268           The Nutritive Value of Alkali-treated Cereal Straws

It may be observed from Table III that all the constituents suffered loss
after the alkali treatment except the crude fibre. In fact, the crude
fibre could be almost quantitatively recovered after the treatment. From
the standpoint of nutrition, the loss sustained in crude protein and ether
extract was relatively unimportant, as these constituents in straws were
poorly supplied and only a little or none of these were actually digestible.
The loss in nitrogen-free extracts (N.F.E.) was, however, important, as the
utility of straw as a food for herbivorous animals is mainly dependent upon
its crude fibre and N.F.E. contents (i.e. its moiety of total carbohydrates).
The data of the present experiment, however, show that the reduction in the
percentage composition of N.F.E. in the alkali-treated straw was more than
compensated for by the rise in the percentage of crude fibre. In fact, the total
carbohydrates per 100 lb. of dry matter were better provided in alkali-treated
straw than in the original untreated straw, as will be evident from the data
presented in Table IV.

                            TABLE IV

            Total carbohydrates in straws

The effect of alkali treatment on the composition of minerals in wheat
and paddy straw is shown in Tables V and VI.

                                                               TABLE V

                                   Percentage composition of minerals on dry basis