A survey of chemical and nutritional characteristics of halophytes plants used by camels in Southern Tunisia

Abstract

The camel (Camelus dromedarius) is well adapted to the utilization of vegetation of low nutritional value in its natural habitat zone, thanks to its aptitude to vary food and to search plants that are rich in water content and that can make up for its nutritional deficits, particularly as concerns mineral elements. Therefore, a survey was carried out to determine camels pasture quality, dietary preference and to characterize the chemical characteristics and nutritional value of different halophytes plants in a region of Southern Tunisia during spring season. Laboratory analysis were conducted on fourteen vegetable species appertained to seven different botanical families: Chenopodiaceae, Graminaceae, Tamaricaceae, Zygophyllaceae, Asteraceae, Frankeniaceae and Plumbaginaceae. Data obtained indicate an high variability of nutritional content of halophytes plants preferred by camels, specially for dry matter, crude protein, fiber fractions, ash and mineral elements.

Nutritional composition of three fodder species browsed by camels (Camelus dromedarius) on arid area of Tunisia

“…The behaviour of camel registered during grazing was similar to those observed by Laudadio et al (2008) on animals under tropical conditions during the spring season. The recorded feeding and walking times were also similar to those reported for camels in Central Baringo, Kenya (Kassilly 2002).…”

“…Stable sand dunes produced a gently rolling landscape that influenced plant distribution. The more represented families of plants in the pasture were: Chenopodiaceae, Graminaceae, Tamaricaceae, Zygophyllaceae, Asteraceae, Frankeniaceae and Plumbaginaceae, as described by Laudadio et al (2008). The site was colonized by Limonium pruinosum subsp.…”

“…During the last few years, many studies have been done on the chemical composition of browse species, and the protein, mineral and vitamin concentrations have in general been shown to be adequate for the maintenance requirement of grazing camels (FallTouré et al 1998;Dereje and Udén 2005;Laudadio et al 2008). Breman and Kessler (1995) estimated the average concentration of CP in foliage of browse plants in the Sahelian and Sudanian areas of West Africa to be 150 g/kg DM, with variations between 100 and 206 g/kg DM, whereas Laudadio at al.…”

“…Breman and Kessler (1995) estimated the average concentration of CP in foliage of browse plants in the Sahelian and Sudanian areas of West Africa to be 150 g/kg DM, with variations between 100 and 206 g/kg DM, whereas Laudadio at al. (2008) found an average CP content of 97 g/kg DM in fourteen plants collected in a pasture of Southern Tunisia, with variations between 41 and 165 g/kg DM for Imperata cylindrica L. and Suaeda mollis (Desf.)…”

Microbulbifer rhizosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of the halophyte Arthrocnemum macrostachyum

“…Those complex environmental conditions lead to unique vegetation called halophytes (Laudadio et al, 2009). Arthrocnemum macrostachyum L. (glaucous glasswort, Chenopodiaceae) is a C3 shrub common on the coasts of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, the Mediterranean region, and the Middle East and Asia (Redondo-Gó mez et al, 2010).…”