The camel population and its phenotype variability are not well described in Algeria. The studies at the colonial period were based primarily on a nomenclature associated with the names of tribes rather than the measurement of phenotypic parameters. The present study aimed to define the discriminating parameters of the two main populations described in Algeria, namely the Sahraoui and the Targui breed. An initial analysis was achieved for each population (95 Targui and 95 Sahraoui) to demonstrate an internal variability in each group that includes two to three subpopulations. A second analysis was focused on two populations combined. From the measurements of 190 adult animals, attached to one or the other population, a canonical discriminant analysis was applied to determine the most discriminant parameters, (abdominal circumference, chest circumference, height at withers and turn spiral) and to evaluate the percentage of classified assets. These four parameters were sufficient to distinguish the two populations with 98.5% camels well classified. For each of the populations and subpopulations, standard body measurements are proposed.

Saline wetlands are rare ecosystems in Saharan areas, which are important for conservation of many endemic and rare plant species. In this study, we investigated five saline wetland sites of the Oued Righ region, located in the northeastern Algeria, to determine the environmental factors controlling the composition and distribution of plant communities. We established a total of 20 transects to measure the vegetation parameters (density and cover) and soil characteristics (electrical conductivity, moisture, pH, CaSO4, CaCO3, organic matter, Na + , K + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , SO4 2-, Cl-, NO3and HCO3-). A total of 17 plant species belonging to seven families were identified. The natural vegetation was composed of halophytic and hydro-halophytic plant communities, presented specially by the species of Amaranthaceae family. Soils in the studied wetlands were moist, gypsiferous, alkaline, salty to very salty with dominance of chloride and calcium. Results of the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that community structure and species distribution patterns of vegetation were mainly dependent on soil characteristics, mainly being soil salinity (CaSO4, K + , Ca 2+ and Cl-) and moisture. The distribution of plant species was found to follow a specific zonal pattern. Halocnemum strobilaceum was observed to grow in highly salt-affected soils, thus being the more salt-tolerant species. Phragmites communis plants were widely distributed in the study area with a high density at the edges of accumulated water body. Juncus maritimus, Tamarix gallica and Salicornia fructicosa grew in soils that are partially or completely flooded in winter. Suaeda fructicosa, Traganum nudatum, Arthrocnemum glaucum, Aeluropus littoralis, Cressa cretica and Cynodon dactylon were distributed in salty and moist soils away from the open water body. Plants of Zygophyllum album, Limonastrirum guyonianum, Cornulaca monacantha, Cistanche tinctoria, Mollugo nudicaulis and Sonchus maritimus were found in soils with less salty and moisture. They constituted the outermost belt of vegetation in the studied wetlands. This study will provide a reference on introducing the salt-tolerant plant species as a fodder resource in saline habitats and regenerating the degraded saline wetlands.

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Nous avons effectué des enquêtes dans les régions de Ouargla, Ghardaïa et El-Goléa en vue, d'une part, de recenser les plantes pâturées par le dromadaire et, d'autre part, d'étudier leur composition chimique et leur digestibilité. Nous avons retenu six plantes qui, selon les chameliers, sont abondantes et les mieux appréciées par les dromadaires. Nos résultats montrent que les pâturages éphémères, appelés « acheb », ont une composition en cendres particulièrement élevée, de 12 à 29 %, contre 5 à 12 % pour les pâturages permanents. La teneur en matières azotées totales varie de 6 à 12 % et de 4 à 9 % respectivement pour « acheb » et les pâturages permanents. Pour les composés pariétaux évalués en cellulose au détergent neutre (NDF, Neutral Detergent Fiber), les pâturages permanents sont mieux pourvus que les pâturages éphémères (74 % contre 58 % en moyenne). Quant à la digestibilité in vitro de la matière sèche (MS), les meilleurs résultats obtenus sont de 44 à 59 % pour « acheb » contre 22 à 45 % pour les pâturages permanents. Abstract Nutritional aspect of best grazing consummate by Camelus dromedarius in AlgeriaWe have inducted an investigation in the areas of Ouargla, Ghardaïa and El-Golea with a view to both inventorying plants picked by the dromedary and studying their chemical composition and digestibility. Six plants were thus examined: 3 "acheb" and 3 perennial plants. The ash composition is significantly higher for the "acheb" (12 to 29%) than for the perennial plants (5 to 12%). As concerns total nitrogen matter, the content varies from 6 to 12% and 4 to 9% respectively for the "acheb" and the perennial plants. The perennial plants are richer in parietal compounds evaluated in NDF (74% versus an average of 58%). As concerns in vitro digestibility of dry matter, the best results are obtained with the "acheb" (59 to 44%) as opposed (22 to 45%) for the perennial plants.

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The present study aimed to evaluate actin degradation during the early postmortem time in Longissimus Lumborum muscle according to Sahraoui dromedary's age. A sample of eight males, young (2 years old) and adult (8 years old) dromedaries, was used to investigate meat quality traits and actin proteolysis during the conversion of muscle to meat. Results demonstrated higher pH values in young compared to adult with a polyphasic pH drop profile. While, age did not affect drip loss (DL) and the values at 72 h postmortem varied from 5 to 9%. Western blot revealed that actin proteolysis occurred since 1 h postmortem and that it was affected by age and postmortem time. In particular, the 32 and 25 kDa actin fragments could be potential markers of ongoing meat tenderization.

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