Abstract
The relative preference of Awassi sheep for four promising Atriplex species, A. halimus, A. nummularia, A. canescens and A. lentiformis was tested in cafeteria trials. Atriplex species were offered to sixteen sheep in cafeteria-type experiments during two seasons, spring and autumn. After an adaptation period of 7 days, sheep were offered the species over eight consecutive days. The species were placed in troughs for two hours in the morning after overnight fasting. Sheep were housed individually in pens adjacent to each other. In both seasons, whole species and their botanical fractions were evaluated for chemical composition and in vitro digestibility. The variability of nutritive value among species was not dependent on season or botanical fraction. Time series analysis showed that intake levels and ranking of species did not change over the eight days. Average daily proportions (%) of whole shrub eaten were A. halimus (70.9) A. nummularia (70), A. lentiformis (65.3), and A. canescens (57.9). In autumn, the same order of consumption was maintained, though intake levels tended to be lower compared to spring. The behavioral pattern revealed that the number of return visits to troughs and time spent feeding on species did not influence intake levels. The botanical structure of species explained 20% of the variation in proportion of intake of whole species. The proportion of leaf was the major contributor to variation in proportion of intake of whole species. Relative preference of whole species was explained by intake, nutritive value and fractional proportions of the botanical fractions.
Highlights
Most rangelands in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) are progressively degrading and producing less forage due to overgrazing by increasing livestock populations and frequent drought (Louhaichi, 2011)
The relative preference of Awassi sheep for four promising Atriplex species, A. halimus, A. nummularia, A. canescens and A. lentiformis was tested in cafeteria trials
Saltbush fodder species are often grown in dry areas because they can grow in arid zones between 200 and 400 mm isohyets of mean annual rainfall and they are drought and salt tolerant (ICBA, 2006; Osman et al, 2006)
Summary
Most rangelands in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) are progressively degrading and producing less forage due to overgrazing by increasing livestock populations and frequent drought (Louhaichi, 2011). Saltbush fodder species are often grown in dry areas because they can grow in arid zones between 200 and 400 mm isohyets of mean annual rainfall and they are drought and salt tolerant (ICBA, 2006; Osman et al, 2006). They are good for revegetating salt affected soils. In the WANA region, Atriplex is the most popular species introduced for rangeland rehabilitation because of its high tolerance to soil salinity and water scarcity (Mayberry et al, 2010). This study determined the relative preference of Atriplex species by Awassi sheep and related the preference ranking exhibited to fractional proportions and nutritive quality attributes of botanical fractions and intake of the shrubs
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