Forage cactus as an additive in corn without the cob silages of feedlot sheep diets

• Published in: Tropical animal health and production Vol. 56; no. 2; p. 72
• Main Authors: de Carvalho Sobral, Gilberto, de Oliveira, Juliana Silva, Santos, Edson Mauro, de Araújo, Gherman Garcia Leal, de Sousa Santos, Francisco Naysson, Medeiros, Geovergue Rodrigues, de Souza, Evaristo Jorge Oliveira, de Sousa Vieira, Diego, Leite, Guilherme Medeiros, Coelho, Diego Francisco Oliveira, Santana, Liliane Pereira, Gomes, Paloma Gabriela Batista, da Cunha Torres Júnior, Paulo, Santos, Maria Alyne Coutinho, Viana, Nelquides Braz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-03-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Animals; Arid regions; Arid zones; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cactaceae; Carbohydrates; Corn; Corn silage; Crop production; Design of experiments; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Fiber; Digestibility; Digestion; Dry matter; Ethers; Experimental design; Feedlots; Feeds; Female; Fermentation; Forage; Lactation; Life Sciences; Milk; Nutrients; Organic matter; Plant Extracts; Regular Articles; Rumen; Rumination; Semi arid areas; Semiarid lands; Sheep; Silage; Silage - analysis; Vegetables; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Water demand; Weight Gain; Zea mays; Zoology; Zea mays; Semi-arid region; Agribusiness by-products; Small ruminants
• ISSN: 0049-4747; 1573-7438
• DOI: 10.1007/s11250-024-03918-y

This study aimed to assess the impact of adding forage cactus as an additive to the production of corn silage without the cob on the performance of feedlot sheep and subsequent silage losses. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of three treatments: corn silage without cob; 0% = 100% corn plant without the cob; 10% = 90% corn plant without cob + 10% forage cactus; 20% = 80% corn plant without cob + 20% forage cactus. Significant effects were observed for dry matter intake (
P
 = 0.0201), organic matter (
P
 = 0.0152), ether extract (
P
 = 0.0001), non-fiber carbohydrates (
P
 = 0.0007). Notably, nutrient digestibility showed significant differences in organic matter (
P
 = 0.0187), ether extract (
P
 = 0.0095), neutral detergent fiber (
P
 = 0.0005), non-fiber carbohydrates (
P
 = 0.0001), and metabolizable energy (
P
 = 0.0001). Performance variables, including total weight gain (
P
 = 0.0148), average daily weight gain (
P
 = 0.0148), feeding efficiency, and rumination efficiency of dry matter (
P
 = 0.0113), also exhibited significant effects. Consequently, it is recommended to include 20% forage cactus in corn silage, which, based on natural matter, helps meet animals’ water needs through feed. This inclusion is especially vital in semi-arid regions and aids in reducing silage losses during post-opening silo disposal.