Chemical composition, nutritive value and ruminal degradability of the leaves of Avicennia marina (Mangrove) in dromedary camels: Comparison with Atriplex canescens

The objective of this work was to, qualitatively and quantitatively, determine and compare some chemical constituents of two salt-tolerant plants Avicennia marina and Atriplex canescens, and their nutritive value in the desert dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) using the nylon bag technique. The crude protein content in the leaves of the two plants was similar (%10.6-10.7). However, the non-nitrogen content and ash in A. marina represented %1.0 and %20.9, compared to %4.3 and %28.2, respectively, in Atriplex canescens. The crude fat was %2.9 in the former plant and% 1.2 in the latter. The rest of the values in the two plants were similar (crude fibre 18-18.9, cellulose 17.8-18.8, lignin %4.1-4.8). The dry matter in A. marina was significantly higher in the insoluble but fermented matter. The concentration of some essential elements (Cu, Zn and Mn) and macro-elements (Ca, Mg, K and Na) were measured in the leaves of A. marina leaves, and they were found to be poor in some trace elements.