The effect of dietary inclusion of halophyte Salicornia bigelovii Torr on growth performance and carcass characteristics of lambs

Sixty-three Najdi ram lambs (22.8 kg) were used to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of Salicornia bigelovii Torr by-products on growth performance, carcass characteristics and mineral and water intake. Either the dry stems or spikes of this seawater-irrigated halophyte were incorporated into isonitrogenous diets at rates of 100, 200 or 300 g kg−1 levels, replacing equal amounts of rhodesgrass hay (Chloris gayana) in a ground mixed control diet containing 400 g kg−1 of roughage. The lambs were randomly allocated to seven dietary groups of nine lambs each, and fed individually for 100 days ad libitum. Feeding Salicornia stems up to 300 g kg−1,or spikes at 100 g kg−1, did not affect DMI, compared to control (0 g kg−1 Salicornia); however, the inclusion of spikes at levels above 100 g kg−1 decreased DMI. Feeding stems at 100 and 200 g kg−1 improved ADG (p<0.05) by 10.6 and 4.8%, respectively, compared to control. Daily sodium intake increased (p<0.01) with increasing levels of Salicornia in the diet. This, in turn, linearly increased (p<0.01) daily water consumption by 20.5, 31.3 and 34.6% in lambs fed with Salicornia stems at 100, 200 or 300 g kg−1 levels, respectively. Corresponding increases in spike-fed lambs were 33.3, 39.6 and 47.5%, respectively, compared to control. Graded levels of either Salicornia stems or spikes had no effect (p>0.05) on empty body weight and dressing percentage, but linearly increased (p<0.01) the percentages of kidneys and heart weights. Warm carcass weight decreased linearly (p<0.05) with increasing levels of spikes.