Effect of Halophyte <i>Salicornia bigelovii</i> (Torr.) as Animal Supplement in Goat in Sonora Desert, Mexico

Abstract

In the northwest of Mexico, a desert zone, new alternatives are required to satisfy the needs of food in goats; evidence indicate that feeding with <em>Salicornia bigelovii</em> forage, could be a contribution to goat obtaining system. Regarding to this halophyte, the information related to its use as a forage supplement in Sonora desert is very limited, specifically in goats. The goal of this study consist to analyze to <em>Salicornia bigelovii</em> about nutritional composition as a forage in pregnant goats, evaluating the weight of goat kids at birth, their average weight gain daily, the weight at weaning, as well as milk production goats from mothers. The diet was based on Salicornia and Alfalfa (Treatment 1: fully fed (100% <em>Salicornia bigelovii</em>) (96% dry matter, 14% crude protein, 17% crude fiber and 45% nitrogen-free extract). Treatment 2: fed totally (100%) with alfalfa (90% dry matter, 18% crude protein, 24% crude fiber and 52% nitrogen-free extract), 20 experimental units per treatment were analyzed. The daily dry matter provided to each experimental unit (dry matter/goat/daily) was 600 g. The results indicate that hay-based forage of <em>Salicornia</em> can used as a forage ingredient, but is not essential in Creole goat's diet, since it benefited positively the growth of goat kids and milk production. It is important to carry out evaluations with the halophyte <em>Salicornia</em> in different variables of obtaining goats, by using diets based on other forage species alternatives such as salty grass and coquia, among and other native species.