Nutritional characteristics of important desert grasses in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

A few representative dominant grasses were studied from various regions in Saudi Arabia to evaluate their nutritional and survival characteristics under the harsh growing environment of the Kingdom. Desert grasses are the main sources of nutrients for pastoral grazing animals. Analyses of representative samples indicated high protein and carbohydrate contents in various parts of the plants. However, these nutrients are available only for a short duration and are below sufficiency level for many milk and meat animals during much of the growing season.