Browse foliage and annual legume pods as supplements to wheat straw for sheep

Abstract

Cereal stubble and straw are widely used as animal feeds for sheep in arid areas of Morocco. The inherently low protein concentration of these feeds limits their intake and therefore potential of production. A 14-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementation with browse foliage or medic ( Medicago sp.) pods on wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) straw intake and ewe lamb live weight. Diets were wheat straw (WS), WS plus alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay, WS plus oldman saltbush ( Atriplex nummularia Lindl.) foliage, WS plus blue wattle ( Acacia cyanophylla Lindl.) foliage, and WS plus medic pods. Alfalfa and urea feeding levels were set to provide a crude protein (CP) concentration of 90 g kg −1 DM in the diet. Shrub foliage and medic pods were offered ad libitum. Atriplex and Acacia foliage supplementation resulted in the highest and lowest straw intake increases, respectively. These findings would contribute to explain why animals receiving Atriplex foliage in addition to wheat straw were the only ones to maintain weight over a 14-week period. Medic pod supplementation resulted in an insignificant weight loss. These results showed that foliage from palatable shrubs and medic pods can be effective protein supplements for livestock consuming wheat straw. Implementing such strategies would require that farmers plant oldman saltbush ( Atriplex nummularia Lindl.) shrubs on their private land and manage medic pasture to produce enough pods to be grazed in summer.