Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of different roughage sources as an exclusive feed for goats and sheep from the determination of nutrient intake and digestibility. Five goats and five sheep were used and arranged in a double 5 × 5 Latin square design. Treatments consisted of cactus Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck cladodes (Nopalea) + urea + sugarcane bagasse (NUB), cactus Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw cladodes (Opuntia) + urea + sugarcane bagasse (OUB), Tifton hay (TH), maize silage (MS), and forage sorghum silage (SS). Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) intakes of NUB were greater than SS (0.620 and 0.058 versus 0.416 and 0.040 kg/day). Metabolizable energy (ME) intake was higher for NUB (1.52 Mcal/day). The DM digestibility did not change between the roughages (59%). The NUB, OUB, and MS organic matter digestibility (OMD; 62.4%) were greater than that of SS (57.4%). The roughage consisting of cactus cladodes associated with urea and sugarcane bagasse presented a greater nutritional value, similar to MS and TH, and higher than SS. Cactus cladodes associated with urea and sugarcane bagasse are recommended as an alternative to conserved feed.
Highlights
Forage availability, in terms of both quality and quantity, is the greatest impediment to animal production in semi-arid regions; this is mainly due to irregular rainfall
Relating to the different roughages, there was almost no difference in the chemical composition between the cactus Nopalea and cactus Opuntia, and both were near the values presented in the Brazilian Tables (Cqbal; Valadares Filho et al 2018)
Due to the similar chemical composition observed for roughages based on cactus cladodes (Table 3), the results found were similar in between them
Summary
In terms of both quality and quantity, is the greatest impediment to animal production in semi-arid regions; this is mainly due to irregular rainfall. Given the high dependence on livestock in the semi-arid region, producers needed to acquire external inputs, resulting in the commercial production of roughage in northeastern Brazil and irrigated areas to produce maize and forage sorghum silage, Tifton hay, and sugar cane sold at high prices. This activity solved the problem in the short-term; in the medium- and long-term, it could impair the sustainability of the local livestock production. Cactus cladodes are an energy- and water-rich feedstuff, they have low protein and fiber contents, restricting their inclusion in ruminant diets. These deficits may be balanced with the inclusion of a non-protein nitrogen
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