Effect of diet composition on dry matter intake of dairy she-camels

The present paper aims to propose an evaluation of the ingestibility and selectivity of food items, as well as the effect of different levels of energetic supplementation and concentrate feed ingredients, on camels dry matter intake (DMI). With this goal, an experiment on six dairy she-camels receiving every 14-15 days a progressive high level of concentrates was conducted. During experimental periods, DMI ranged from 1.30 to 1.96 kg DMI per 100 kg of body weight (BW) was used. In an effort to examine the feeding behavior, a sign of reduced appetite was observed. Based on the results, it can be unveiled that as soon as the concentrate intake (CI) reached a quantity of 3.3 kg DM/d, which represented 51% of the total DM intake, the camels did not appear to ingest more exceedingly and their eating activity occurred in a distributed manner during daytime. Besides, an amount of concentrate supplements, which can characterize a high selectivity to fermentable carbohydrates, fed camels consumed dates, as well. In addition, food items such as corn, soybean meal, and dates that are rich in simple nutrient improved DMI. However, the statistical analysis did not reveal any statistically significant negative effect of concentrates on hay ingestion used in the experimental diets. Therefore, the intake of concentrates did not substitute the ingested amount of hay. Furthermore, the immense incorporation of dates and the increase in energy density of diet (DER) negatively affected the ingestion of hay.