Consumo e comportamento ingestivo de caprinos e ovinos alimentados com palma gigante (<em>Opuntia ficus-indica</em> Mill) e palma orelha-de-elefante (<em>Opuntia</em> sp.)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the intake and ingestive behavior of sheep and goats fed with cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill) and prickly pear (Opuntia sp.). Twenty crossbred animals – 10 sheep and 10 goats – were used. They were lodged in a collective shed, contained individually with ropes, distributed using a completely randomized design, and treated with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (2 animal species and 2 varieties of cactus). Behavioral observations were made at five-minute intervals during a 24-hour period. Dry matter, ether extract, acid detergent fiber, total carbohydrate and non-fibrous carbohydrate intake were reduced (p < 0.05) by prickly pear. There was no effect from cactus variety, animal species or animal species x cactus variety interaction (p > 0.05) on feeding time and feeding efficiency. The time spent with rumination was greater for the diet with prickly pear, and the animals on the prickly pear diet remained more time idle. Comparing goats and sheep species, it was verified that the rumination efficiency, for both DM and NDF, was greater for sheep species. The animals spent more time ruminating lying than standing, but no difference was verified between the sides on which the animals chose to lie down.