The food consumption per
day and the digestibility determinations of the
feeds are set out in Tables III and IV. The
digestibility was determined by the method of
elimination by feeding wheat bran, the digestibi-
lity coefficient of which was taken from Sen
[1938]. It was observed subsequently, however,
that the grass hay could have been used as a
single feed without wheat bran as a concentrate.

                              TABLE II

        Percentage composition of feeding stuffs (on
                              dry basis)

                            TABLE III

      Food consumption per day (on dry basis)

                                                          TABLE IV

                                       Digestibility coefficient of star grass

The data of food consumption indicate that, in
spite of the maturity of the hay sample, it was re-
lished by the animals. The average consumption
of 1030 gm. of the hay per 100 lb. liveweight may
be considered quite high, especially in view of the
fact that so bulky a concentrate as wheat bran was
fed. The superior quality of the ration under the
star grass hay feeding was also reflected in the
average increase of 7 lb. in liveweight within one
week and the high positive nitrogen balance as
shown in Table V. It must be admitted, however,
that the high retention of nitrogen was due partly
to high level of protein ingestion.