VALUE OF BARLEY GRAIN AND COTTONSEED CAKE AS SUPPLEMENTS TO FOURWING SALTBUSH, AND THE LIVE WEIGHT GAINS AND WATER CONSUMPTION OF SHEEP FED THE DIETS

Fifteen sheep were used in a trial which compared the feeding value of whole barley gain and cottonseed cake as supplements to a basal diet of leaves of fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens). Diet SB contained 700 g (air-dry matter) of saltbush alone, diet SB + BG contained 700 g SB with 400 g whole barley grain and diet SB + CS contained 700 g SB with 400 g cottonseed cake. The digestibility of the dry matter of diets SB (69%) and SB + CS (70%) were lower (p < 0.001) than of diet SB + BG (76%). Sheep offered SB alone daily lost 80g whereas those fed the other diets gained 11 g (SB + CS) or 17 g (SB + BG) per day. Daily water consumption of the sheep offered the three diets was similar (p > 0.05), but their water consumption was higher (p < 0.001) than that of sheep offered daily 700 g wheat straw and 200 g barley grain. The results indicate that, at the levels of feeding used, barley grain and cottonseed cake had similar value as supplements to fourwing saltbush harvested in summer. The addition of the supplement allowed the sheep to gain some live weight. However, the presence of saltbush leaves in the diet resulted in higher water intakes by the sheep.