Chemical Composition and Ruminal Degradability of Spineless Cactus Grown in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine chemical composition and ruminal nutrient degradability of eight spineless cactus cultivars grown in northeastern Brazil. Results showed that neutral detergent fiber was similar for all cultivars and averaged 249 g ? kg 21 6 7.3 SEM. Acid detergent fiber ranged between 148 g ? kg 21 and 207 g ? kg 21 with some significant differences between cultivars. Starch and water-soluble carbohydrates were similar for all cultivars and averaged 198 g ? kg 21 6 6.3 SEM and 155 g ? kg 21 6 9.0 SEM, respectively. Protein content was less than 50 g ? kg 21 with some significant differences between cultivars. Calcium was the mineral with the highest concentration followed by potassium and magnesium with no differences between cultivars. Effective ruminal degradability of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber were unaffected by cultivar and averaged 701 g ? kg 21 6 8.4 SEM and 503 g ? kg 21 6 5.8 SEM, respectively. It was concluded that cultivars had little impact on chemical composition and ruminal degradability of spineless cactus. Based on chemical composition and in situ ruminal degradability, spineless cactus can be considered an excellent source of fermentable carbohydrates for grazing and nongrazing ruminants. Because of its high carbohydrate quality, spineless cactus can be used an emergency feed or as part of a complete diet providing that the diet contains an adequate amount of degradable protein. Resumen Se llevó a cabo un estudio para determinar la composición química y la degradación de nutrientes a nivel ruminal de ocho especies de cactus sin espinas producidas en el Noreste de Brazil. Los resultados demuestran que la fibra neutro detergente fue similar para todas la variedades con un promedio de 249 6 7.3 g ? kg 21. La fibra ácido detergente presentó un rango de 148 a 207 g ? kg 21 con algunas diferencias significativas entre especies. El almidón y los carbohidratos solubles en agua fueron tambie´n similares para todas las variedades con un promedio de 198 6 6.3 y 155 6 9.0 g ? kg 21 , respectivamente. El contenido de proteína fue menor que 50 g ? kg 21 con algunas diferencias significativas entre variedades. Calcio fue el mineral con las concentraciones más altas seguidas por K y Mg sin encontrar diferencias entre especies. La degradación ruminal efectiva tanto de la materia seca como de la fibra neutra detergente no fueron afectados por las especies y tuvieron un promedio de 701 6 8.4 y 503 6 5.8 g ? kg 21 , respectivamente. Se puede concluir que las especies tienen poco impacto en la composición química y la degradación ruminal de los cactus sin espinas. Basándose en la composición química y la degradabilidad ruminal in situ, los cactus sin espinas pueden considerarse como una fuente excelente de carbohidratos fermentables para rumiantes tanto en pastoreo como en no-pastoreo. Debido a la alta calidad de carbohidratos los cactus sin espinas pueden utilizarse como un alimento de emergencia o como parte de una dieta completa cuando esa dieta contiene una cantidad adecuada de prot...

Evaluation of eleven Mexican cultivars of prickly pear cactus trees for possibly utilization as animal fed: in vitro gas production

“…The evaluated cultivars showed low levels of DM and EE, similar to those reported by Batista et al (2003Batista et al ( , 2009) and Pinos- Rodríguez et al (2010) and in Gigante cultivars, IPA-20 Algeria and forage, respectively. The protein showed low values similar to those reported by Tegegne et al (2007) and Tegegne (2001), under conditions without fertilization, however, this nutrient can be affected by soil moisture and fertilization as showed by Pinos- Rodríguez et al (2010), when evaluated the effect of irrigation and fertilization in the cladodes composition at different ages, finding a linear relationship between age and protein content, as age increases the protein content decreases.…”

<b>Fresh or dehydrated spineless cactus in diets for lambs

“…It can be inferred that the higher content of dry matter (88.20% DM for HADC and 88.25% DM for DC) and the highest passage rates, caused by high ruminal degradability of spineless cactus (Batista et al, 2009) were possibly responsible for considerable increases in CMS.…”

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Spineless cactus as a replacement for wheat bran in sugar cane-based diets for sheep: intake, digestibility, and ruminal parameters

“…The spineless cactus can be considered a good source of fermentable carbohydrates of rapid degradation (Batista et al, 2009), improving digesta flow through the gastrointestinal tract with a consequent increase in intake.…”