The effect of dietary inclusion of halophyte Distichlis grass hay Distichlis spicata (L.) on growth performance and body composition of Emirati goats

Forty four Emirati goat kids were used in a feeding trial to study the effect of feeding diets containing various level of halophyte Distichlis grass hay on growth, feed and water intakes and body composition. Animals were randomly allocated to four dietary treatment groups, which were initially formulated to have 100%, 66.7%, 33.3% or 0.0% Distichlis grass hay as a source of forage. The kids receiving 0.0 Distichlis grass hay (100% Rhodes grass hay) served as the control. Feed and water were offered ad libitum. Male kids were slaughtered at the end of feeding trials. The average daily feed intake was significantly (P< 0.05) higher for the animals fed the diet with 100% Distichlis grass hay than those animals fed the diet with 0.0% Distichlis grass hay (100% Rhodes grass hay). The feed conversion ratio (FCR), i.e., kg feed/kg BW, improved (P< 0.05) by feeding a high level of Distichlis grass hay. The goats fed a diet with 100% Distichlis grass hay had a heavier (P< 0.05) carcass weight and higher (P< 0.05) dressing percentage but lower (P< 0.05) intestine-content than the kids fed a diet with 0.0% Distichlis grass hay. The average proportions of non-carcass components were not affected by the treatment diets. This study indicated that Distichlis grass hay has better potential for feeding goats than Rhodes grass hay.