RESUMO -O desempenho de vacas da raça Pardo-suíça em lactação e a digestibilidade aparente de dietas contendo níveis de 0; 12,5; 25; 37,5 e 50% de xiquexique (Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex K. Schum.) Bly. ex Rowl.) em substituição à silagem de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) foram avaliados utilizando-se cinco vacas com peso vivo (PV) médio de 520 kg e produção média diária de 15 kg de leite. O delineamento experimental foi em quadrado latino (5x5) e constou de cinco animais, cinco períodos e cinco níveis de inclusão de xiquexique na dieta. Cada período experimental teve duração de 17 dias ( dez destinados à adaptação dos animais às dietas e sete para coleta).Os consumos de matéria seca (MS), em kg/dia, % e em unidade de tamanho metabólico (g/kg 0,75 ), de matéria orgânica (MO), de proteína bruta (PB) e de carboidratos totais (CHT), em kg/dia, não foram influenciados pela inclusão de xiquexique na dieta, apresentando valores médios de 15,21; 2,83; 136,10; 13,64; 1,64 e 11,48 kg respectivamente. Os consumos de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), extrato etéreo (EE) e nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT), em kg/dia, diminuíram, enquanto o de carboidratos não-fibrosos (CNF), em kg/dia, elevou linearmente com a inclusão de xiquexique na dieta. A inclusão de xiquexique na dieta não influenciou as digestibilidades de matéria seca (DAMS), matéria orgânica (DAMO), proteína bruta (DAPB), extrato etéreo (DAEE), fibra em detergente neutro (DAFDN) e dos carboidratos totais (DACHT). Não houve efeito da inclusão de xiquexique na dieta sobre a produção (média de 14,80 kg/dia) e na composição química do leite e a eficiência alimentar (kg de leite produzido/kg de MS consumida).Palavras-chave: consumo, pilosocereus, produção de leite, semi-árido Replacement of Sorghum Silage (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) with a Columnar Cactus (Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex K. Schum.) Byl ex Rowl.) on Diets of Lactating Dairy CowsABSTRACT -Five lactating Brown-Swiss cows averaging 520 kg of body weight (BW) and 15 kg of milk yield were assigned to a 5 x 5 Latin square to study the effects of replacing sorghum silage (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) with a columnar cactus known as xiquexique (Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex K. Schum.) Byl ex Rowl.) on animal performance and apparent digestibility of nutrients. The experimental diets contained (DM basis): 0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, or 50% of xiquexique. Each experimental period lasted 17 days (10 days for diet adaptation and 7 days for sample collection). Intake of dry matter (DM) expressed as amount (kg/d), as percentage of BW, or as metabolic weight (g/kg 0.75 ) were 15.21 kg/d, 2.83% of BW, and 136.10 g/kg 0.75 and did not change by replacing sorghum silage with xiquexique in the diet. Similarly, intake of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and total carbohydrates (TCH) did not differ and averaged 13.64, 1,64, and 11,48 kg/d across diets, respectively. However, intake (kg/d) of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), ether extract (EE), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) all decreased linearly (P...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the replacement effect of wheat bran with spineless cactus and urea in heifers. Twenty-four heifers with an average initial weight of 185 ± 13 kg were used in this experiment. Four levels of spineless cactus corrected with urea and ammonium sulfate (9:1) were studied: 0, 33, 66, and 100 % replacement with wheat bran. Samples of feed, orts, and feces were analyzed to estimate the intake and digestibility of dry matter (DM) and nutrients. Indigestible neutral detergent fiber was used as an internal marker. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design. Dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrient intake demonstrated a quadratic effect (P < 0.05). Rumen degradable protein intake increased linearly (P < 0.05). The maximum DM digestibility was estimated to be 0.67 with a 43 % replacement. Crude protein and NDF digestibility increased linearly (P < 0.05). The total body weight gain and average daily gain decreased linearly with the replacement. Thus, it is practical to replace wheat bran with spineless cactus containing urea and ammonium sulfate up to 66 % in sugar cane-based diets.

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A irrigação suplementar pode ser uma técnica promissora para o aumento da produção da palma forrageira, contudo, depende da evapotranspiração (ET). A irrigação e a ET estão estritamente relacionados com a produtividade das culturas (P), de modo que a relação entre P e ET resulta na eficiência no uso de água (EUA). Assim, objetivou-se avaliar P, ET e EUA em palma, sob irrigação suplementar. O experimento foi conduzido em campo, com palma submetida a irrigação por gotejamento com intervalos de reposição de água no solo de 7 (T7), 14 (T14) e 21 (T21) dias, mais o tratamento de sequeiro (T0), em blocos ao acaso, com 4 repetições. O crescimento da palma foi monitorado por meio da medição da largura (LC), do comprimento (CC), da área (AC), do índice de área (IAC) e da espessura dos cladódios (EC). Ao longo do ciclo da cultura também foram monitoradas as condições meteorológicas. A ET foi obtida como termo residual da equação do balanço hídrico. Os tratamentos não tiveram efeitos significativos nas variáveis biométricas e na produtividade da palma forrageira. A menor ET foi obtida no T0 (406,1 mm total e 1,7 mm d‑1), sendo que o T7 apresentou a maior ET (664,4 mm total e 2,8 mm d-1). A maior EUA (392,8 kg MF ha-1 mm-1) foi obtida no tratamento sob sequeiro (T0). Com base na produtividade e na EUA da palma forrageira, recomenda-se, para as condições do município de Garanhuns, que o cultivo da mesma seja realizado sob condições de sequeiro.Effect of the Supplemental Irrigation on Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Cactus Pear A B S T R A C TThe supplementary irrigation may be a promising technique to increase forage cactus yield, however, it depends of evapotranspiration (ET). Irrigation and ET are closely related to crop yields (P), so the relationships between P and ET result in water use efficiency (WUE). Thus, the objective was to evaluate P, ET and WUE in cactus pear, under supplementary irrigation. The experiment was conducted under field conditions with cactus pear submitted to drip irrigation with soil water replacement intervals of 7 (T7), 14 (T14) and 21 (T21) days, plus the rainfed treatment (T0), in blocks with 4 replicates. Cactus pear growth, by the measurements of width (WC), length (LC), area (CA), area index (CAI) and thickness of cladodes (CD), was monitored. Meteorological conditions along the cactus pear cycle were monitored. The ET was quantified by the soil water balance method. The treatments had no effects on the biometric variables and yield of cactus pear. ET was lower in T0 (406.1 mm total and 1.7 mm day-1), with T7 showing the highest values of ET (664.4 mm total and 2.8 mm day-1). It was observed that the largest WUE (392.8 kg MF ha-1 mm-1) was in the rainfed treatment (T0). On the basis of the yield and WUE of the cactus pear, it is recommended, for the conditions of the municipality of Garanhuns that the cultivation of the same be carried out under conditions of rainfed.Key words: Soil moisture; evapotranspiration; water balance.

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.