In situ dry matter, crude protein, fiber degradation and in vitro gas production of halophytic grass (Sporopolus virginicus)‎ by Arabian camel

Abstract EN

Three cannulated dromedary camels weighting an average of 450 kg were used to estimate dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) degradation of halophytic grass (Sporobolus Virginicus) compared to Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) as a control fodder.

In Vitro gas production was used to compare sporobolus grass as a tested one with Rhodes grass as a common one.

Sporobolus grass was irrigated with sea water using a sprinkler irrigation system.

Samples were collected in 12 plastic bags (2 kg / bag) from Dhabiyah Research Station in Bupqal Island.

Treatments were : 1) Rhodes grass (control; RH) which was collected in 4 plastic bags (2 kg / bag) from the Faculty Farm, Al-Ain district, 2) Sporobolus grass (no washing; SPO1), 3) Sporobolus grass (Washed with fresh water after cutting; SPO2), and 4) Sporobolus grass (steam treated at 130o C, 17 Bar for 2 min.

; SPO3).

Chemical composition showed that hemicellulose was extensively hydrolyzed during steam treatment in sporobolus grass.

Sodium percentage (g / kg DM) was 14.

3 in sporobolus grass, while was reduced to be 6.5 in steam treated sporobolus.

Whereas the crude protein percent was (6.

26%) in sporobolus grass, while it was more than two folds in Rhodes grass comparing to sporobolus grass.

Both SPO1 and SPO2 showed the highest dry matter and crude protein disappearance comparing to Rhodes grass (RH) and steam treated sporobolus (SPO3).

Neutral detergent fiber disappearance was the best for Rhodes grass incubation periods compared to the other treatments, while SPO1 showed the higher significance of neutral detergent fiber degradation and followed by Rhodes grass up to 120 hrs of incubation time.

On the contrary, the overall In vitro gas production technique in Rhodes grass was significantly higher (1.5 fold) more (43.

67 ml / 0.2 g DM) comparing to the rest of treatments of Sporobolus.

It is concluded that, Sporobolus has a potential as new source of forage for camels, where fresh water is scarce.

In addition, In vitro gas production technique is good indicator for estimating the quality of salt tolerant grasses, especially with steam treatment under vacuum.