Replacement of wheat bran with spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus indica Mill cv Gigante) and urea in the diets of Holstein x Gyr heifers

Abstract

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.

Acceptability by Girolando heifers and nutritional value of erect prickly pear stored for different periods

“…The results of the consumption of DM%CP were similar to those found by Almeida et al (2015) for the cactus 'Gigante' in supplements for growing dairy cows, and by Monteiro et al (2014) when replacing wheat bran, 'Gigante', and urea in the diets of Girolando heifers.…”

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

“…Lactating cows fed a mixture of commercial feed and Opuntia had reduced weight loss and a quicker transition to oestrus, reducing the time between pregnancies (Ordaz‐Ochoa, Juárez‐Caratachea, Pérez‐Sánchez, Román‐Bravo, & Ortiz‐Rodríguez, ). 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, ).…”

Carcass characteristics of lambs fed spineless cactus as a replacement for sugarcane

“…In this context, spineless cactus emerges as a potential solution due to its adaptation to semi-arid regions, its high dry matter (DM) production per unit area (40 ton DM/ha/yr), and, especially, its high energy content (58.68% of non-fibrous carbohydrates) [ 4 , 5 ]. However, its use by ruminants is limited by its low content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), making it necessary to associate it with a source of fiber with high effectiveness [ 6 ]. This source could be sugarcane, which, as a result of the sugarcane industry crisis in recent years, has been used on a large scale by farmers in the semi-arid region of the Brazilian Northeast due to its greater availability and lower cost when compared to other roughages.…”