Effects of continuous grazing in saline islet areas rich in wild halophytes on digestibility, liver function and lambs' growth and carcass performance

The effects of continuous grazing on an islet dominated by halophytic flora on digestibility, feed intake, growth, health indicators and carcass traits of Barbarine × Queue Fine de l'Ouest lambs were studied. Ewe lambs (23.80 ± 2.14 kg) were divided into two groups. The first one was reared on halophyte pasture (HP), and the control was raised in stall-fed (SF) with oat straw ad libitum. Lambs were supplemented with 500 g/day of concentrate for 79 days. HP group had higher average daily gain (ADG) associated with higher crude protein digestibility, digestible crude protein (DCP) intake and DCP/metabolizable energy ratio (p < 0.05). Plasma albumin, total protein and alanine aminotransferase levels were higher for HP group. No difference was found in electrolytes concentrations, except a higher level of calcium (p < 0.001) for HP group. Regarding liver antioxidant status, HP lambs had higher content of vitamin A and the lower activities ​​of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes. For HP group, kidneys percentage was higher (p < 0.01), and the subcutaneous fat thickness and intermuscular fat percentage were lower (p < 0.05). The results suggest that rearing lambs on wild halophytes could be a sustainable feeding system in saline areas.