Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the intake and digestibility of nutrients, ingestive behavior, and performance of goats fed with spineless cactus genotypes resistant to carmine cochineal (Miúda or Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM). Thirty castrated male goats, without defined breed, aged 12 to 14 months, with an average body weight of 19.0±2.8kg, were distributed in a completely randomized design among three treatments (Control - Tifton hay, Miúda, and OEM) and ten replicates; the initial weight was considered as the covariate. The intake of organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was highest in the control treatment, while the intake of NFC was higher in the OEM diet. Treatments containing forage cactus showed the highest digestibility of DM, OM, and NFC. The animals fed the control diet spent more time on rumination and total chewing, but the time spent feeding or feeding efficiency, and performance did not differ. The use of spineless cactus genotypes resistant to carmine cochineal (Miúda and Orelha de Elefante Mexicana) in a diet for goats, in the amount of 450g/kg of DM does not interfere with the performance of the animals and improves the digestibility of OM and NFC.
Highlights
The forage cactus studies are in semiarid regions as main forages cultivated for livestock, due to its characteristic resistance to hydric stress and advanceable nutritive value
According to Silva et al (2015) the main differences among them are that Opuntia ficus indica presents higher values in levels of moisture, protein, lipids, soluble solids, minerals, and crude fiber in addition to length, width, and fresh weight when compared to Nopalea cochenillifera
The apparent digestibility of nutrients was influenced by diets (P0.05), with averages of 758 and 685 g/kg dry matter (DM), respectively (Table 3)
Summary
The forage cactus studies are in semiarid regions as main forages cultivated for livestock, due to its characteristic resistance to hydric stress and advanceable nutritive value. The best strategy for controlling this pest is to cultivate spineless cactus varieties that are resistant to cochineal carmine. This is an environmentally friendly practice that is of great importance for smallholder farming because it dispenses with costly chemicals that pollute the environment and contributes to the sustainability of the production system (Silva et al, 2018). Resistant genotypes of spineless cactus include “Miúda” (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck) and “Orelha de Elefante Mexicana” (Opuntia strica Haw). According to Silva et al (2015) the main differences among them are that Opuntia ficus indica presents higher values in levels of moisture, protein, lipids, soluble solids, minerals, and crude fiber in addition to length, width, and fresh weight when compared to Nopalea cochenillifera
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
