Abstract: Ceratozdes arborescens was a considerable amount of forage resource, but the understand level of feeding value had rest on a traditional standard. So the feeding value experiment was developed in order to fully understand and utilize Ceratozdes arborescens. The experiment was conducted to feed sheep on particle diet combined by Ceratozdes arborescens in different ratio of concentrate to roughage. Then the weight gain caused by Ceratozdes arborescens diet, alfalfa diet and millet straw diet on sheep were analyzed comparatively. The results showed that the largest weight gain appeared at the particle diet which made from powder of Ceratozdes arborescens, alfalfa and millet straw mixed with 50% and 30% concentrated feed were the best, the daily gain was 127 g/d. In desert steppe, the primary cause of limiting alfalfa popularization was high price. In the level of 30% concentrated feed, the Ceratozdes arborescens and millet straw had the same weight gain effect as alfalfa, and could increase net income by 80 yuan per sheep.

Key words: Ceratozdes arborescens; weight gain; economic benefits