ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate Atriplex (saltbush) and Acacia
supplemented with crushed barley grains (CBG) alone or with crushed date seeds
(CDS) for fattening growing Barki lambs. Forty lambs (initial weight of 30.6 ± 3.50
kg), 6-8 months age were divided by weight into four groups for 140 days. The first is
control group (CG) was fed berseem hay ad lib. plus CBG to cover 100% of their
maintenance energy requirement (MER). The other three groups were fed ad lib. on
fresh leaves and succulent stems of both Atriplex and Acacia supplemented with either
100% of their MER from CBG for diet A, 50% CBG plus 50% CDS for diet B or 25%
CBG plus 75% CDS for diet C, respectively. Lambs fed diets A, B, and C consumed
slightly higher DMI (g/day/kg w0.75) than the CG. The apparent digestibility of DM,
OM and NFE for diets A, B, and C decreased (P<0.05) than CG which related mainly
to changes in the type of roughage. Similarly, TDN values of the experimental diets
were decreased (P<0.01) according to both type of roughage (diet A) and source of
energy (diets B and C). Contrariwise, digestible crude protein (DCP %) increased
(P<0.01) due to replacing Atriplex and Acacia for berseem hay. Average daily gain
(g/day) decreased (P<0.01) as a result of changing type of roughage. The best feed
conversion was recorded for control diet followed by A and B diets with no significant
differences. Otherwise, lamb groups fed Atriplex and Acacia recorded the highest
(P<0.01) insensible water loss (ml/kgw0.82). Nitrogen retention (g/kgw0.57) was
decreased (P<0.05) by changing type of roughage. This study indicate that lambs could  gain satisfy growth under harsh condition in arid and semi-arid areas of marginal lands, when fed Atriplex and Acacia shrubs supplemented with CBG and/or CDS at ratio 1:1
of MER as fodder sources.