Evaluation and cost comparison in diets with and without fodder cactus pads (Opuntia sp) in small ruminants

Cactus have the potential to produce large quantities of biomass that vary from 4 t of dry matter/ha/year without water contributions to more than 20 t DM/ha/year with irrigation. Cactus have high palatability, digestibility and reduce water needs of animals. The objective was to evaluate the diet costs with the incorporation of cactus pads in comparison with a traditional diet. Studies on the nutritional value of opuntias in Santiago del Estero, determined that the average crude protein content is 3.78%; Neutral detergent fiber averaged 40.6%; the acid detergent fiber is 15.9%; the lignin acid detergent content is 4.4% and in vitro digestibility of dry matter averaged 88%. Diet costs were the following: When the purchase of cactus pads are made, the cost is 0.156 (US $)/day/animal; when such purchase is not considered, a total cost of 0.074 (US $)/day/animal; the control di´et with NO cactus pads with a cost of 0.104 (US $)/day/ animal. Water consumption by goats is 10% of their live weight and cactus are composed of 90% water; there is a decrease in the water consumption by animals.