Intake and nutritive value of some salt tolerant fodder grasses fed to sheep under saline conditions of South Sinai [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Utilization of salt tolerant plants has become an appropriate approach to solve the problems of animal feed shortage. This study aimed to evaluate the palatability and nutritional values of three cultivated salt tolerant grasses (Sudan grass. Pear millet and Sorghum grass) irrigated with two levels of water salinity ( level 1, L1, 4000 ppm and level 2, L2, 7000 ppm total salts). Six equal number groups of adult Barki nuns were offered one of the three grasses for each group. A palatability trial followed by a digestibility trial was conducted where some nutritional measurements were evaluated. The results showed that grasses irrigated .with L1 and L2 water salinity appeared to be nutritious for sheep since it contained enough concentrations of CP with low contents of ADF and ADL. The VFI of the grasses was slightly affected by the level of water salinity. Digestion of all nutrients were varied and affected to some extents by levels of water salinity. Digestion of DM, CF and NFE were higher for animals of LI compared to those of L2. The nutritive values of the grasses were influenced by the levels of water salinity. All grasses irrigated by L2 attained significant higher DCP values than those irrigated by L1. Regardless plant species, animals fed the grasses of L2 retained around 38% more nitrogen than those of Ll. Sheep fed the three grasses irrigated with U, generally, retained positive various amounts of copper, zinc and cobalt but they should be supplemented with such trace elements if they fed on grasses irrigated with L1. The forages production for all grasses of L1 was greater than those of L2.

Summary in Arabic.

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