Performance, Body Water Balance, Ingestive Behavior and Blood Metabolites in Goats Fed with Cactus Pear ( Opuntia ficus-indica L. Miller) Silage Subjected to An Intermittent Water Supply

Italo Albuquerque, Gherman Araújo, Fernanda Santos, Gleidson Carvalho, Edson Santos, Ismael Nobre, Leilson Bezerra, Jarbas Silva-Júnior, Edson Silva-Filho and Ronaldo Oliveira
Additional contact information
Italo Albuquerque: Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Department, Federal University of Bahia, 500 Adhemar de Barros Avenue, Salvador 40170110, BA, Brazil
Gherman Araújo: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Semi-Arid, Petrolina 56302970, PE, Brazil
Fernanda Santos: Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Department, Federal University of Bahia, 500 Adhemar de Barros Avenue, Salvador 40170110, BA, Brazil
Gleidson Carvalho: Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Department, Federal University of Bahia, 500 Adhemar de Barros Avenue, Salvador 40170110, BA, Brazil
Edson Santos: Animal Science Department, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia City 58397000, Paraiba State, Brazil
Ismael Nobre: Animal Science Department, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia City 58397000, Paraiba State, Brazil
Leilson Bezerra: Center of Health and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, Patos 58708110, PB, Brazil
Jarbas Silva-Júnior: Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Department, Federal University of Bahia, 500 Adhemar de Barros Avenue, Salvador 40170110, BA, Brazil
Edson Silva-Filho: Campus Ministro Petrônio Portela (CMPP), Chemistry Department, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina 64049550, PI, Brazil
Ronaldo Oliveira: Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Department, Federal University of Bahia, 500 Adhemar de Barros Avenue, Salvador 40170110, BA, Brazil

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: This study evaluated the performance, body water balance, ingestive behavior and blood metabolites in goats fed with cactus pear silage subjected to an intermittent water supply. Thirty-six goats were distributed in a randomized block design arranged as a 3 × 3 factorial with cactus pear silage in the goats’ diet (on a 0%, 21% and 42% dry matter-DM basis) and water offer frequency (ad libitum, and 24 and 48 h water restrictions). There was an interaction only between the cactus pear silage level and water offerings for drinking water. Goats fed 42% cactus pear silage had greater intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates, energy, Ca, Mg and Na minerals, water intake, urinary water excretion, body water retention and nutrient digestibility. Cactus pear silage inclusion up to a 42% rate reduced eating and ruminating time and increased the time spent idling as well as the eating and the ruminating efficiency rate. Water restriction at 48 h reduced drinking water intake. Performance and blood metabolites were not affected by cactus silage inclusion or water offering. Cactus pear silage inclusion at up to 42% for goats is recommended during periods of water shortage in semiarid and arid regions because it improves eating, the ruminating efficiency rate, and body water retention; cactus pear silage inclusion at this rate reduces water consumption and it does not affect the performance or health of the animals.

Keywords: caprine; silage; Opuntia ficus sp.; semiarid; water restriction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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