Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of replacing corn silage with cactus Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. cladodes (cactus Opuntia) (0, 18.5, 37.0, and 55.5%, on a DM basis) in the diets for lactating dairy cows. Twelve Holstein cows (20 ± 2.7 kg/day milk, 530 ± 35 kg of body weight, 84 days in milk) were distributed in three (4 × 4) Latin squares. There was an increase in the intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) and net energy for lactation (NEl) with the replacement (17.68 to 18.58; 16.38 to 16.91; 5.32 to 7.28; 25.1 to 27.01 kg/day, respectively). The intake of crude protein (CP; 2.80 kg/day) and the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NFC and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were not changed by the replacement (623.4; 642.4; 641.6; 519.6; 763 g/kg DM, respectively). The milk yield and fat-corrected milk yield (FCMY) to 3.5% fat increased linearly with the replacement (20.8 to 22.1; 21.4 to 23.3 kg/day, respectively). The fat, protein, lactose, and total solids milk content remained unaltered (37.6; 31.6; 45.1; 124.4 g/kg, respectively). There was a linear decrease in the urea nitrogen excretion in urine (298 to 221.4 mg/kg BW) and the urea nitrogen concentration in milk (16.8–13.04 mg/dL). We recommend a diet composed of 366.0 g/kg DM of cactus Opuntia 290.0 g/kg DM of corn silage and 344.0 g/kg DM of concentrate.
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