MILK PRODUCTION AND THE FEEDING COSTS OF LACTATING SAANEN GOATS FED DIETS CONTAINING SPINELESS CACTUS

Luciana Felizardo Pereira Soares; Agni Martins Nunes Corrêa; Andreia Fernandes de Souza; Francisco Fernando Ramos de Carvalho; Michel do Vale Maciel

doi:10.1590/1983-21252020v33n227rc

Authors

Luciana Felizardo Pereira Soares Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3504-3783
Agni Martins Nunes Corrêa Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0021-1612
Andreia Fernandes de Souza Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4992-678X
Francisco Fernando Ramos de Carvalho Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9211-0263
Michel do Vale Maciel Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Parintins, AM http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6483-224X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252020v33n227rc

Keywords:

Intake. Dactylopius opuntiae. Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. Economic performance.

Abstract

A new spineless cactus genotype (Orelha de Elefante Mexicana) is being used in the diets of dairy animals raised in semiarid regions. However, little is known about its impact on goat milk production and feeding costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the milk production and costs of feeding lactating Saanen goats with diets containing the spineless cactus Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM) as a replacement for the Miúda (MIU) spineless cactus. Ten Saanen goats with an average initial weight of 50 ± 5.6 kg were assigned to two 5 × 5 Latin-square designs. The diets consisted of replacing MIU with four levels of OEM (0%, 11.5%, 23.5%, and 35%, on a dry matter basis) and a control based on Tifton hay. The diet with 35% OEM had lower costs per kg dry matter ($0.32) as well as lower daily feed costs ($0.29/d). The dry matter intakes and milk yields (3.21 kg/d) did not differ (P > 0.05) between the OEM replacement levels. The use of up to 35% MIU or OEM spineless cactus in the Saanen goat diet maintains milk production levels and decreases feed production costs.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

ASSOCIATION OF OFFICIAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS - AOAC. Official methods of analysis. 18th ed. Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA. 2010.

BEN SALEM, H. Nutritional management to improve sheep and goat performances in semiarid regions. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, 39: 337-347, 2010.

BEN SALEM, H. et al. Effect of increasing level of spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus indica var. inermes) on intake and digestion by sheep given straw-based diets. Animal Science, 62: 293-299, 1996.

DONATO, P. E. R. et al. Morfometria e rendimento da palma forrageira ‘Gigante’ sob diferentes espaçamentos e doses de adubação orgânica. Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias, 9: 151-158, 2014.

GOVEIA, J. S. S. et al. Partial replacement of corn by forage cactus in the diets of lactating goats. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 37: 969-976, 2016.

GUSHA, J. et al. The effect of Opuntia ficus indica and forage legumes based diets on goat productivity in smallholder sector in Zimbabwe. Small Ruminant Research, 125: 21-25, 2015.

INÁCIO, G. J. et al. Nutritional and performance viability of cactus Opuntia-based diets with different concentrate levels for Girolando lactating dairy cows. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Science, 33: 35-43, 2020.

ISO 9622/IDF 141C. Determination of milk fat, protein, lactose, and urea content: Guidance on the operation of mid-infrared instruments, Brussels, Belgium. 2013.

LOPES, L. A. et al. Replacement of tifton hay with alfalfa hay in diets containing spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm-Dyck) for dairy goats. Small Ruminant Research, 156: 7-11, 2017.

MAHOUACHI, M.; ATTI, N.; HAJJI, H. Use of spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis) for dairy goats and growing kids: Impacts on milk production, kid’s growth, and meat quality. The Scientific World Journal, 2012: ID 321567, 2012.

MERTENS, D. R. Regulation of forage intake. In: FAHEY, G. C. (Ed.) Forage quality, evaluation, and utilization. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy, 1994. cap. 11, p. 450-493.

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL - NRC. Nutrient requirements of small ruminants, 7th ed. National Academic Press, Washington, DC, 2007. 292 p.

OGOLA, T. D.; NGUYO, W. K.; KOSGEY, I. S. Economic contribution and viability of dairy goats: implications for a breeding programme. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 42: 875-885, 2010.

PINHO, D. B. et al. Manual de economia. 7. ed. São Paulo, SP: SARAIVA, 2017. 734 p.

SANTOS, D. C. et al. Estratégias para uso de cactáceas em zonas semiáridas: novas cultivares e uso sustentável das espécies nativas. Revista Científica de Produção Animal, 15: 111-121, 2013.

SILVA, R. C. et al. Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (Opuntia stricta [Haw.] Haw.) spineless cactus as an option in crossbred dairy cattle diet. South African Journal of Animal Science, 48: 516-525, 2018.

SKLAN, D. et al. Fatty acids, calcium soaps of fatty acids and cottonseeds fed to high yielding cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 75: 2463-2472, 1992.