Effects of variety on chemical composition, in situ nutrient disappearance and in vitro gas production of spineless cacti

Abstract

AbstractThis study determined the chemical composition, in situ ruminal nutrient disappearance and in vitro gas production kinetics of three cactus varieties grown in northeastern Brazil. The varieties were Gigante, IPA‐20 and Miúda. Results of the chemical analysis showed no significant differences in ash, ether extract, crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) between the cactus varieties. However, acid detergent fibre was highest (P < 0.05) for IPA‐20, intermediate (P < 0.05) for Gigante, and lowest (P < 0.05) for Miúda. Fractionation of carbohydrate and true protein based on rates of ruminal degradation indicated that the main carbohydrate component was the rapidly degradable fraction, whereas the main true protein component was the intermediately degradable fraction. No differences in carbohydrate or protein fractions were observed between the cactus varieties. Results of the in situ experiment showed no differences in ruminal dry matter (DM, average 803 g kg−1 of DM), CP (900 g kg−1 of CP) and NDF (611 g kg−1 of NDF) disappearance between the three cactus varieties after 48 h of ruminal incubation. Potential gas production at the end of 48 h of incubation was higher (P < 0.05) for Gigante than for the Miúda or IPA‐20 variety. However, rate of gas production and lag time in gas production were similar for the three cactus varieties at 6.8% h−1 and 0.6 h respectively. Our results showed little or no differences in chemical composition or ruminal nutrient degradabilities between the three cactus varieties. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry