Abstract

It has been shown in a previous communication by the present authors (1) in their work on ragi grains that different varieties of the same cereal possess different nutritive values. In this communication the nutritive values of different varieties of red gram obtained locally and from the hills are pre- sented as determined by Mitchell's N-balance method. The technique of the experiments was the same as that used in a previous communication (1), and the diets were compared at 5% and 10% protein levels. Whole grains with the husk on, and dhalls prepared out of them by the local method of mixing the grains with red earth and pounding were analysed for their food values, and the results of those analysis, presented in Table IV. Marmite at the rate of 50 mg. per rat per day, and codliver oil at 4-5 drops per animal daily were fed to provide the necessary vitamins. The N content present in marmite was not taken into consideration while calculating the results. As usual it has been assumed that the variation in the values of endogenous N of urine and metabolic N of feces from the first to the final period is linear

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