Abstract :
ABSTRACT: This study carried out to determine chemical composition and nutritive value of five species of range plants in Sistan including Zygophyllum eurypterum, Artemisia maritime, Aeluropus littoralis, Prosopia farcta and Carthamus lanatus by in vitro gas production technique. Samples were collected by systematic and random sampling procedure in autumn according to standard methods. Chemical composition, cumulative gas production at 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h were determined. The results of this experiment showed that, there are significant difference in terms of chemical compositions of these samples (P < 0.05). The crude protein, ADF and NDF contents were between 5.20 and 9.60, 47.30 and 50.30% and 53.50 and 66.90% respectively. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) between these species in different incubation times. The maximum cumulative gas volume at 96 hours and b fraction ware related to Aeluropus littoralis. Also, organic matter digestibility and metabolisable energy in Aeluropus littoralis species were higher than other species. The results of chemical composition and gas production showed that in these plants, Aeluropus littoralis species has the highest nutritive value and also, these species can use as feed for camel.
