The Nutritional Value of Opuntia FicusIndica Meal and the Effect of its Inclusion in the Diet of Fattening Lambs

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of incorporating cactus grain cake in the feed ration of OuledDjellal lambs on fattening performance.Twenty young rams were evenly distributed in 4 lots with 5 animals each, having received a ration based on oat hay, alfalfa hay, straw and a concentrate containing 0% meal, 15% (15% Substitution), 30% (30% Substitution) and 45% (45% Substitution) of cactus grain cake. They were reared for 98 days including a 14 day adaptation period.

       According to thisanalyzes, cactus grain cake offers a non-negligible rate of crude protein (CP) 9.45%. Knowing that lignin is an undesirable element in digestion in ruminants, it transcribes the highest rate with 35.74%, it contains a large proportion of fiber, ie (40.53% of CF and 73.42% NDF). Depending on the calculation formula chosen, formula, true forage units (MFU) vary between 0.3-0.96, Nitrogenic intestinal digradable protein (NIDP) between 66.15 - 222.15 and energical intestinal degradabl protein (EIDP) 26.26 and 1023.38. The results obtained showed that the incorporation of cactus grain meal affected the zootechnical performance of lambs during the fattening period (P <0.0001). The final average weights of the lambs are 44, 20; 39.78; 41.92; and 43.86 kg respectively for the 0% Sub, 15% Sub, 30% Sub and 45% Sub lots. Average daily earnings decreased and consumption indices increased with the rate of incorporation of cactus seed cake. 

       As the conditions for the use of cactus grain cake by ruminants are still poorly understood, further trials are needed on ruminants as well as on monogastrics.