Annfal evalfation of nftritional valfes of Salsola rfthenica evalfated as a potential feed sofrce in arid-pastfre areas

Halophyte species, which can maintain their greenness, productive power and high nutritional values under extreme conditions, may relieve the nutrition problem experienced especially during summer, autumn and winter seasons; and they may even close the gap in feed amounts. In this respect, Salsola ruthenica, which grows in arid-pastures in the northeast of Turkey, is observed to be an important feed source in the nutrition of especially small ruminants. The objective of this study was to contribute the determination of appropriate grazing time for achieving higher animal performance and to reveal whether it meets the daily nutritional requirements of small ruminants by determining the potential nutritional value of S. ruthenica throughout a year. Research was carried out by design a randomized trial plots with three replications on a protected 5 da pasture. Samples were collected at the 15th of each month throughout the year (between May 2015 and April 2016) and analysed for the contents of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, dry matter digestibility, digestible energy, metabolize energy and relative feed value (RFV). The results showed that the nutritional composition significantly varied throughout the year, and that maturation process has a decreasing effect on nutrient contents. S. ruthenica has a CP of 9.75% and a RFV of 82.01 during autumn, which were similar to the values obtained from the cultured feed plants, whereas S.ruthenica have a 23.93% of CP and a 273.88 of RFV at the end of spring and a 15.85% of CP and a 167.58 of RFV during the summer, showing a significantly higher nutritional value than that of the cultured feed plants. These results suggested that S. ruthenica can sufficiently meet the daily nutrient requirements of grazing small ruminats through out the grazing periods starting from the spring to the autumn in arid regions, and that S.ruthenica is a good alternative source of fodder during winters when properly mixed with protein-rich feed supplements. © by PS