Articles
Analysis of the cost of production of confined lambs fed on cactus pear (Opuntia stricta Haw.) cladodes
Article number
1343_20
Pages
139 – 144
Language
English
Abstract
Cactus pear cladodes with its high levels of total digestible nutrients can potentially substitute feed with high energy content in livestock diets.
This would reduce the cost to feed animals.
This study evaluated the production cost of penned sheep fed levels of 0, 250, 500, and 750 g kg‑1 Orelha de Elefante Mexicana cactus cladodes (Opuntia stricta Haw.) in roughage:concentrate ratios of 25:75; 45:55; 60:40; 75:25. Thirty-two crossbred Santa Inês male (intact) lambs, with an average body weight of 19±2.4 kg and average age of 120 days, were used.
The experimental design was a randomized block, with four treatments and eight replications.
The experimental period was 70 days, with 15 days of animal quarantine, 15 days of adaptation, and 40 days of experimentation.
A decreasing linear effect (P<0.05) on total dry matter costs was observed, with increasing levels of OEM cactus cladodes.
However, the total revenue reduced (P<0.05) with the inclusion of cactus cladodes, with higher values when the animals were fed the control diet and 250 g kg‑1 of cactus cladodes, when compared to the others, since the sheep weight gain during confinement was greater.
Gross profit and net margin expressed in DM reduced with the inclusion of cactus cladodes (P<0.05), with higher values for the high concentrate diets, 250 and 500 g kg‑1. So, depending on regional feed availability, a diet at the level of 500 g kg‑1 of Orelha de Elefante Mexicana cactus cladodes could be financially viable.
This would reduce the cost to feed animals.
This study evaluated the production cost of penned sheep fed levels of 0, 250, 500, and 750 g kg‑1 Orelha de Elefante Mexicana cactus cladodes (Opuntia stricta Haw.) in roughage:concentrate ratios of 25:75; 45:55; 60:40; 75:25. Thirty-two crossbred Santa Inês male (intact) lambs, with an average body weight of 19±2.4 kg and average age of 120 days, were used.
The experimental design was a randomized block, with four treatments and eight replications.
The experimental period was 70 days, with 15 days of animal quarantine, 15 days of adaptation, and 40 days of experimentation.
A decreasing linear effect (P<0.05) on total dry matter costs was observed, with increasing levels of OEM cactus cladodes.
However, the total revenue reduced (P<0.05) with the inclusion of cactus cladodes, with higher values when the animals were fed the control diet and 250 g kg‑1 of cactus cladodes, when compared to the others, since the sheep weight gain during confinement was greater.
Gross profit and net margin expressed in DM reduced with the inclusion of cactus cladodes (P<0.05), with higher values for the high concentrate diets, 250 and 500 g kg‑1. So, depending on regional feed availability, a diet at the level of 500 g kg‑1 of Orelha de Elefante Mexicana cactus cladodes could be financially viable.
Publication
Authors
L.P.S. Filho, P.H. Borba Pereira, D.B. Cardoso, A.L.R. Magalhães, S.V. Bispo, D.K.A. Silva, G.D. Gonçalves, A.A.S. Melo
Keywords
cactus, economic return, energy food, expenses, ruminants, semi-arid
Groups involved
Online Articles (75)