The high-water (85%) and low protein (5%) content of cactus cladodes (Opuntia spp.) reduce the amount of dry-matter consumed by ruminants. The objective of this study was to use protein enrichment technology to increase Opuntia protein content and to feed Dorper lambs, comparing the Opuntia protein enrichment and the basal diet in the liveweight gain. The experiment was carried out for 60 days, using a biodigester (100 kg of cactus) -Title No. 2641- IMPI. The process was based on the daily aerobic semisolid fermentation of Opuntia by applying yeast of the Sacharomyces cereviceae (1%) type, urea (1%) and ammonium sulfate (0.1%) during 20 h (1 h of movement and 1.5 h of rest) recycling the yeast for a week. Unfermented Opuntia cladodes were used as the control. The enriched Opuntia was provided in the final stage in two treatments in a completely randomized design with three replications: 1) Basal diet (control), and 2) Basal diet + fermented fresh Opuntia. The liveweight of each animal was recorded weekly. Analysis of variance and comparison of means were performed (Tukey HSD p=0.05 and orthogonal contrasts p?0.05). The results of the fermentation showed that fermented Opuntia significantly (p?0.01) decrease carbohydrates content (48.9 to 26.4%); increased crude protein content (5.64 to 33.17%) and energy (2.26 to 2.67 Mcal kg-1) compared with unfermented Opuntia. However, on the seventh day of fermentation, these values decreased significantly, because of the temperature decrease. At the end of the experiment, the live-weight increased significantly 11.62 ± 0.99 kg animal-1 month-1 in groups of four lambs fed with enriched Opuntia, while the liveweight of animals fed with the basal diet only increased 8.42 ± 1.69 kg animal-1 month-1, showing a difference in the liveweight gain of 800 g lamb-1 week-1 fed with fermented Opuntia cladodes.
El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el crecimiento y producción de biomasa de variedades de nopal en diferentes contenidos de humedad del suelo como alternativa de producción forrajera. Se usó un diseño experimental de bloques al azar en un arreglo de parcelas divididas con tres repeticiones. Las parcelas grandes fueron los contenidos de humedad edáfica: muy favorable (22 - 27%), favorable (16 - 21%) y desfavorable (10 - 15%); las parcelas chicas correspondieron a las variedades de nopal: Chapingo (Ch) Narro (N) y Escobar (E). La variedad Chapingo fue estadísticamente mayor (P < ó = 0.05) en ancho y grosor de cladodios en los contenidos de humedad del suelo favorable y muy favorable, con valores de 15.7 y 1.1 cm y 15.2 y 1.0 cm, respectivamente; las variedades Escobar y Narro fueron las que registraron mayor contenido relativo de agua (CRA) en los contenidos de humedad favorable y desfavorable, con valores de 78.1 y 63%, respectivamente. El índice de clorofila no varió por efecto de ninguno de los factores variación probados en este estudio. La variedad Narro fuela de mejor productividad en el contenido más favorable de humedad del suelo, con valores de 1.77 Kg y 173.5 g de biomasa fresca y seca por planta, equivalente a 11.8 y 1.15 t ha-1 de biomasa fresca y seca, respectivamente, en corte de cladodios después de ocho meses de realizado el trasplante.
Fermented prickly pear (Opuntia megacantha) has been used as forage in goats and sheep. Thus, the objectives of this study were to assess bimonthly production of cladodes var. Narro, compare the quality of those fermented versus non-fermented, and assess the effect of fermented cladodes in milk production of Holstein cows in stables (La Partida, Matamoros, Coahuila, México). Central pivot irrigation was used to water prickly pear plantation with a density of 17,500 plants ha-1. To assess cladode quality (proximal analysis) before and after fermentation, a completely randomized bifactorial design was used -non-fermented (N-0) and fermented (N-F) cladodes- with three replicates each. To assess the fermented cladode effect in milk production, a completely randomized design was established with first-calving Holstein cows where each one represented one replicate. The treatments were two diets, Dnor (normal) and Dnop (fermented cladodes). The results showed sufficient bimonthly production (14,380.8±1,676 kg t ha-1) of fresh prickly pear leaves for daily bio-digestor functioning (200 kg). Crude protein content and metabolizable energy showed significantly greater and contrasting values compared with non-fiber carbohydrate content (sugars and starch), showing a significant decrease in fermented cladodes with respect to non-fermented. Other proximal components did not show significant differences between both N-F vs N-0 cladodes. Average milk production increased when cows changed from Dnor (26.08 ± 4.8 L Day-1) to Dnop (30.07 ± 5.3 L Day-1) diets, recording three groups with less, medium, and greater significant increase in milk production. No correlation was found between production and increase.
<p><strong>Background.</strong> Mezquite gum (<em>Prosopis laevigata</em> [Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.]) is similar to the gum Arabic; its production is associated to the stress condition of the tree. <strong>Objective.</strong> To induce and evaluate the gum production and quality. <strong>Methodology.</strong> A completely randomized design with factorial arrangement was used, factor one was seasons (spring and autumn), factor two was tree heights (2.0 and 3.0 m) and factor three was the application of two products, acid 2 -chloroethyl- phosphone (Etherel 240<sup>®</sup>) + distilled water and a control (distilled water). <strong>Results.</strong> The gum was produced only in primary branches between 10 and 15 days after applying 2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid + distilled water. Gum production was higher in autumn in 3.0 m trees, with an average of 57 g per tree. A yield of 10.8 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> of gum with a density of 190 trees ha<sup>-1</sup> was estimated. The content of ash and protein in gum was higher in trees of 2.0 m in autumn, while the content of fiber and nitrogen-free extract in gum was higher in trees of 3.0 m in autumn. The moisture and fat content in gum was higher in spring in trees of 2.0 and 3.0 m, respectively. The pH of the gum was less acid in 3.0 m trees in spring with a lower content of impurities. <strong>Implications.</strong> It is suggested to carry out other tests to determine the presence of acid 2-chloroethyl-phosphonic in the chemical composition of the gum. <strong>Conclusion.</strong> The application of acid 2-chloroethyl-phosphonic (20%) + distilled water stimulated gum secretion in mesquite trees. Trees treated with distilled water (control) did not produce gum.</p>
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