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SUMMARYA lack of water in livestock production can limit the performance of the animals; therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of water restriction on the growth performance of sheep that were fed forage cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera). Forty-two male sheep were used, with an average age and weight of ±100 days and 18.75 ± (2,05) kg , respectively, and they were fed diets containing concentrate, mineral mixture and three levels of substitution (30, 50 and 70%) of Tifton hay with forage cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera). The animals were slaughtered when they reached 32 kg (± 1 kg) of body weight or 90 days. The experimental design was a 3x2 factorial arrangement, forage cactus (30, 50, 70%) x water (with or without water) plus a control group (n=6). Variables were analyzed using Tukey and Dunnett's test at 5% with PROC GLM in SAS software. Voluntary water intake and dry matter intake (DMI) decreased with the inclusion of forage cactus; however, preformed water intake and total water intake increased with the inclusion of forage cactus. Water restriction and its interaction with the treatments had no effect on animal performance. Daily weight gain was higher for the diets with 30 and 50%forage cactus inclusion, at 174 and 155 g, respectively, compared with 90 g for the control diet. Cactus, therefore, can be used as a food supplement and water resource.

Consumer demand for quality food products is increasing rapidly, motivating a similar interestin the production sectors. Meat and milk quality can be evaluated from the perspective of theproducer, where high yields and profits are sought. From the consumer viewpoint, sensorialcharacteristics are the most important, although, nowadays, welfare and health are alsoimperative. This has increased the demand for better characteristics and fatty aciddifferentiation in products of animal origin. In general, sheep meat it is considered milder thangoat meat, principally due to the higher lipid content, however, both types of meat are wellappreciated by consumers. Goat milk is highly valued for its characteristics and is commonlyused to feed children and adults with allergic and gastrointestinal problems. The lipid profileof meat and milk products depends on what the animal eats, consequently, the feed has animportant role in improving the products. Cactus pear is an excellent feed for animals insemiarid regions. Cactus pear consumption has been shown to increment the linoleic,linolenic and conjugated linolenic acid fatty acids, without modifying the sensorial quality ofgoat and sheep products.

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