Nutritive value for goats of Atriplex species grown with hypersaline water

摘要

Samples of Atriplex lentiformis and Atriplex barclayana were used to determine potential uses for ruminants. It was determined that diets containing more than 25% halophyte with alfalfa hay would not be acceptable by goats. Analyses of the dietary ingredients revealed that the Atriplex species were high in ash as compared to alfalfa hay (av. 30 vs 10%). Partial digestion coefficients, as calculated by difference, indicated that the two Atriplex species were more digestible than alfalfa hay with regard to crude protein. All other nutrient parameters measured yielded similar results, but less digestible for fiber and leached materials. Leaching with fresh water decreased mineral content of the two halophytes, but did not improve acceptability of digestibility.