Articles
RECENT ADVANCES ON THE POTENTIAL USE OF OPUNTIA SPP. IN LIVESTOCK FEEDING
Article number
811_43
Pages
317 – 326
Language
English
Abstract
Described as a miracle tree, Opuntia spp. (cacti) has multiple attributes.
Farmers from many arid regions are relying on cladodes and to a less extent on wasted fruits as cost-effective alternative feed resource to maintain their ruminant flocks and even to produce meat and milk.
Research on the fodder potential of cacti focussed until the last decade on the nutritive characterization of cladodes through proximate analyses and some feeding trials.
However, data generated from these studies were not enough to conclude on the fodder potential of many cacti species, cultivars and clones and to orientate some specific breeding programs.
Convinced by the important role of Opuntia spp. in developing livestock sector in the dry areas, therefore in empowering farmers livelihoods, scientists multiplied along with the last decade fundamental investigations which ended at key information.
For example, i) protein quality of some cactus clones selected for high nitrogen content is low, ii) cactus oxalates complex calcium rendering it unavailable for rumen microflora and the host animal, iii) cactus pectin seem to reduce cholesterol level in monogastric but not in ruminants.
In practice cactus is distributed to ruminants through different ways.
The cut and carry of fresh material is still widely adopted by farmers although other ways seem interesting.
Cactus feeding resulted in dietetic meat which is high in some polyunsaturated fatty acids and improves some reproductive parameters in ewes and goats.
Findings on the benefits from ensiling cactus cladodes or incorporating wasted fruits in feed blocks seem exciting.
These examples and others reported in the recent literature are discussed and the need for future research on key topics is presented in this paper.
Farmers from many arid regions are relying on cladodes and to a less extent on wasted fruits as cost-effective alternative feed resource to maintain their ruminant flocks and even to produce meat and milk.
Research on the fodder potential of cacti focussed until the last decade on the nutritive characterization of cladodes through proximate analyses and some feeding trials.
However, data generated from these studies were not enough to conclude on the fodder potential of many cacti species, cultivars and clones and to orientate some specific breeding programs.
Convinced by the important role of Opuntia spp. in developing livestock sector in the dry areas, therefore in empowering farmers livelihoods, scientists multiplied along with the last decade fundamental investigations which ended at key information.
For example, i) protein quality of some cactus clones selected for high nitrogen content is low, ii) cactus oxalates complex calcium rendering it unavailable for rumen microflora and the host animal, iii) cactus pectin seem to reduce cholesterol level in monogastric but not in ruminants.
In practice cactus is distributed to ruminants through different ways.
The cut and carry of fresh material is still widely adopted by farmers although other ways seem interesting.
Cactus feeding resulted in dietetic meat which is high in some polyunsaturated fatty acids and improves some reproductive parameters in ewes and goats.
Findings on the benefits from ensiling cactus cladodes or incorporating wasted fruits in feed blocks seem exciting.
These examples and others reported in the recent literature are discussed and the need for future research on key topics is presented in this paper.
Authors
H. Ben Salem, S. Abidi
Keywords
Opuntia spp, fodder potential, benefits, constraints, livestock, recent advances
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