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Flores-Hernandez et al., 2019.
JPACD (2019) 21: 57-70 57
Quality of fermented cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) and its effect on
liveweight gain of Dorper lambs
Arnoldo Flores-Hernández
1
, Francisco Javier Macías-Rodríguez
2
, Gabriel García-
Herrera
1
, José Luis Ortega-Sánchez
1
, Cesar Meza-Herrera
1
, Bernardo Murillo-Amador
3
1/
Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Unidad de Zonas Áridas (URUZA). Km. 40, carretera
Gómez Palacio-Chihuahua. Bermejillo, Durango, México. 35230.
2/
Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Unidad Centro Norte (CRUCEN). Km. 20.5 Carretera
Zacatecas-Fresnillo, Calera, Zacatecas, México. 98100.
3/
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No.
195. Colonia Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur. La Paz, Baja California Sur, México. 23096.
*Corresponding Author: bmurillo04@cibnor.mx.
Received: March 11, 2019; Accepted: July 18, 2019.
ABSTRACT
The high-water (85%) and low protein (5%) content of cactus cladodes (Opuntia spp.) reduce
the amount of dry-matter consumed by ruminants. The objective of this study was to use protein
enrichment technology to increase Opuntia protein content and to feed Dorper lambs,
comparing the Opuntia protein enrichment and the basal diet in the liveweight gain. The
experiment was carried out for 60 days, using a biodigester (100 kg of cactus) -Title No. 2641-
IMPI. The process was based on the daily aerobic semisolid fermentation of Opuntia by
applying yeast of the Sacharomyces cereviceae (1%) type, urea (1%) and ammonium sulfate
(0.1%) during 20 h (1 h of movement and 1.5 h of rest) recycling the yeast for a week.
Unfermented Opuntia cladodes were used as the control. The enriched Opuntia was provided
in the final stage in two treatments in a completely randomized design with three replications:
1) Basal diet (control), and 2) Basal diet + fermented fresh Opuntia. The liveweight of each
animal was recorded weekly. Analysis of variance and comparison of means were performed
(Tukey HSD p=0.05 and orthogonal contrasts p≤0.05). The results of the fermentation showed
that fermented Opuntia significantly (p≤0.01) decrease carbohydrates content (48.9 to 26.4%);
increased crude protein content (5.64 to 33.17%) and energy (2.26 to 2.67 Mcal kg
-1
) compared
with unfermented Opuntia. However, on the seventh day of fermentation, these values
decreased significantly, because of the temperature decrease. At the end of the experiment,
the live-weight increased significantly 11.62 ± 0.99 kg animal
-1
month
-1
in groups of four lambs
fed with enriched Opuntia, while the liveweight of animals fed with the basal diet only increased
8.42 ± 1.69 kg animal
-1
month
-1
, showing a difference in the liveweight gain of 800 g lamb
-1
week
-1
fed with fermented Opuntia cladodes.
Keywords: Opuntia, sheep, fodder, semi-solid fermentation.
Flores-Hernandez et al., 2019.
JPACD (2019) 21: 57-70 58
INTRODUCTION
The North of Mexico faces feed shortage during drought seasons and winter (January to May).
In addition, available protein sources have a high cost, which also precluding an adequate
supply of supplements (López-González et al., 2003). This causes malnutrition of goats, sheep
and cattle limiting their productive and reproductive performance of these animals (Murillo-
Amador et al., 2009).
In 1990, a severe drought occurred in the North of Mexico and thousands of animals died (CNN-
México, 2011), showing the importance of having areas of wild or cultivated cactus (Opuntia
spp.) to be used as fodder (López-González et al., 2003). Although the importance of cactus in
animal feeding is known (Mondragón-Jacobo and Pérez-González, 2003; Anaya-Pérez and
Bautista-Zane, 2008), its importance has principally focused on the production of fruit (“tuna”)
and vegetable (“nopalito”), thus, there are quite a few studies about this subject in Mexico.
Nevertheless, expansion of cactus uses provide an important opportunity in the national
market, especially if it can be integrated into a feed product for livestock (SAGARPA, 2004.
Nopal Product System Committee). Market acceptance of this opportunity can be further
consolidated if the protein content in the cactus pear is increased.
Solid fermentation is an ancient process that is used to increase the protein content of foods
and to improve the conservation or change the physical characteristics of food such as color,
smell or taste. Examples of these products are the Koji, which is obtained by the cultivation of
the fungus Aspergillus oryzae on cooked cereals, Shoyu, Miso and Ontjom (Hesseltine, 1972).
The production of enriched feedstuffs, as supplement type, is done through the process of
semi-solid fermentation of cactus cladodes (one year old) by adding a mixture of minerals in
the process (Tabosa et al., 2003). This process adapted from the "saccharin" technology of
sugarcane in Cuba (Elías and Lescano, 1993) is recommended to increase the protein content
of forage (Lira et al., 1989; Elías et al., 1990).
Enriched forages are analyzed to determine the additional amount of "microbial" protein and
are fed to cattle to increase milk and meat production (Tabosa et al., 2003; Rodríguez et al.,
2007). The Opuntia protein-enriched by aerobic fermentation has been used with favorable
results in the feeding of ruminants (Tabosa et al., 2003) including lambs (Cordova-Torres et al.,
2014).
In Mexico, bio-digester models are available to carry out the aerobic liquid fermentation process
of Opuntia (Aranda-Osorio, 2006; Aranda-Osorio et al., 2008). Specifically, there is a
technology (machine and process) with registration title No. 2641-IMPI (Mexican Institute of
Intellectual Protection), whose machine performs the cutting stages of one-year old cladodes,
the homogenized (mixed) of fractions "fermented ", aerated and separated from the material
processed in juice and bagasse in a sequenced and automated way in a period of 24 h, with a
significant increase of crude protein from 4 to 32% (Flores-Hernández et al., 2011). The
Flores-Hernandez et al., 2019.
JPACD (2019) 21: 57-70 59
objective of this study was to assess the effect of feeding protein-enriched Opuntia on Dorper
lamb’s liveweight gain.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area
The experiment was conducted in Morelos, Zacatecas, Mexico, located at 22°53'12" N and
102°36'45" W, at 2,348 m.a.s.l. The climate of the region is classified as BWwh, with an average
temperature of 14 to 16°C, with an approximate rainfall of 420 mm, although the years 1979
with 216 mm and 1990 with 650 mm stand out as extremes. The minimum temperatures occur
in the months of December, January and February, with the minimum monthly average around
0°C. The maximum temperatures are registered during the months of May and June, reaching
up to more than 30°C (García, 2004). The flora in the study area is constituted by magueyes
(Agave spp.), nopales (Opuntia spp.), mesquites (Prosopis spp.), huizaches (Acacia spp.),
among other species associated with semi-arid zones.
Opuntia processing
One-hundred kg of fresh Opuntia was processed by aerobic semisolid fermentation using a
biodigester (NOPAFER, Title No. 2641-IMPI, Mexico). To start the fermentation process, the
Opuntia cladodes used (Villanueva variety) were fractionated into small parts and later yeast
was added of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1%) type, with urea (1%) and ammonium sulfate
(0.1%). In the fermentation process, a timer was used to program movements of 1 h and 1.5 h
of rest, during 24 h. In order to reduce production costs (use of yeast) the first day, 4 l of the
juice product of the fermentation was taken and this was used successively until the seventh
day (Flores-Hernández et al., 2015).
Proximal analysis
On the initial, intermediate and final week of the experiment, both the fermented and
unfermented Opuntia dry matter (DM) was measured by the partial DM process adapted from
Goering and Van Soest (1970), with additional modification of 105°C for 2 h. The crude protein
(CP) was analyzed according to the CP process of animal feeding (990.03, AOAC, 2005b). The
metabolizable energy (ME) was measured according to McDonald et al. (2010). The non-
structural carbohydrates (NSC, sugar and starch) were determined by the method of Van Soest
et al. (1991). The minerals were analyzed according to the ash process (C) of animal feed
(942.05, AOAC, 2005a). The feedstuffs used in the basal diet for Dorper lambs were the
commercial concentrated mix with corn stubble, to which a proximal analysis was also carried
out (Table 1). Additionally, a feeding cost analysis was carried out. Analyzes were performed
at Agrolab (certified laboratory of Dr. Martin J. Traxler) in Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.
Experimental design
Twenty-four male lambs with an average liveweight of 26.1 ± 1.7 kg and 8 months of age were
used in this study. These lambs were raised in an extensive production system; therefore, they
Flores-Hernandez et al., 2019.
JPACD (2019) 21: 57-70 60
presented a reduced growth rate. Quartets of lambs (three sheep as an experimental unit plus
a lamb as a replacement) were formed with similar liveweight that were randomly distributed in
each group or diet (D1 unfermented cactus and D2 fermented cactus, and their replicates).
Diets were individually fed, therefore lam within treatment was the experimental unit. During
the whole feeding trial lambs were equally managed.
The composition of diets: 1) Basal diet (200 g of commercial concentrate feed for lambs and
2.5 kg of corn stubble; the concentrate consisted principally of sorghum and corn grain); and
for the diet 2) Basal diet + fresh fermented Opuntia, in the following quantities, 2.5 kg of corn
stubble, 2 kg of fresh fermented Opuntia (200 g DM), plus 100 g of commercial concentrate for
lambs. Table 2 shows the nutritional composition of the diets. Both diets were balanced
according to the data of the proximal analysis of its components for growing-finishing lambs.
Diets were offered twice a day at 08:00 and 15:00 h, based on the 4% average body weight.
Water was ad libitum in both treatments. The experiment lasted 60 days (8 days of adaptation
and 52 days of experimentation). For practical purposes, liveweight was divided by two to
obtain monthly average liveweight gain. During the experimentation phase, lambs were
weighed every week to obtain weekly and monthly liveweight gain.
Economic analysis of the fermentation process
The production cost of fermented Opuntia obtained with the protein enrichment technology was
compared with the cost of feeding commercial concentrate. The costs of planting and
maintenance of Opuntia vary greatly depending on the conditions of each region, then, only the
costs of machine fermentation process were included.
Statistical analysis
Bartlett’s test was performed on the data to test the homogeneity of variance. Data were
compared using univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) according to an experimental design
of one-way of classification. The differences among the means of variables associated to the
proximal analysis of the components of the diets were determined by Tukey's HSD multiple
range test at p=0.05 level. However, the differences within variables between diets were made
by orthogonal contrasts (p≤0.05), that is, independent comparisons of means. The first contrast
was made by comparing diet 1 (Basal diet -control diet-) versus diet 2 (Basal diet + fresh
fermented Opuntia -experimental diet-). In all cases, mean values were considered significantly
different when p≤0.05. The statistical analyzes were performed with Statistica v. 13.5 (TIBCO
Software Inc., 2018).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Proximal analysis of Opuntia before and after the fermentation process
Table 1 shows the results of the proximal analysis of Opuntia before and after the aerobic
semisolid fermentation process, observing a significant (p≤0.001) increase (more than five
times higher) in the crude protein content due to the fermentation process; however, a
Flores-Hernandez et al., 2019.
JPACD (2019) 21: 57-70 61
significant (p≤0.01) decrease in the content of non-fibrous carbohydrates (sugars and starch)
was observed, which was reduced by almost half in the fresh fermented Opuntia compared to
the unfermented one. This is the result of the consumption of carbohydrates by the active
growing yeast. When oxygen is present, the yeast grows efficiently from the carbohydrates and
nitrogen in the medium to produce the biomass and CO
2
. When there is no oxygen or it is
scarce, the yeast population changes to anaerobic metabolism reducing biomass and alcohol
production (Sarmiento-Herrera, 2003).
The metabolizable energy (ME) was slightly higher in fermented Opuntia (2.67 ± 0.05 Mcal kg
-
1
) compared to unfermented (2.61 ± 0.05 Mcal kg
-1
) and although it seems to be minimal, it is
important because of their value as a forage. The amount of ME obtained (2.67 Mcal kg
-1
)
exceeds the pasture (2.08 Mcal kg
-1
) and it is almost the same as Medicago sativa (2.64 Mcal
kg
-1
) according to Felker (2003).
On the other hand, it is emphasized that the fermentation process with the yeast reused daily
for a week may be affected by the low temperatures registered in the region during the
experimental period, which fluctuated between 25.5°C (maximum) and 12.3°C (minimum), with
an average of 18.8°C. The optimal temperature for the fermentation process is around 27 ±
2°C (Flores-Hernández et al., 2014); however, the pH remained in ranges of 3.86 to 4.45,
considered the recommendable limits (3.5 to 5.0) according to Rose (1987).
Another important factor to consider is the sanity of the fermentation process. In this study, to
facilitate the transfer of the fermented Opuntia, the bio-digester was installed on one side of the
lamb’s management pen; however, the risk of contamination increased, affecting the efficiency
of the fermentation process registered with a reduction of crude protein to 26.03 ± 1.69% and
an increase in the ammoniacal nitrogen content found in the samples on the seventh-day.
Therefore, it is recommended to install the bio-digester away from livestock although it involves
an increase in cost in the transfer of the fermented Opuntia.
The results of the present study coincide with those of Araújo et al. (2008) who reported an
increase in the protein content of cactus from 8.0 to 9.17%, when added 3% of commercial
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) increased from 46.8 to 48.47% and
acid detergent fiber (ADF) increased from 25.6 to 27.73 %. According to Ramírez-Tobias et al.
(2007) the use of Opuntia as fodder is extended and its nutritional quality is variable. However,
is not precisely know how the species and maturity of the cladode affect its nutrient content.
In this sense, Mondragón-Jacobo et al. (2003) reported nutritional quality of cactus pear
developed under hydroponic conditions, where ashes content varied from 18.68 to 30.31%,
being highest than other forages such as oat hay, corn and sorghum stubble; the protein
content ranged from 11.72 to 18.07% after N fertilization for LCNF and “Pabellón Amarillo”
cultivars, respectively, being similar than Medicago sativa, corn silage and orchard grass,
although higher than wild cactus pear and corn stubble; while the in vitro DM digestibility varied
from 84.9 to 95.5.
Flores-Hernandez et al., 2019.
JPACD (2019) 21: 57-70 62
In other study developed under hydroponic conditions by Ramírez-Tobías et al. (2007) using
four cactus species: Nopalea cochenillifera, Opuntia robusta ssp. larreyi, O. undulate × O.
tomentosa and O. ficus-indica during four growth stages (very young cladodes -EC1- to well-
developed cladodes -EC4-), they found that DM decreased from 5.7% in EC1 to 3.9% in EC3.
Old cladodes have more DM than the young ones, and also, DM varied among species, where
O. ficus-indica showed the highest values of 34.4% for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and 17.6%
for acid detergent fiber (ADF). Crude protein (CP) content do not varied among species but
decreased among growth stages from 21.7% in EC1 to 16.9% in EC4. Opuntia ficus-indica
showed highest values of NDF and ADF (34.4 and 17.6%, respectively).
The increase in CP using the fermentation process is relevant because of the CP content of
wild Opuntia ficus-indica reported by Baraza-Ruiz et al. (2008) varied from 5.7 to 14.2% in old
and young cladodes, respectively. Previous studies have reported that protein nitrogen source
improves the nutritive value of cactus pear-based diets fed to lambs and increases average
daily liveweight gain (Ben Salem et al., 2002). Recently, a study showed that cactus pear
silages have a similar nutritive quality to corn silage, and their use to feed lambs might increase
the fermentative value and the neutral detergent fiber apparent digestibility (Miranda-Romero
et al., 2018).
Table 1. Proximal analysis of fresh Opuntia before and after of semisolid fermentation
process during three weeks and proximal analysis of the components of the
diets used in the feeding of Dorper lambs during two months in Morelos,
Zacatecas, Mexico.
Before
After
Crude Protein (% DM) 5.66 ± 0.02 b 32.98 ± 0.15 a
Non-fibrous Carbohydrates (% DM) 56.63 ± 7.73 a 26.73 ± 0.39 b
Metabolizable Energy (Mcal kg
-1
) 2.28 ± 0.02 a 2.61 ± 0.05 a
Minerals (Ashes) % DM 19.74 ± 1.36 a 20.44 ± 2.7 a
Dry Matter (%) 9.38 ± 2.45 a 9.28 ± 1.05 a
Corn stubble
Commercial
concentrate for
lambs
Fresh
fermented
Opuntia
Crude Protein (% DM) 5.89 ± 0.81 c* 21.83 ± 1.85 b 32.98 ± 0.15 a
Non-fibrous Carbohydrates (% DM) 32.0 ± 1.27 b 52.2 ± 2.03 a 26.73 ± 0.39 b
Metabolizable Energy (Mcal kg
-1
) 2.14 ± 0.03 bc 2.92 ± 0.01 a 2.61 ± 0.05 a
Minerals (Ashes) % DM 9.42 ± 1.21 b 7.58 ± 0.97 c 20.44 ± 2.7 a
Dry Matter (%) 91.48 ± 2.23 a 89.70 ± 2.34 ab 9.28 ± 1.05 a
*Values represent the mean ± standard error. Values in the same row followed with different letter differ (Tukey HSD
p=0.05). Due to the great palatability of the diet with fermented cactus a 100% feed intake was registered, while in
the basal diet approximately 7% was left in the feed containers.
Flores-Hernandez et al., 2019.
JPACD (2019) 21: 57-70 63
Diets proximal analysis
In both diets, commercial feed (concentrate) was fed, 200 g in the control treatment and only
100 g in the experimental one, it was not completely eliminated as the lambs were used to it
since weaning. Table 1 shows the proximal analysis of fermented fresh Opuntia, the corn
stubble and the commercial concentrate for lambs. The results showed that the fermented fresh
Opuntia, exhibited values that characterize this product as best quality than the commercial
concentrate for lambs (control), both balanced according to the values from DM obtained in the
proximal analysis, the fermented fresh Opuntia had higher content of protein and minerals while
in the commercial concentrate for lambs had the highest content of non-fibrous carbohydrates
and metabolizable energy.
Although the quality of a forage is defined by its nutrient content, there is a wide variation in
dietary recommendations for the different lamb´s growth stages (NRC, 2007) as considered in
this study. In the growing-finishing stage, the concentrated provided in this study is highly
recommended, with the combination of grains, showing to be more useful, demonstrating its
effectiveness as observed in other studies (Bustamante-Guerrero, 2002). Any other feedstuff
used as forage is specifically related to crude protein content, energy or DM. For example, a
feed with a low content of metabolizable energy (1.5 to 1.7 Mcal kg
-1
of DM) and 50 to 60 g of
CP kg
-1
of DM is insufficient to stimulate the lambs voluntary feed intake of the forage
consumed, as well as to sustain liveweight gains of 70 g animal
-1
day
-1
(NRC, 2007).
Considering the previous criteria, it would expect a greater liveweight gain in the lambs of this
study, because the quality in terms of nutritive value of the diets, that is, crude protein,
metabolizable energy and minerals (NRC, 2007). More than 20 years ago, Fuentes-Rodríguez
(1997) concluded that Opuntia had a high potential for feeding goats in arid and semiarid areas
of Mexico, but the nutritional value has to be improved to get a better goat’s performance and
most efficient utilization of Opuntia. Yet, it is important to consider that complementing poor
forages such as straws with cactus pear, increases straw consumption, digestibility and
increased rumen microbial activity but could decreased cellulolytic activity (Ben Salem et al.,
1996).
Liveweight gain
The average liveweight gain showed differences (p≤0.01) per day, week and month (Table 2),
being highest (387 g animal
-1
day
-1
) in lambs fed with diet 2, which included fermented fresh
Opuntia (protein-enriched) while the lambs fed with the diet 1 (commercial concentrate)
increased only 280 g animal
-1
day
-1
.
These results are similar to those reported by Bustamante-Guerrero (2002) who used a
combination of grains in the diet with ad libitum consumption, with liveweight gain of 375 g
animal
-1
day
-1
in Suffolk lambs; 354 g animal
-1
day
-1
in Ramboillet/Suffolk lambs and 250 g
animal
-1
day
-1
in Pelibuey lambs. In the same sense, Aguilar-Yañez et al. (2011) using cactus
to feed lambs, reported a daily liveweight gains of 260 and 232 g lamb
-1
day
-1
, in those animals
fed with dehydrated and fresh spineless cactus, respectively, while animals fed with control diet
increased 248 g lamb
-1
day
-1
.
Flores-Hernandez et al., 2019.
JPACD (2019) 21: 57-70 64
The liveweight gain of lambs in the present study and the described by Aguilar-Yañez et al.
(2011) are in the recommended range of daily liveweight gain of 257 g animal
-1
day
-1
reported
by the NRC (2007) for 40 kg lambs. Similar liveweight gain was reported in Corridale/Criollo
lambs fed with different levels of spineless cactus used in the diets (Aranda-Osorio et al., 2008).
Table 2. Liveweight (LW) gain in Dorper lambs fed with two diets during two months in Morelos,
Zacatecas, Mexico.
Liveweight gain per animal
Diets Total LW gain
(kg) Month
(kg) Week
(kg) **Day
(g)
Basal diet (commercial
concentrate)
36.85 ± 1.55 b* 8.42 b 1.90 b 280 b
Basal diet + fermented fresh
Opuntia.
47.89 ± 0.94 a 11.62 a 2.70 a 387 a
*Values represent the mean ± standard error. Values in the same column followed with different letter differ
(independent comparisons or orthogonal contrasts p ≤0.05). **The liveweight gain per day is the average of the
week.
Other countries such as Vietnam where cactus pear (Opuntia elator) is abundant in the area, it
is not used; however, Tien and Beynen (2005) developed a study with lambs supplemented
with cactus pear and groundnut, which had an average liveweight gain of 145±12.3 g lamb
-1
day
-1
, while those lambs fed with cactus and fish sauce gained 130±11.7 g lamb
-1
day
-1
, they
concluded that cactus pear has potential to be used as feedstuff for lambs. In the same sense,
liveweight gain in lambs has been reported by Ben Salem et al. (2004) and Degu et al. (2009),
where they found average liveweight gains of 138 and 100 g lamb
-1
day
-1
for Barbarine and
Tigray highland lambs, respectively, with spineless cactus-based diets.
When a complement of 100 g of commercial concentrate for lambs was included in the diet 2,
a synergistic effect was induced, therefore, fermented fresh Opuntia can replace a portion of
the concentrated fed. The fermented fresh Opuntia has an excellent acceptance (palatability)
by lambs. Even when the fermented fresh Opuntia showed variation in chemical composition
on the seventh day of the fermentation process, no noticeable effect was observed as the
liveweight gain per week remained stable. These results confirm that when renewing the yeast
every week, the effect of the variation on the seventh day in the chemical composition of the
fermented fresh Opuntia, did not have a significant effect on the liveweight gain of the lambs
fed with Opuntia-enriched (diet 2), apparently because it was fed in the short-term (7 days).
However, the adequate conditions must be met to obtain an optimum and efficient fermentation
of fresh Opuntia, mainly the temperature and to install the bio-digestor away from livestock
management pens, although it involves an increase in the cost of transferring the fermented
Opuntia.
According with Grünwaldt et al. (2015) Mexico, together with Brazil, Ethiopia, Tunisia and
United States have made an important contribution of studies regarding the use of Opuntia in
animal production. Recent studies in Brazil and Mexico showed that the addition of cactus pear
Flores-Hernandez et al., 2019.
JPACD (2019) 21: 57-70 65
in diets for small ruminants is useful as supplement feedstuff, as it reduces feed cost without
reducing the production and quality of meat and milk. However, other factors need to be
considered to achieve meat and milk quality, ranging from animal (sex, age, breed) to type of
production system (extensive or intensive) among others (Cordova-Torres et al., 2017).
The inclusion of cactus pear in the diet of lambs not only increases the liveweight gain, but also
influences the fatty acids profile in Santa Ines sheep when cactus pear was used as a
replacement of buffelgrass (Costa et al., 2017). Previous studies in the Brazilian semiarid
regions, Costa et al. (2013) concluded that cactus is recommended as forage for finishing
sheep; however, reported that total substitution of corn by cactus pear, despite leading to a
reduction in liveweight gain, increased the dry matter intake and improved the ability of sheep
to digest the nutrients.
In other ruminant species (goat kids), Mahouachi et al. (2012) reported that kids fed with cactus
pear produce meat with improved nutritional quality because of lower carcass fat content, lower
intramuscular fat content affecting marbling while increasing quality. A higher accumulation of
beneficial fatty acids, n-3 FA, and CLA was also observed, concluding that due to the increase
of costs of commercial concentrates, raising kids under cactus pear feeding could be more
economic than the conventional program.
In Nubia goats, Flores-Hernández et al. (2017) reported that live-weight gain was greater in
goats fed with Opuntia protein enrichment diet, but the amount of forage rejected increased.
Opuntia protein enrichment had higher nutritive quality since the liveweight gain was lower in
alfalfa diet and Opuntia without protein enrichment.
Other results showed that diets based on spineless or spiny cactus pear promoted similar
volatile fatty acids and bacterial N production and efficiencies; both diets were assayed in vitro
experiments and showed similar nutritive value; however, in-vivo studies should be required to
verify animal response to these species of cactus pear, to better evaluate their fodder potential
(Abidi et al., 2009). In other animal species such as cows, the addition of 10 or 20 kg of fresh
cactus pear cow
-1
day
-1
in the diet increased milk production in Holstein cows (Pérez-Sánchez
et al., 2015).
Economic analysis of the fermentation process
The average yield of fermented fresh Opuntia was 95 kg (juice and bagasse) separating 5 l of
juice that was reused in the next fermentation. Considering that 1 kg of fresh fermented Opuntia
is equivalent to 100 g of DM, the technology of fermentation produces 9.5 kg (DM) of fermented
Opuntia protein-enriched. This quantity is enough to feed 47 lambs a day (200 g animal
-1
). The
price of the commercial concentrate feed for lambs in the study area is around USD $10.93
bag of 40 kg, that is, USD $0.27 kg
-1
, while to produce 9.5 kg of protein-enriched Opuntia it is
needed USD $1.78, for buying supplies and USD $0.18 kg
-1
considering the energy used by
the biodigester. Thus, the amount of money saved is about USD $0.09 kg
-1
when using
fermented Opuntia protein-enriched. One-hundred kilograms of fermented Opuntia day
-1
require, 1 kg of urea (USD $0.33 kg
-1
), 100 g of ammonium sulfate (USD $0.18 100 g
-1
), 1 kg
Flores-Hernandez et al., 2019.
JPACD (2019) 21: 57-70 66
of dry yeast (USD $0.59 kg
-1
), which is reused during 7 days and USD $0.83 day
-1
for energy
consumption. However, these costs can still be reduced by increasing the processing capacity
(more than 100 kg of fermented Opuntia day
-1
) of the NOPAFER equipment generally, it will
require a bigger engine and so, more energy has to be used and improving the conditions to
reuse the yeast for a longer time.
The cost of Opuntia is not included because cactus pear is a perennial plant and its cost of
planting, operation and harvest varies greatly depending on the region. A general cost of
Opuntia spineless production in the area of study can be estimated an approximate USD
$0.026 kg
-1
. Other studies have compared the use of Opuntia versus maize silage, fresh or hay
alfalfa, and concluded that costs per unit of production (meat or milk) using Opuntia are lowest
being a significant source of forage for arid and semiarid areas of Mexico (Flores-Valdez and
Aranda-Osorio, 1997). Also, Aranda-Osorio et al. (2008) concluded that adding cactus
cladodes in the diet of growing-finishing lambs reduces the cost of feed, being an extra income
for cactus pear farmers and enhancing this production system in Central Mexico.
CONCLUSIONS
The fermentation process of Opuntia compared to unfermented Opuntia increased crude
protein from 5.6 to 32.9% DM, metabolizable energy from 2.28 to 2.61 Mcalkg
-1
, although
decreased the non-structural carbohydrates from 56.6 to 26.7% DM, this represents a
remarkable advance in the use of Opuntia spineless as a feedstuff.
The lower effectiveness of the Opuntia fermentation process on the seventh day of reuse of
the yeast, was noticed by the decrease in protein and energy content, and higher carbohydrate
content in relation to the recent fermented Opuntia; which were influenced by the low
temperature and sanitary conditions of the process.
The inclusion of Opuntia in the feeding of Dorper lambs indicated a higher liveweight gain of
387 g compared to only 280 g of lambs fed with a commercial concentrate feed, which is very
promising because it can produce a reduction time in the feed lot and the costs of feeding.
The chemical component values of fermented Opuntia meet the criteria as good quality
feedstuff and showed a lower cost than the commercial concentrate for lambs.
The use of fermented Opuntia in the feeding of lambs is highly recommended.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This research was supported by the grant IDT-21-2015, project “Validación de la tecnología de
enriquecimiento proteico de nopal (Opuntia spp.)” of the Instituto de Innovación en Biosistemas
y Desarrollo Sustentable en Zonas Áridas (IIBIODEZA). Thanks to Dirección General de
Investigación y Posgrado of the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo. The corresponding author
was supported by project CONACYT-PN-2017-I number 4631.
Flores-Hernandez et al., 2019.
JPACD (2019) 21: 57-70 67
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. The research was conducted in
the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be interpreted as a potential
conflict of interest.
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Conceived and designed the experiments: AFH, FJMR, GGH, JLOS, CMH, BMA. Performed
the experiments: AFH, FJMR, GGH, JLOS. Analyzed the data: BMA. Contributed
reagents/materials/analysis tools/publication costs: AFH, FJMR, GGH, JLOS, CMH. Wrote,
edited and revised the paper in English: AFH, BMA. Approved the final version of the
manuscript to be published: AFH, FJMR, GGH, JLOS, CMH, BMA. All authors agree that BMA
to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy
or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
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