Boudechiche et al., 2008. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 20 (6): 82

The evaluation of the chemical composition of scrap dates and varieties common Algerian has been very little studied. The present study aims to identify a common share dates, representative of phoenicicole Algerian heritage, and secondly to evaluate the nutritional qualities linked primarily to their sugar content thus paving the way for a recovery in animal feed and an improvement in the market value of these varieties threatened by genetic erosion. To do this, twenty cultivars (varieties and scrap together), sampled at three sites in the south-east of Algeria were chosen following the investigations that have been carried out at thirty-one farms across these sites. The significant differences between varieties of: solids, total nitrogen, total sugars and fibers (P <0001) show great varietal diversity. 95% of varieties present levels of total sugars greater than 60%, most of which are water-soluble sugars, fermented easily by the rumen microbial population and thereby generating an energy benefit to the animal. Apart from the group consisting of the variety Litima who introduced the humidity higher, all other varieties would lend themselves easily to conservation by drying in the open air. Finally fibres, which retain microbial activity at the right level, calculated from the percentage of: NDF, ADF and ADL, reflecting the digestibility of a feed, are present in relatively small quantities (max 17%) where the importance of associating a source forages in the diet. In fact, whatever their content, the mere presence of these fibers proves that these dates are foods lignocellulosic that can be valued by ruminants. Finally Sich, the Deglet Noor variety, named in the oasis, has recorded the highest rate of protein (4.07%). The dates that are very poor in this component should be corrected by a nitrogen supply.