Chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of cactus cladodes of the genera Opuntia and Nopalea

Forage cactus is one of the main forage resources used for animal feed in semi-arid regions, considering its production potential and adaptation to climatic conditions.
This study aimed to evaluate the chemical-bromatological composition and the in vitro dry matter digestibility of cactus cladodes cultivars of the genera Opuntia and Nopalea. The design used was completely randomized with eight treatments and four replications.
The cultivars evaluated were: Opuntia stricta Haw (‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’ – OEM), Opuntia fícus indica Mill. (‘Gigante’), Opuntia fícus indica Mill. (‘IPA-20’), Opuntia atropes Rose (‘F-08’), Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck (‘IPA-Sertânia’), Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck (‘Miúda’), and Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck (‘F-21’). There was a difference in chemical composition between cultivars (P<0.05). The ‘IPA-Sertânia’ cactus cladodes showed the highest protein concentration. ‘Gigante’ and ‘IPA-20’ presented higher values of lignin and cactus cladodes OEM higher concentrations of pectin.
The total carbohydrates concentration ranged from 881.5 g (‘IPA-Sertânia’) to 846.9 g kg^‑1 DM (‘IPA-20’). The lowest in vitro digestibility was for the ‘Gigante’ cactus cladodes (851.2 g kg^‑1 DM). Overall, there was little variability in the chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of DM among all cultivars, which shows that the use of cactus cladodes associated with fiber and protein sources can be a relevant alternative for animal production in semi-arid environments.

X International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal: Cactus – the New Green Revolution in Drylands

D.V. Pessoa, A.P. Andrade, A.L. Teodoro, A.L.R. Magalhães, R.L. Valença, D.B. Cardoso, S.N. Barbosa, L.P.C.A. Macêdo, S.A.F. Mello, F.S. Araújo

animal feed, Cactaceae, semi-arid, cultivars

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1343.11