RESUMO Objetivou-se com o presente estudo avaliar o consumo e a digestibilidade de nutrientes, o comportamento ingestivo e o desempenho de caprinos alimentados com genótipos de palma forrageira resistentes à cochonilha-carmim (miúda ou orelha-de-elefante-mexicana (OEM). Trinta cabritos machos, castrados, sem raça definida, com idades entre 12 e 14 meses e peso corporal médio de 19,0±2,8kg, foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em três tratamentos (controle - feno de tifton; miúda e OEM) e 10 repetições; o peso inicial foi considerado a covariável. O consumo de matéria orgânica (MO) e de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) foi maior no tratamento controle; enquanto a ingestão de CNF foi maior na dieta OEM. Tratamentos contendo palma forrageira apresentaram as maiores digestibilidades de MS, MO e CNF. Os animais alimentados com a dieta controle gastaram mais tempo em ruminação e em mastigação total, mas o tempo gasto com alimentação ou a eficiência alimentar e o desempenho não diferiram. A utilização de genótipos de palma forrageira resistentes à cochonilha-carmim (miúda e orelha-de-elefante-mexicana) na dieta de caprinos, na quantidade de 450g/kg de MS, não interfere no desempenho dos animais e melhora a digestibilidade de MO e CNF.

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the intake and digestibility of nutrients, ingestive behavior, and performance of goats fed with spineless cactus genotypes resistant to carmine cochineal (Miúda or Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM). Thirty castrated male goats, without defined breed, aged 12 to 14 months, with an average body weight of 19.0±2.8kg, were distributed in a completely randomized design among three treatments (Control - Tifton hay, Miúda, and OEM) and ten replicates; the initial weight was considered as the covariate. The intake of organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was highest in the control treatment, while the intake of NFC was higher in the OEM diet. Treatments containing forage cactus showed the highest digestibility of DM, OM, and NFC. The animals fed the control diet spent more time on rumination and total chewing, but the time spent feeding or feeding efficiency, and performance did not differ. The use of spineless cactus genotypes resistant to carmine cochineal (Miúda and Orelha de Elefante Mexicana) in a diet for goats, in the amount of 450g/kg of DM does not interfere with the performance of the animals and improves the digestibility of OM and NFC.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of increasing the dietary inclusion of spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck) on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of confined lambs. Thirty-two male Santa Inês lambs with an average age of 140 days and an initial body weight of 20.4 ± 2.60 kg were used in this study. The lambs were housed in individual stalls for 70 days and individually fed a ration with spineless cactus included at 0, 241, 519, or 753 g/kg of dry matter (DM). The lambs were slaughtered, and characteristics of the carcass and meat were recorded and analysed. Inclusion of spineless cactus had a quadratic effect on the bodyweight at slaughter and on the empty bodyweight of the lambs. The inclusion of 500 g/kg of spineless cactus provided the highest predicted cold carcass weight (16.03 kg). There was a quadratic effect of the inclusion of spineless cactus on the weight of meat cuts and leg composition of lambs. The inclusion of spineless cactus did not influence pH, tenderness, and water-retention capacity of the meat. However, the intramuscular fat content increased 1 mg for every 10 g/kg inclusion of spineless cactus in the diet. Quadratic effects were observed of the inclusion of spineless cactus on the weights of the liver, heart, rumen, blood, skin and internal fat of the lambs. Up to 500 g/kg of spineless cactus could be included in the diet of confined lambs.

This study evaluated the effects of various nitrogen (N) sources augmenting spineless cactus-based diets on intake, digestibility, rumen kinetics and N balance in sheep. Eight rumen-fistulated sheep with an average initial bodyweight of 62 ± 6.83 kg were allotted to one of two 4 x 4 Latin squares. The diets consisted of spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera), Tifton hay, corn grain, vegetable oil and a mineral mixture augmented with either soybean meal (SBM), cottonseed meal (CSM), whole cottonseed (WCS) or urea (U) to provide additional nitrogen. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intakes were similar (P >0.05) for sheep fed the diets with SBM, CSM, and WCS. The digestibility coefficients of DM and CP were similar (P >0.05) for SM, CM, and U diets. The rate of DM disappearance from the rumen did not differ (P >0.05) between treatments. However, the rumen ammonia, pH and N balance was higher (P <0.05) for sheep fed the WCS and U diets. The N absorbed and N retained did not differ (P >0.05) between the diets. Soybean meal and CSM are similar in their effects and can be used for sheep in diets based on spineless cactus. Whole cottonseed and U are interesting sources of N but should be used with caution owing to their effects on digestibility and nutrient intake in sheep.

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resposta metabólica de cordeiros nativos alimentados com feno de capim-tifton 85 (Cynodon dactylon) ou feno de maniçoba (Manihot pseudoglaziovii) associados à palma forrageira (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck). Foram utilizados 16 cordeiros Morada Nova, com peso inicial médio de 19,36±1,48kg, distribuídos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com dois tratamentos e oito repetições. O consumo de matéria seca foi maior nos cordeiros alimentados com feno de maniçoba em comparação ao feno de tifton, enquanto o peso corporal ao abate não foi influenciado pelas dietas. Em relação aos metabólitos sanguíneos, apenas a concentração sérica de ureia foi influenciada, com maior valor observado nos cordeiros que ingeriram a dieta contendo feno de capim-tifton. Quando foi realizada a análise dos biomarcadores sanguíneos nas diferentes coletas quinzenais, foi observado aumento linear nas concentrações sanguíneas de ureia, glicose, frutosamina, fosfatase alcalina e sódio, e efeito quadrático para o potássio sérico. Os demais metabólitos sanguíneos não foram influenciados em função dos dias de coleta. A substituição do feno de tifton 85 por feno de maniçoba influencia positivamente o metabolismo de cordeiros sem causar alterações na dinâmica dos diferentes biomarcadores e se apresenta como um promissor recurso forrageiro.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the metabolic response of native lambs fed Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon dactylon) or Maniçoba hay (Manihot pseudoglaziovii) associated with spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck). Sixteen Morada Nova lambs were used, with a mean initial weight of 19.36±1.48kg, distributed in a randomized block design, with two treatments and eight replications. Dry matter intake was higher for lambs fed Maniçoba hay compared to Tifton hay, while the body weight at slaughter was not influenced by diets. Regarding the blood metabolites, only the serum concentration of urea was influenced, with higher value observed in the lambs that fed the diet containing Tifton hay. When analyzing blood biomarkers, in the different biweekly collections, a linear increase in the blood concentration of urea, glucose, fructosamine, alkaline phosphatase and sodium was observed, as well as a quadratic effect for serum potassium. The other blood metabolites were not influenced in function of the collection days. The replacement of Tifton 85 hay for Maniçoba hay does not cause negative changes in the dynamics of different biomarkers and presents itself as a promising forage resource.