Chemical composition, metabolizable energy and in vitro digestibility of three camel browsed halophyte species

Chemical composition and metabolizable energy of three camel browsed halophyte species (Atriplex leucoclada، Suaeda fruticosa، Seidlitzia rosmarinus) were assessed and in vitro digestibility of DM (IVDMD)، OM (IVOMD)، NDF (IVNDFD)، ADF (IVADFD) were determined using a completely randomized design. Plant samples were collected based on camel''s grazing patterns during the autumn-winter grazing seasons in southern Khuzestan province. The samples were mixed on dry matter basis to provide different combined mixtures (as treatments). Replacing 33. 5 or 66. 5% of A. leucoclada with S. rosmarinus or S. fruticosa reduced OM content and increased Ash content. Also، replacing of A. leucoclada with S. rosmarinus increased ME content. The IVDMD of treatments were different (p<0. 05). Replacing 66. 5% of S. fruticosa with S. rosmarinus and A. leucoclada with S. rosmarinus increased IVOMD. NDF and ADF digestibility of A. leucoclada were higher than those of S. rosmarinus and S. fruticosa، also S. rosmarinus than that of S. fruticosa (p<0. 05). It can be concluded that، three species were not different in terms of metabolizable energy but the combination of A. leucoclada with S. rosmarinus enhanced organic matter digestibility and energetic value