Abstract

This study was conducted to compare forage quality of three dominant Mediterranean species (Haloxylon schmittianum, Anabasis articulata, Astragalus armatus) in a semi-arid rangeland, Tebessa, east of Algeria. The shrubs were hand harvested at the flowering stage. Chemical composition includes: Crud protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), ether extract (EE), ash. Dry matter digestibility (DMD), relative feed value (RFV), dry matter intake (DMI) and metabolisable energy (ME) were calculated. CP, ADF, NDF, Ash and EE contents ranged from 12.22 to 17.13%, 24.78 to 30.01%, 41.13 to 44.67%, 9.09 to10.26% and 2.61 to 3.43%, respectively. The digestibility DM, DM intake and RFV ranged from 65.52 to 69.59%, 2.68 to 2.90% and 136.11 to 154.48%, respectively. The NDF, ADF contents of A. armatus was significantly higher than those for H. schmittianum and A. articulata (P < 0.05). The DMD and RFV of H. schmittianum are significantly higher than those for A. articulata and A. armatus. The DMI in H. schmittianum was significantly higher than those for other shrubs. The ME contents of H. schmittianum was significantly higher than that for A. armatus. The species studied offered considerable potential as high quality forage for ruminants during the critical periods of the year when the quality and quantity of pasture herbages are limited.

Key words: Relative feed value, dry matter intake, digestibility, Mediterranean shrubs, semi-arid rangeland.