Substitution of Pennisetum purpureum by Opuntia ficus-indica and Mimosa tenuiflora in the diet of lambs

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to quantify the apparent digestibility of the diet components and the performance of lambs consuming increasing levels of the balanced (weight) mixture of Opuntia ficus indica bran and Mimosa tenuiflora leaves and fine branches hay substituting 0, 33 and 67% of Pennisetum purpureum hay, in a 60% roughage fodder to 40% concentrate diet formulated to a daily live body weight gain of 150 g/animal. Experiment was carried out at UFCG facilities, in Patos-PB, using 18 non-emasculated lambs with (20.4±1.16) kg (mean weight±SE). Dry matter, OM, CP, EE and total carbohydrates CD were affected by the levels of the mixture (P<0.05) according to a second degree model, with minimum CD values between 34 and 52% of P. purpureum hay replacement. Neutral detergent fiber and ADF CD decreased linearly (P<0.05), and those for CE and NFC were not affected (P>0.05). The inclusion of the mixture affected linear and positively the daily mean body weight gain (120, 149 and 170 g/animal, respectively for 0, 33 and 67% P. purpureum hay replacement levels), and DM, OM, CP, TCH and NFC consumptions. The balanced mixture of Opuntia ficus indica bran and Mimosa tenuiflora hay can replace up to 67% of the roughage fodder fraction (P. purpureum) of Santa Inês lamb diet and improve the daily body weight gain by 50 g/animal.

Forage production from fine branches and sprouts of native maniçoba

“…Mineral matter content was not affected (P>0.05) by branch cutting intensity; it increased (P<0.05) from 5.53% in branches to 5.90% in sprouts (Table 3). Souza et al (2006) and França et al (2010) reported MM content of 8.08% and 9.85%, respectively, in fine branches of native M. glaziovii, while reports on MM content in branches of other trees, including fine branches of M. tenuiflora (CORDÃO et al, 2013;FORMIGA et al, 2011) and Ziziphus joazeiro (COSTA et al, 2010), reported it to range from 3.78% to 7.74%, respectively. Similarly, P. pyramidalis was observed to have MM content in the range 4.58% to 6.11% (GONZAGA NETO et al, 2001;MENDONÇA JÚNIOR et al, 2008).…”

“…In general, forage from fine branches of trees shows high NDF and ADF contents (53.9%<NDF<84.1%, 46.5%<ADF<70.3%) (CORDÃO et al, 2013;COSTA et al, 2010;FORMIGA et al, 2011;). However, fine branches of the well-known, but soil and water demanding, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) may result in forage with NDF and ADF contents of 30.8% and 14.3% , respectively, and those from the xerophilous native, Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.)…”

“…Native trees in the Caatinga Biome, such as P. pyramidalis and M. tenuiflora show TC and NFC contents ranging from 80.00%<TC<81.00% and 23.26%<NFC<34.11%, respectively, in their branches. Also, NFC content in fine branches of Z. joazeiro is as low as 14.36% (CORDÃO et al, 2013;COSTA et al, 2010;MENDONÇA JÚNIOR et al, 2008). This data shows that the forage of fine branches collected from M. glazioviiand and other Caatinga trees is relatively rich in NFC.…”

“…Certainly, these differences in CP content result from improved soil conditions (soil plowing and fertilization) or are due to the part of the plant considered in the analysis (only leaves or branches with smaller diameter). Crude protein content of other native trees is known to range from 11.25%<CP<14.00% (CORDÃO et al, 2013;COSTA et al, 2010;FORMIGA et al, 2011;GONZAGA NETO et al, 2004;MENDONÇA JÚNIOR et al, 2008). This data shows the potential of M. glaziovii and other tree species growing in the Caatinga to produce protein-rich forage; it also suggests that trees should be maintained in the production systems of cattle ranching practiced in the region because this can help ensure quantity and quality of forage as well as soil protection and animal comfort, resulting from the presence of trees in the rangeland.…”

“…leaves (BAYÃO et al, 2016), respectively. Other Caatinga trees, such as P. pyramidalis (GONZAGA NETO et al, 2001) and M. tenuiflora (CORDÃO et al, 2013), may show similar or higher (up to 6.53%) EE content in their fine branches. For each species, intraspecific variation in this and other bromatological and production parameters should be determined.…”