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Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2002 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 136-142
DOI: 10.3923/jbs.2002.136.142
Role of Indicator Range Species as Browsing Forage and Effective Nutritive Source, in Matruh Area, a Mediterranean Coastal Region, NW- Egypt
S. Z. Heneidy

Abstract: The study reveals that the area is occupied with 39 perennial and 43 annual species, Chamaephytes are the most dominant life-forms. Also the area (which include 32 sampling sites) composed of 5 different habitats. About 38% of the studied are sites suffering from high grazing pressure. In addition 66% of the habitats are found to be good pasture. Moreover based on abundance and palatability, 5 to 7 species are considered as indicator species in each habitat. Atriplex halimus and Asphodelus ramosus are the most common ones. About 51% of the perennial species are highly palatable. The grazing value (dependent upon the high content of crude protein, minerals, and low crude fibers content) was high for 69 and 49% for the perennials and annuals species respectively. Therefore the pasture condition in the studied area can be considered good. The average level of the digestible crude protein (DCP, 5.7%), total digestible nutrients (TDN, 67%), gross energy (GE, 3,976 kcal kg‾1), digestible energy (DE, 3,274 kcal kg‾1) and metabolizable energy (ME, 2,824 kcal kg‾1). In the study area all refer to that the present pasture is able to meet the feed demands of the grazing animals and these animals receive most of their energy requirements. The energy content is however equivalent 0.84 of the Scandinavian feed unit.

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How to cite this article
S. Z. Heneidy , 2002. Role of Indicator Range Species as Browsing Forage and Effective Nutritive Source, in Matruh Area, a Mediterranean Coastal Region, NW- Egypt. Journal of Biological Sciences, 2: 136-142.

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