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Forage cactus as an additive in corn without the cob silages of feedlot sheep diets

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Abstract

This study aimed to assess the impact of adding forage cactus as an additive to the production of corn silage without the cob on the performance of feedlot sheep and subsequent silage losses. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of three treatments: corn silage without cob; 0% = 100% corn plant without the cob; 10% = 90% corn plant without cob + 10% forage cactus; 20% = 80% corn plant without cob + 20% forage cactus. Significant effects were observed for dry matter intake (P = 0.0201), organic matter (P = 0.0152), ether extract (P = 0.0001), non-fiber carbohydrates (P = 0.0007). Notably, nutrient digestibility showed significant differences in organic matter (P = 0.0187), ether extract (P = 0.0095), neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.0005), non-fiber carbohydrates (P = 0.0001), and metabolizable energy (P = 0.0001). Performance variables, including total weight gain (P = 0.0148), average daily weight gain (P = 0.0148), feeding efficiency, and rumination efficiency of dry matter (P = 0.0113), also exhibited significant effects. Consequently, it is recommended to include 20% forage cactus in corn silage, which, based on natural matter, helps meet animals’ water needs through feed. This inclusion is especially vital in semi-arid regions and aids in reducing silage losses during post-opening silo disposal.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Federal University of Paraiba for all technical support, facilities, and infrastructure.

Funding

The research was supported by Paraiba State Research Foundation (Call PROPESQ/UFPB 03/2020) Grant number: PIN1 3354/2020.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 12 Rodovia, PB-079, Areia, PB, 58397-000, Brazil

    Gilberto de Carvalho Sobral, Juliana Silva de Oliveira, Edson Mauro Santos, Diego de Sousa Vieira, Guilherme Medeiros Leite, Diego Francisco Oliveira Coelho, Paloma Gabriela Batista Gomes, Paulo da Cunha Torres Júnior, Maria Alyne Coutinho Santos & Nelquides Braz Viana

  2. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Rodovia BR-428, Km 152, S/N, Petrolina, PE, 56302-970, Brazil

    Gherman Garcia Leal de Araújo

  3. Centro de Ciências de Chapadinha, Universidade Federal Do Maranhão, BR 222 Km 04, S/N, Chapadinha, MA, 65500-000, Brazil

    Francisco Naysson de Sousa Santos

  4. Instituto Nacional Do Semiárido, Unidade de Produção Animal, Av. Francisco Lopes de Almeida, Serrotão S/N, Campina Grande, PB, 58434-700, Brazil

    Geovergue Rodrigues Medeiros

  5. Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Av. Gregório Ferraz Nogueira, s/n, Serra Talhada, PE, 56909-535, Brazil

    Evaristo Jorge Oliveira de Souza

  6. Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Av. Dom Manuel de Medeiros Street, S/N, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE, 52171-900, Brazil

    Liliane Pereira Santana

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  1. Gilberto de Carvalho Sobral
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  2. Juliana Silva de Oliveira
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  3. Edson Mauro Santos
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  7. Evaristo Jorge Oliveira de Souza
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  8. Diego de Sousa Vieira
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Contributions

J.S.O., E.M.S.: conceptualization, methodology, funding acquisition, project administration; G.C. S., J.S. O., G.G.L.A., E.J.O.S.: original draft; G.C.S, D.S.V., G.M.L, L.P.S., P.G.B.G., P.C.T.Júnior, M.A.C.S.: data collected; G.C.S., G.R.M., D.F.O.C.: data analysis. F.N.S.S: writing and editing, data curation, and final review; N.B.V.: data collected.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francisco Naysson de Sousa Santos.

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The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Paraíba, Brazil (Protocol number 90461603/2021).

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de Carvalho Sobral, G., de Oliveira, J.S., Santos, E.M. et al. Forage cactus as an additive in corn without the cob silages of feedlot sheep diets. Trop Anim Health Prod 56, 72 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-024-03918-y

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