Author(s): ALBUQUERQUER, I.; ARAUJO, G. G. L. de; SANTOS, F.; CARVALHO, G.; SANTOS, E.; NOBRE, I.; BEZERRA, L.; SILVA JÚNIOR, J.; SILVA FILHO, E.; OLIVEIRA, R.

Summary: 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.

Publication year: 2020

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Semi-arid Region

Keywords: Desempenho da água corporal, Digestibility, Goats, Metabolismo, Opuntia, Ovino, Palma Forrageira, Pastagem Mista, Silage, Silagem, Silagem de palma forrageira, Silagem de pera, Silagem mista, Water metabolism