Fermentation profile and nutritional quality of silages composed of cactus pear and maniçoba for goat feeding

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the fermentation profile and nutritional quality of silages composed of cactus pear and maniçoba. Two experiments were performed: the first evaluated the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition and determined the organic acids in cactus pear silages with the inclusion of five levels of maniçoba (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) in six opening times (1, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days). The second experiment determined the nutrient intake, digestibility, water balance and nitrogen balance in Canindé goats fed diets based on cactus pear silage with the inclusion of four levels of maniçoba (25, 50, 75 and 100%), with six animals per treatment. The increase in maniçoba levels in cactus pear silage provided a linear increase in the butyric acid, dry matter (DM), ether extract, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, water intake via drinking fountain and metabolic water, and reduced the pH, lactic acid, acetic acid, mineral matter, total carbohydrates, non-fibrous carbohydrates, water intake via food, total water intake, water excreted in the faeces, water excreted in the urine, total water excretion and water balance. Quadratic behaviour was observed for N-NH3, DM recovery and propionic acid, with an increase in maniçoba levels in cactus pear silages. Regarding the different opening times, there was a significant effect in pH, N-NH3, acetic acid, lactic acid and butyric acid (P < 0.050). The inclusion of maniçoba in cactus pear silage improved the fermentation characteristics and nutritional quality to be used in diets for goats.

Chemical composition, fractionation of carbohydrates and nitrogen compounds, ruminal degradation kinetics, and in vitro gas production of cactus pear genotypes

“…One of the main attributes of cactus pear is its high water content (89 % (7) ). Thus, this food represents a strategic reserve for the conservation of water offered to ruminants in that region, which constantly suffers from irregularities in drinking water availability for these animals (1) .…”

“…Thus, this food represents a strategic reserve for the conservation of water offered to ruminants in that region, which constantly suffers from irregularities in drinking water availability for these animals (1) . Moreover, it has low neutral detergent fiber (304 g/kg dry matter) and acid detergent fiber contents (159.7 g/kg dry matter) (7) and a high non-fiber carbohydrate content (471.5 g/kg dry matter (8) ). Although it is a food routinely used for ruminant feed in the Brazilian Semiarid, to the best of our knowledge, comparative studies on fractions of carbohydrates, nitrogen compounds, and the kinetic parameters of in vitro degradation of different varieties of cactus pear are scarce (9,10) .…”

Use of spineless cactus associated with legume hay in the feedlot-finishing of lambs in semi-arid regions

“…Spineless cactus ( Opuntia fícus indica Mill) is widely used as animal feed in semi-arid regions [ 9 , 10 ] due to its adaptability to these environments. This cactus can be supplied to animals fresh [ 4 ] or in the form of silage [ 10 ], constituting an important source of energy, water [ 4 , 11 ] and non-fibrous carbohydrates, which include galactose, arabinose, xylose, fructose and, mainly, pectin [ 12 ]. However, spineless cactus has low crude protein and neutral detergent fiber contents [ 4 ], which can be corrected with the use of available legumes adapted to semi-arid regions.…”

Silagem de palma forrageira com Gliricidia Sepium: alternativa alimentar para o Semiárido

“…Gusha, Halimani, Ngongoni e Ncube (2015), ao avaliarem o desempenho de ovinos alimentados com silagem de palma (70%) e leguminosas (30%), como ração completa encontraram consumo de MS variando de 0,722 a 0,805 kg de MS/animal/dia. Matias et al (2020), utilizando silagem à base de palma forrageira associada a níveis de maniçoba (0, 25; 50; 75 e 100%) na alimentação de caprinos da raça Canindé observaram aumento linear nos teores de ácido butírico, matéria seca, extrato etéreo, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro, fibra em detergente ácido, lignina, celulose, hemicelulose, ingestão de água via bebedouro e água metabólica, e redução do pH, ácido láctico, ácido acético, matéria mineral, carboidratos totais, carboidratos não fibrosos, ingestão de água através dos alimentos, ingestão total de água. Concluindo que a inclusão da maniçoba na silagem de palma forrageira melhorou as características fermentativas e a qualidade nutricional da silagem.…”