Forage quality change of camel's feeding plant in the Maranjab desert

In order to provide animal’s nutritional requirements and production of animal protein, it is necessary to adjust the balanced diet and the correct nutrition plan., which is based on proper understanding of food and this is possible through the analysis of nutrients. This research aimed to study and compare of forage quality in seven species that are grazing by camel including: Nitraria schoberi , Smirnovia iranica , Seidlitzia rosmarinous , Stipagrostis plumosa, Astragalus squarrosus, Alhaji persarum and Zygophyllum eichwaldii conducted in two stages of vegetative growth at Maranjab desert rangelands. For this purpose, the indices of dry matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Metabolic Energy (ME), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) and Sodium (Na) were subjected to chemical analysis. The results showed that the forage quality indices between the species and phonological stages were significantly different (P<0.01). In all species, as the growth stages and plant maturity progressed, the amount of crude protein, metabolic energy and phosphorus were decreased and the amount of dry matter and ADF were increased. While N. shoberi had the highest amount of crude protein (26.51) in vegetative growth stage, S. rosmarinous showed the lowest protein (3.91) at seeding stage. In addition to, with regard to both phonological stages, while the highest dry matter digestibility, metabolic energy, potassium and sodium were found in S. rosmarinous species, the highest amount of crude protein, nitrogen and phosphorus was observed in S. iranica species.