Effect of graded levels of crude protein on nutrient digestibility of rhodesgrass hay or dried salicornia biomass diets in camels

Abstract

A digestibility trial was conducted with 12 Majaheem male camels (327 kg) to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of two sources of roughages and three levels of crude protein (12, 14.5 and 17%) in the diets on nutrient digestibilities of Rhodesgrass hay (chloris gayana) and dried Salicornia biomass (Salicornia bigelovii Torr). This seawater-irrigated halophyte was utilized as a roughage source and incorporated into the diets at the rate of 25% DM. All camels were fitted with bags to collect feces and equally allotted into six dietary groups. The digestibility trial was arranged as 3X3 latin aquare design within each dietary roughage. Except for OM, NFE and ADF the results showed that digestion of all nutriens was improved (P<0.01) as the crude protein increased in the diets from 12 to 14.5%; however, increasing the crude protein in the diets to 17% was not associated with further changes. The average digestibility o ADF, NDF and TDN were 75, 22 and 13% higher (P<0.01) for the diets containing Rhodesgrass hay than diets containing dried Salicornia biomass, respectively. On the other hand, the average digestibility of CP for the dried Salicornia biomass diets was 3.6% higher (P<0.01) than for the Rhodesgrass hay diets.