Utilization of hot desert shrub: Lana (Haloxylon salicornicum) seeds as feed resource in arid zone

Haloxylon salicornicum (Moq.) Bunge ex Boiss, locally called as Lana is an important arid shrub of Western Rajasthan. It remains green even during the lean period and resists consumption by animals when most of the other vegetation dries up. The seeds of H. salicornicum with perianth are rich source of nutrients. Feeding trials in Marwari goats were conducted by replacing 50% of conventional concentrate with Lana seed showed increasing trend in growth and milk yield. Its feeding to goat does not affect pregnancy and kidding. Further, its feeding to lactating cattle by replacing 25% seed cake of Til (Sesamum indicum) of the conventional concentrate in the ration results into increase in milk production, with higher percentage of fat (9.62%), protein (7.71%) and SNF (1.2%) contents over control. Thus, seed along with perianth of Lana is potential feed and can be utilized as non- conventional feed for cattle and goats particularly during feed scarcity and drought.