Abstract
The objective was to evaluate the effect of partial or total replacement of Tifton 85 hay with fresh or dehydrated spineless cactus on performance and body weight components of sheep. Thirty hair lambs, with 19 kg ± 0.35 kg initial weight, were randomly divided into five treatments, namely: Tifton 85 Hay (HA); Tifton 85 Hay + fresh spineless cactus (HAFC); Tifton 85 Hay + dehydrated spineless cactus (HADC); fresh spineless cactus (FC); dehydrated spineless cactus (DC). In addition to the spineless cactus and hay, the complete mixture contained soybean meal, mineral salt and limestone in all treatments. Animals were confined for 75 days and then slaughtered. The weight of body components was recorded. Dry matter intake, total digestible nutrients intake and voluntary water intake were higher (p < 0.05) for the DC and HADC treatments. The average daily gain was 118 g day-1 and body weight at slaughter of 25.8 kg were not influenced (p > 0.05) by treatments. The cold carcass weight, rib eye area, weight and yield of the skin, liver, kidney and large intestine were higher (p < 0.05) for the DC and HADC treatments. Partial or total replacement of Tifton 85 hay with fresh or dehydrated spineless cactus, in complete diets for sheep, increases the weight of the cold carcass and non-carcass components.
Highlights
Production of small ruminants in the Brazilian semi-arid region is based on the vegetation of the caatinga biome as a staple food
Some alternatives have been suggested to minimize the impact of variation in forage allowance on flocks, namely, forage conservation and use of forage adapted to semi-arid areas (Ferreira, Silva, Bispo, & Azevedo, 2009)
Some studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of dehydrated spineless cactus or meal replacing corn in the diet for sheep and the results indicate that, at high levels, dehydrated spineless cactus results in reduced intake, digestibility, performance and carcass characteristics of sheep (Véras, Ferreira, Cavalcanti et al, 2005; Véras, Ferreira, Véras et al, 2005; Santos et al, 2011)
Summary
Production of small ruminants in the Brazilian semi-arid region is based on the vegetation of the caatinga biome as a staple food In this ecosystem, plants are adapted to seasonal changes in rainfall and have developed mechanisms to reduce water shortage, such as leaf shedding. The emergence of pests, such as carmine cochineal (Dactylopius sp.), can demand harvesting as soon as possible in order to help to control or prevent the spread of insects This surplus, if kept moist, is perishable and has a life of 16 days (Santos et al, 1998). The replacement of Tifton hay with spineless cactus (fresh or dehdyrated) reduces the neutral detergent fiber content in diets and enables the analysis of the effect of low fiber diets on sheep performance. The goal was to evaluate the effect of partial or total replacement of Tifton 85 hay with fresh or dehydrated spineless cactus on performance and body weight components of sheep
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