Nutritional value and intake of prickly pear by goats

摘要: Prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) is both a benefit and hindrance to the livestock industry in southwestern U.S. It competes with herbaceous forage but sometimes used as emergency feed during drought. Spineless prickly (O. fiscus-indica Engelm. O. rufida Engelm.) has been planted some regions of southwest little known about its nutritional value. Our objectives were determine: (1) value spined macrorhiza spineless Engelm.); (2) if goats can be conditioned eat after prescribed burning; and, (3) would consume when alternative was available. In Experiment 1, 8 placed metabolism stalls fed either or singed spines summer winter. Intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance measured. 2, 18 individual pens, 9 determine this increased acceptance spines. third experiment, we varied amount alfalfa pellets (below, near, above maintenance) level intake affected intake. higher (P < 0.05) digestibility crude protein than pear, similar for consuming 2 species. Goats ate more on an basis, dry similar. Familiarity subsequent pear. Level did not affect We concluded that species are moderately nutritious, digestible once preference developed, may continue even though other DOI:10.2458/azu_jrm_v55i2_mcmillan