Does the level of forage neutral detergent fiber affect the ruminal fermentation, digestibility and feeding behavior of goats fed cactus pear?

• Published in: Animal science journal Vol. 89; no. 10; pp. 1424 - 1431
• Main Authors: Pinho, Ricardo Martins Araujo, Santos, Edson Mauro, Oliveira, Juliana Silva, Carvalho, Gleidson Giordano Pinto, Silva, Thiago Carvalho, Macêdo, Alberto Jefferson da Silva, Corrêa, Yohana Rosaly, Zanine, Anderson de Moura
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-10-2018
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Caprinae; Chewing; chewing activity; Diet; Digestibility; Dry matter; Feeding; Feeding behavior; Fermentation; Goats; Mastication; Nutrients; Opuntia ficus indica; Organic matter; ruminal ammonia nitrogen; Rumination; semiarid; volatile fatty acids; Water intake; Water intakes; volatile fatty acids; chewing activity; semiarid; ruminal ammonia nitrogen; Opuntia ficus indica
• ISSN: 1344-3941; 1740-0929
• DOI: 10.1111/asj.13043

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of forage neutral detergent fiber (fNDF) levels on the voluntary feed intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation and feeding behavior of goats fed diets with cactus pear. Five non‐lactating ruminally cannulated goats fed ad libitum were randomly assigned to a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Treatments consisted of levels of fNDF at 0, 109, 222, 339 and 463 g/kg of dry matter (DM) in cactus pear‐based diets. The intakes of DM and NDF were quadratically affected (p ≦ .045) by fNDF levels. Voluntary water intake (VWI) increased linearly as the fNDF levels increased in the diet. The digestibility coefficients of organic matter, NDF and ether extract and total digestible nutrients concentration were quadratically affected (p ≦ .048) by fNDF levels. The ruminal pH linearly increased (p = .001) with fNDF levels, ranging from 5.44 to 5.81 for diets containing 0 and 463 g fNDF/kg DM, respectively. The fNDF levels promoted a linear increase (p = .006) in chewing time, linearly decreased (p = .007) resting time and quadratically affected (p = .033) rumination time. The inclusion of fNDF in the diets provided favorable conditions for ruminal function, digestibility and feeding behavior in goats fed diets containing cactus pear.