Performance of goats fed on low quality veld hay supplemented with fresh spiny cactus (Opuntia megacantha) mixed with browse legumes hay in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Nutrition is a major constraint in smallholder livestock production; hence, the use of alternative sources which are adaptive to long dry seasons is imperative. The study was conducted to establish options of improving nutrition and palatability and also to determine the performance of goats fed on cactus-browse hay as dry season supplements. Palatability and adequacy of nutrition was investigated using 32 castrated male goat kids. The kids were housed in individual metabolism cages for 84 days in a complete randomised design (CRD) with eight replicates for the four treatment diets. Daily experimental diet, basal diet and water intake were measured, and live mass was measured at weekly intervals. Daily diet intake was significantly different (P < 0.05) among treatments. Kids that were supplemented with cactus-Leucaena leucocephala meal (CLLM) consumed more than those on cactus-Acacia angustissima meal (CAAM), cactus-Gliricidia sepium meal (CGSM) and cactus-Pennisetum purpureum meal (CPPM) in that order. CGSM was not readily palatable as goat kids refused to take it when mixed with fresh cactus. Animals that were not supplemented with a source of nitrogen together with those that were supplemented with less palatable diet of CGSM lost weight significantly (P < 0.05) initially but gained weight slightly towards the end of the study. Significantly higher weight gains (P < 0.05) were observed in animals in CLLM and CAAM treatment. It was concluded that fresh cactus could be used to improve poor quality roughage intakes in goats, and therefore, there is need to promote its use in periods of feed deficit especially in smallholder sector.

Particle Size's Effect of Application Forage Processing Technology on Consumption Efficiency, Palatability and Digestibility of Local Goat

“…This is in accordance with Pujaningsih et al (2010) and Gusha et al (2014) which states that the processing of the feed into a smaller form factor will increase the digestibility and palatability of livestock. This was confirmed by Ginane et al (2015) which states forage digestibility is influenced by various factors, including temperature, speed of feed rate passage through the digestive tract, the physical form of feed, feed composition and comparison with the influence of other substances.…”

“…According to Gusha et al (2014) they dislike wet, stale or trampled fodder. For this reason, it is advisable to feed them in hay-racks or hang the feed-in bundles from a peg in the wall or from a branch of a tree.…”

Nutritional and mineral content of prickly pear cactus: A highly water‐use efficient forage, fodder and food species

“…Replacing wheat bran normally used as a supplement to sugarcane bagasse with a 9:1 mixture of cactus and urea demonstrated similar weight gain when replacement was below 66% (de Figueiredo Monteir et al, ). Many similar studies were performed on sheep and goats with an emphasis on different feed blends (Gusha, Halimani, Katsande, & Zvinorova, ), digestibility (Gebremariam, Melaku, & Yami, ; Louacini, Dellal, Halbouche, & Bourahla, ; Silva Goveia et al, ), and animal nutrient intake/nitrogen retention (Gusha, Halimani, Ngongoni, & Ncube, ; Misra et al, ; Sirohi, Karim, & Misra, ). In each case, the animals under study had improved health and reproductive characteristics when consuming Opuntia forage supplemented with other protein‐rich feeds.…”

Productive evaluation of Capra hircus feeded with rice scrambled salad and Opuntia Ficus

“…Los efectos del cambio climático han ocasionado la escasez de lluvias en muchas zonas de nuestro país, disminuye los pastos naturales, degradación del suelo, produciendo el sobre pastoreo y la perdida de la producción de ganado caprino, esta escasez de pasto es cada año perjudicial para la alimentación de ganado caprino de nuestra zona lo que implicaría la búsqueda inmediata de soluciones a corto plazo a este problema creciente (Fernández, 2010;Cruz et al, 2011;Cordeiro y Gonzaga, 2003). La crianza de caprinos es de vital importancia socioeconómica de la población rural en nuestra región, es de subsistencia, está bajo el sistema de subsistencia, sin desarrollo técnico, sin embargo, actualmente la ausencia de alimento destinado a este sector ha influido en su desarrollo principalmente durante los periodos de estiaje, permitirá sufragar un déficit de alimento (Gil y Bernal, 2001;Rodríguez y Álvarez, 2005;Llorente, 2014;Gusha et al, 2014). Los cultivos de opuntia han demostrado ser de importancia para la producción ganadera del desierto en países como Sudáfrica, Etiopia, Brasil, México y Chile (Anaya, 2003), sin embargo, opuntia es deficiente en el contenido de proteína, por lo que pertinente mejorar su valor nutricional en forma de silaje y su ingesta como forraje en animales semiestabulados (Anaya, 2003;Novoa, 2006;Machin, 2001;Chedly y Lee, 2001;Mokoboki, 2017;Oude et al, 2001).…”

“…La cascarilla es uno de los desechos más importantes de la producción de arroz, se calcula que aproximadamente el 20% y contamínate por su disposición, pero es un buen aportante de fibra dietética para ganado caprino (Sierra, 2010;Mendiola, 2013;Vera et al, 2015). Proyectando al uso de alimentos que pueden ser destinados para sistemas de crianza semi-estabulado es necesario conocer la capacidad forrajera, del ensilado de Opuntia conjuntamente con la cascarilla de arroz como materia prima, su uso y aprovechamiento de manera sencilla y adecuada como ensilado, para la alimentación del ganado caprino en nuestra región (Gusha et al, 2014;Cañete y Sacha 1998).…”