EFFECT OF FEEDING ATRIPLEX NUMMULARIA ON AWASSI LAMBS PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Twenty Awassi lambs weighed an average 36.75 ± 1.25 kg and age 8-9 months were randomly allotted to 5 dietary groups feeding with 4 replicates per diet. All animals were fed concentrate at 2.5 % of body weight. roughage fed ad. lip. Alfalfa hay (alfa) and Atriplex Nummularia (At) fed in different ratios as follow: R1: 100 % alfa. R2: 75 % alfa + 25% At. R3: 50 % alfa + 50 % At. R4: 25 % alfa + 75 % At and R5: 100 % At. Dry matter intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher with diet R1 and R2. significant decreased (p<0.05) in Final weight of lambs feed R5. apparent digestibility of crud protein were higher (p<0.05) with diet R3 and R4. Ether extract and Crud fiber digestibility were higher (p<0.05) with lambs consuming diet R1. R2 and R3. Hemicellulose digestibility were higher(p<0.05) with R1. acid detergent fiber digestibility were higher (p<0.05) with R5 diet. Acid detergent lignin digestibility decreased significantly (P<0.05) with diets R1. R2 and R3. whereas digestibility of Cellulose were higher (p<0.05) with R2 and R 3 diet. Animals fed on R1 and R2 showed highest total digestible nutrients. digestible crud protein high value with diet R4. Nitrogen intake and Fecal nitrogen showed higher values in R1 and R2. Urine-N of lambs fed R1 was higher (p<0.05) Total nitrogen excretion of lambs that consumed R1 was higher (p<0.05). the N-retention of lambs that consumed R5 was lower (p<0.05). According to the results we can substituted Atriplex instead of Alfalfa hay at rate 25 and 50%.