Partial replacement of corn by forage cactus in the diets of lactating goats

Abstract

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of the partial replacement of corn by forage cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck) in the diets of lactating goats on the nutrient intake, milk production and composition and ingestive behavior. Five crossbreed Saanen x Pardo Alpina goats with body weights of 47 ± 3.3 kg were used in the study. The design was 5x5 Latin square design, in which the treatments were as follows: 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40% of girl cactus included in the diet as a partial replacement of corn, with 0, 18, 36, 54 and 72% of the added the cactus comprising of gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq) Walp) as roughage in all treatments. Treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) the dry matter intake, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and total digestible nutrients with the increasing levels of cactus in the diet, presenting means of 1.64, 0.26, 0.82, 0.54 and 1.17 kg day -1 , respectively. In the same way, no influence was observed on the daily milk production and levels of fat, protein, lactose and total solids of milk, which averaged 1.18 kg day -1 ; 3.74, 3.34, 5.06 and 13.56%, respectively. The inclusion of cactus also had no influence (P > 0.05) on the ingestion behavior. The treatment with 35% cactus showed a lower impairment of food intake (31%). The partial replacement of the corn by the girl cactus in the diets of dairy goats can be accomplished because it does not alter the intake, milk yield and composition and feeding behavior. The replacement of up to 54% corn by the cactus is recommended to reduce producer costs for food. Key words: Goats. Intake. Milk yield. Semiarid. ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar a substituição parcial do milho (Zea mays L.) pela palma forrageira miúda (Nopalea cochenillifera-Salm Dyck) em dietas de cabras em lactação sobre o consumo de nutrientes, produção e composição do leite, comportamento ingestivo e o comprometimento da receita com alimentação. Foram utilizadas 5 cabras mestiças de Saanen x Pardo Alpina, com peso corporal de 47 ± 3,3 kg. O delineamento utilizado foi o quadrado latino 5x5, em que os tratamentos consistiram em níveis de 20, 25, 30, 35 e 40% de palma forrageira miúda incluídos na dieta em substituição ao milho que foram de 0, 18, 36, 54 e 72% tendo o feno de gliricídia (Gliricídia sepium (Jacq) Walp) como volumoso em todos os tratamentos. Os tratamentos não influenciaram (P > 0,05) o consumo de matéria seca, proteína, fibra em detergente neutro, fibra em detergente ácido e nutrientes digestíveis totais apresentando médias iguais a 1,64; 0,26; 0,82; 0,54 e 1,17 kg dia -1 , respectivamente. Do mesmo modo, não houve influência dos níveis sobre a produção de leite e os teores de gordura, proteína, lactose e sólidos totais do leite apresentando médias iguais a 1,18 kg dia -1 ; 3,74; 3,34; 5,06 e 13,56%, respectivamente. O comportamento ingestivo também não sofreu influência com a inclusão de palma nas dietas. O tratamento com 35% de palma demonstrou menor comprometimento da receita com alimentação (31%). A substituiç...

Performance, Body Water Balance, Ingestive Behavior and Blood Metabolites in Goats Fed with Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Miller) Silage Subjected to An Intermittent Water Supply

“…Bispo et al [7], while investigating the feed of sheep, observed that water intake decreased from 3.25 L/d to 0.44 L/d when forage cactus pear was used as feed from 0 to 560 g/Kg of dry matter (DM), substituting for elephant grass. Forage cactus pear is an excellent alternative for increasing water availability through feed [8][9][10] and is widely used as a feed ingredient in sheep diets in semiarid and arid regions because of its good adaptability to soil and weather conditions [11].…”

Nutrients intake, milk production, and production costs of dairy goats fed with high proportions of cactus cladodes genotypes Opuntia and Nopalea in association with different forage sources

“…The results of milk production in this work, regarding the research presented by Pereira et al (2021), Ramos et al (2020), Sousa et al (2018), Lopes et al (2017), andGoveia et al (2016) highlight the possibility that the producer has, in certain semi-arid areas of northeastern Brazil, two genotypes of cactus cladodes resistant to carmine scale, with a forage/concentrate ratio of 80:20, and a reduction of water via food above 78% in all diets, contributing to less dependence on the concentrate feed market.…”

“…In another research with Anglo Nubiana goats (43 kg), Pereira et al (2021) used 40% buffel hay and replaced 100% of corn (Nopalea cochenillifera), reported a mean daily milk production value of 997g. With Saanen x Pardo Alpina goats (47 kg), Goveia et al (2016) using 45% gliricidia hay (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq) Walp) and replacement of up to 72% ground corn for Miúda cactus cladodes, reported an average daily milk production value of 1.18 kg. However, several aspects must be taken into account for these differences: size and age of goats, level of production, quantity, and quality of forage in the diets, among others.…”

Soil Microbial Activity and Biomass in Semiarid Agroforestry Systems Integrating Forage Cactus and Tree Legumes

“…Although it is adapted to semiarid regions, the reduced fiber and crude protein concentrations of forage cactus leads to a need to balance the diet of livestock. Thus, one of the alternatives to balance the diet of livestock with proteins and fibers when feeding cactus is intercropping cactus with tree legumes [1]. In addition, tree legumes can enhance N input in the agroecosystem via biological N2 fixation.…”