effect of camelthorn forage feeding on the performance of baluchi sheep

this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of camelthorn (alhagi sp.) as a foraghe in the diet of balouchi sheep (during the last two months of gestation and two months of lactation) where 72 ewes in a completely randomized design with three treatments (diets) and four replications were used. experimental diets were : 1) wheat straw 50%, alfalfa hay 30% and barley grain 20%, as control group;  2) camelthorn hay 40%, wheat straw 25%, alfalfa hay 15% and barley grain 20%;  3) camelthorn hay 80 and barley grain  20%. results showed that the average daily dry matter intake was reduced by sheep that received diet contained 40% camelthorn (p < 0.05) however, no significant differences were obtained when the dry matter intake was estimated based on the metabolic body weight (g/kg of bw0.75). the average daily milk yield was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in treatment three than that of the treatment two. the birth weight of lambs was not statistically affected by the treatments but the daily gain of lambs was lower (p < 0.05) in treatment two during 60-day recording. the feeding cost was reduced by inclusion of camelthorn in the diet where the lowest cost was by the diet contained 80% camelthorn. in conclusion, camelthorn may be used in the diet of ewes as roughage feed, although more research is required in this field.