Abstract
We tried to confirm the availability of salt wort (Salicornia herbacea L.) as a feedstuff in ruminants.
Salt wort seeds were sown in 28 plastic cases (85 × 55 × 20cm) containing sandy soil on May 8, 1997 and irrigated with 3.4 l of standard solution once every 2 weeks from May 8 to June 22. Standard solution containing 0.3% NaCI concentration was used for irrigation once a week from June 23 to August 13. After all the plant shoots were harvested on August 20 and washed with tap water, the shoots were dried for 5 days at 80°C, and then cut into fragments of about 10 cm long to prepare a mixed diet.
Three goats were used for the digestion trials divided into two consecutive experimental periods, during which the control (alfalfa hay-cubes only) period extended from October 20 to 29, and the treatment period (alfalfa hay-cubes / salt wort : 8/2 : w/w) from October 29 to November 7. Goats were given the diet at a rate of 2.5% D.M. of body weight per day. In the last 3 days of each period, all the excrements were collected and the digestibility of the diets was determined by the total collection method.
Goats could eat the mixed diet of alfalfa and salt wort without harmful effects on their health apparently. Apparent digestibility of crude fiber in the mixture was higher than alfalfa hay-cubes. However, the TDN value in both diets was almost the same, because of the lower digestibility of crude fat and crude protein in the mixture.
