Abstract
This study aimed to assess the nutrient intake and milk production of dairy goats fed with total mixed rations with different species of forage cacti. Five pluriparous Saanen goats (50 ± 4 kg) at nine weeks of lactation were allocated in a Latin square (5 x 5) with five diets and five periods. Each period was composed of 10 days for adaptation and seven days for collection. The treatments were composed of 473.0 to 501.0 g kg-1 of forage cacti: xiquexique (Pilosocereus gounellei), mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru), facheiro (Pilosocereus chrysostele), cactus cladodes cv. miúda (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm-Dyck) and cactus cladodes cv. orelha de elefante mexicana (Opuntia stricta); plus sabiá hay (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia) (188.0 to 198.0 g kg-1) and concentrate (311.0 to 329.0 g kg-1). The intake of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, total carbohydrates, and water intake through diet components were unaffected by experimental diets. For milk production and feed efficiency, no difference was observed among the diets. All diets containing different species of forage cacti can be used for dairy goats feed.
Highlights
In the Brazilian semi-arid region, goats are among the most suitable species for ruminant livestock production systems, and Caatinga vegetation is used as the main food source for these animals
This study aimed to evaluate nutrient intake, a n d production o f milk in Saanen goats fed with total mixed rations with different species of forage cacti
There were differences (p < 0.05) between treatments for acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake, with lower intakes values for the animals fed with Nopalea and Opuntia
Summary
In the Brazilian semi-arid region, goats are among the most suitable species for ruminant livestock production systems, and Caatinga vegetation is used as the main food source for these animals. In this region, introduced and native forage cacti are used as strategic roughage feed for cattle, goats, and sheep in times of severe drought. Cacti are recommended to be associated with foods rich in fiber and protein when used in ruminant feed, due to its high-water content and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) in its composition (Ben Salem, 2010; Ramos et al, 2013; Catunda et al, 2016).
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