Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Animal Science Research Institute of Iran
2 Animal Science Research Institute of IRAN
3 Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO),Karaj, Iran
Abstract
Alhagi was cultivated under different irrigation regimes (conventional and drought stress conditions) and varying levels of water hardness at research farms in Yazd Province, Iran. The plants were harvested at the early flowering stage.The harvested forages were then transported to the National Animal Science Research Institute, where their chemical composition, in vitro gas production from ruminal fermentation(measured over incubation times ranging from2 to 96hours), two-stage digestibility, and methane gas output were measured.In addition, metabolizable energy and relative forage value were determined.The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six treatments and three replications. The experimental treatments included:(1) Alhagi cultivated from seed and irrigated with fresh water under normal conditions;(2) Alhagi cultivated from seed and irrigated with fresh water under drought stress;(3) Alhagi cultivated from seed and irrigated with brackish water under normal conditions(4) Alhagi cultivated from seed and irrigated with saline water under drought stress;(5 Alhagi cultivated from seed and irrigated with saline water under normal conditions; and (6)Alhagi cultivated from seed and irrigated with saline water under drought stress.The results showed that the highest crude protein contents were observed in treatment3(10.7%DM),respectively, while the lowest values were found in treatmen2(8.5%DM), and6. The gas production(24h fermentation) was highest in treatment6 (36.2 mL/200mg) and lowest in treatment1(30.8mL/200mg).The highest metabolizable energy(7.7MJ/Kg) and OMD(59.2%DM) were observed in treatment3. Concluded: Regarding nutritional value, treatment 3 had the highest and treatment 6 the lowest values.Cultivating Alhagi with brackish water facilitates better fulfillment of livestock nutritional requirements and helps reduce feed costs in arid regions.
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