Replacement of cornmeal with spineless cactus meal in dairy calf diets: a productive and economic evaluation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2025v46n3p903Keywords:
Dairy cattle, By-product, Feed cost, Heifer performance, Nopalea cochenillifera Salm-Dyck.Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance and economic viability of replacing cornmeal (CM) with spineless cactus meal (SCM) in the diet of female dairy calves. The experiment followed a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replicates. Twenty-four weaned 5/8 Girolando calves, with an initial body weight of 98.5 ± 16.88 kg and an average age of 131 days, were used. The experimental treatments included SCM at 0%, 12%, 22%, and 32% of the diet. Dry matter intake (DMI), average daily weight gain (ADG), and feed costs were evaluated. The in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the concentrate supplements was also determined. IVDMD decreased linearly from 89.39% to 81.96% as the inclusion of SCM increased from 0% to 32%. Replacing CM with SCM had no significant effect on final weight, ADG, or DMI, which averaged 162.04 kg, 0.802 kg day-1, and 3.42 kg day-1, respectively. The cost per kilogram of weight gain was $1.14, $1.09, $1.04, and $1.27 for the 0%, 12%, 22%, and 32% SCM groups, respectively. Including SCM in place of CM at up to 32% of the diet does not affect weight gain, and the 22% inclusion level is the most economically advantageous.
Downloads
References
Abreu, G., Fº., Silva, R. R., Silva, F. F., Silva, A. P. G., Paixão, T. P., Souza, S. O., Lisboa, M. M., Barroso, D. S., Silva, J. W. D., Alba, H. D. R., & Carvalho, G. G. P. de. (2022). Effects of replacing ground corn with Nopalea cochenillifera meal on the intake, performance, and economic viability of grazing steers. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 54(1), 35-44. doi: 10.1007/s11250-021-03029-y
Alves, K. de A., Lima, J. A. M., Costa, M. R. G. F., Silva, T. C., Brito, C. de L., Gomes, M. L. R., Pereira, J. M., Fº., Oliveira, J. P. F., Nascimento, R. R., & Bezerra, L. R. (2023). Effect of replacing corn with cactus pear on the performance and carcass traits and meat quality of feedlot finished lambs. Ciência Animal Brasileira, 24(1), e-75322E. doi: 10.1590/1809-6891v24e-75322E
Barros, L. J. A., Ferreira, M. A., Oliveira, J. C. V., Santos, D. C., Chagas, J. C. C., Alves, A. M. S. V., Silva, A. E. M., & Freitas, W. R. (2018). Replacement of Tifton hay by spineless cactus in Girolando post-weaned heifers' diets. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 50(1), 149-154. doi: 10.1007/s11250-017-1415-4
Batista, A. M., Mustafa, A., Mcallister, T., Wang, Y., Soita, H., & Mckinnon, J. (2003). Effects of variety on chemical composition, in situ nutrient disappearance and in vitro gas production of spineless cacti. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 83(5), 440-445. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.1393
Cardoso, D. B., Carvalho, F. F. R., Medeiros, G. R., Guim, A., Cabral, A. M. D., Véras, R. M. L., Santos, K. C., Dantas, L. C. N., & Nascimento, A. G. de O. (2019). Levels of inclusion of spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck) in the diet of lambs. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 247(1), 23-31. doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2018.10.016
Cordeiro, M. W. S., Rocha, V. R., Jr., Monção, F. P., Palma, M. N. N., Rigueira, J. P. S., Carvalho, C. C. S, Costa, M. D. da, D'Angelo, M. F. S. V., Costa, N. M., & Oliveira, L. I. S. de. (2023). Tropical grass silages with spineless cactus in diets of Holstein × Zebu heifers in the semiarid region of Brazil. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 55(2), 89-104. doi: 10.1007/s11250-023-03506-6
Detmann, E., Souza, M. A., Valadares, S. C., Fº., Queiroz, A. C., Berchielle, T. T., Saliba, E. O. S., Cabral, L. S., Pina, D. S., Ladeira, M. M., & Azevedo, J. A. G. (2012). (Eds.). Métodos para análise de alimentos. INCT. Ciência animal. Suprema.
Dirksen, G. (2008). Sistema digestivo. In G. Dirksen, H. Gründer, & M. Stöber (Eds.), Exame clínico dos bovinos (pp. 166-228). Guanabara Koogan.
Frota, M. N. L., Carneiro, M. S. de S., Carvalho, G. M. C., & Araujo, R. B. de., Neto. (2015). Palma forrageira na alimentação animal. (Documentos, 233). EMBRAPA Meio-Norte. http://www.infoteca.cnptia.embrapa.br/infoteca/handle/doc/1037123
Kearl, L. C. (1982). Nutrient requirements of ruminants in developing countries. Utah State University. doi: 10.26076/6328-a024
Lima, L. M., Bastos, M. M., Ávila, C. L. S., Ferreira, D. D., Casagrande, D. R., & Bernardes, T. F. (2022). Factors determining yield and nutritive value of maize for silage under tropical conditions. Gross and Forage Science, 77(3), 201-215. doi: 10.1111/gfs.12575
Marques, O. F. C., Gomes, L. S. de P., Mourthé, M. H. F., Braz, T. G. dos S., & Pires, O. de S., Neto. (2017). Palma forrageira: cultivo e utilização na alimentação de bovinos. Caderno de Ciências Agrárias, 9(1), 75-93. https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/ccaufmg/article/view/2940
Monteiro, C. C. F., Ferreira, M. A., Véras, A. S. C., Guido, S. I., Almeida, M. P., Silva, R. C., & Inácio, J. G. (2019). A new cactus variety for dairy cows in areas infested with Dactylopius opuntiae. Animal Production Science, 59(3), 479-485. doi: 10.1071/AN17256
National Research Council (2001). Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle (7nd ed.). The National Academies Press.
Pessoa, D. V., Andrade, A. P., Magalhães, A. L. R., Teodoro, A. L., Santos, D. C. dos, Araújo, G. G. L. A., Medeiros, A. N. de, Nascimento, B. D. do, Valença, R. L., & Cardoso, D. B. (2020). Forage nutritional differences within the genus Opuntia. Journal of Arid Environments, 181(1), 104243. doi: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104243
Pessoa, R. M. dos S., Pessoa, A. M. dos S., Costa, D. C. da C. C., Azevêdo, P. C. da S., Gois, G. C., Campos, F., Vicente, S. L. A., Ferreira, J. M. de S., Araújo, C. de A., & Lima, D. O. (2022). Palma forrageira: adubação orgânica e mineral. Research Society and Development, 11(13), e12111334257. doi: 10.33448/rsd-v11i13.34257
Rocha, R. R., Fº., Santos, D. C., Véras, A. S. C., Siqueira, M. C. B., Monteiro, C. C. F., Mora-Luna, R. E., Farias, L. R., Santos, V. L. F., Chagas, J. C., & Ferreira, M. A. (2021). Miúda (Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck)—the best forage cactus genotype for feeding lactating dairy cows in semiarid regions. Animals, 11(6), 1774. doi: 10.3390/ani11061774
Santos, A. de O., Dias, G. S., Jr., Pereira, M. N., Schwan, R. F., & Ávila, C. L. S. (2020). A survey of whole-plant corn silages from Minas Gerais dairy farms. Scientia Agricola, 77(2), e20180080. doi: 10.1590/1678-992X-2018-0080
Silva, E. T. S., Melo, A. A. S., Ferreira, M. de A., Oliveira, J. C. V., Santos, D. C., Silva, R. C., & Inácio, J. G. (2017). Acceptability by Girolando heifers and nutritional value of erect prickly pear stored for different periods. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 52(9), 761-767. doi: 10.1590/S0100-204X2017000900008
Siqueira, M. C. B., Ferreira, M. de A., Monnerat, J. P. I. dos S., Silva, J. de L., Costa, C. T. F., Conceição, M. G. da, Andrade, R. de P. X. de, Barros, L. J. A., & Melo, T. T. de B. (2017). Optimizing the use of spineless cactus in the diets of cattle: total and partial digestibility, fiber dynamics and ruminal parameters. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 226(1), 56-64. doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2016.12.006
Sniffen, C. J., O'Connor, J. D., Van Soest, P. J., Fox, D. G., & Russell, J. B. (1992). A net carbohydrate and protein system for evaluating cattle diets: II. Carbohydrate and protein availability. Journal of Animal Science, 70(11), 3562-3577. doi: 10.2527/1992.70113562x
SAS - Institute Inc. (2014). In SAS® OnDemand for Academics: User's Guide. Cary, NC.
Tilley, J. M. A., & Terry, R. A. (1963). A two-stage technique for the in vitro digestion of forage crop. Journal of the British Grassland Society, 18(2), 104-111. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1963.tb00335.x
Varela, J., Ferraretto, L. F., Kaeppler, S. M., & León, N. de. (2023). Effects of endosperm type and storage length of whole-plant corn silage on nitrogen fraction, fermentation products, zein profile, and starch digestibility. Journal of Dairy Science, 106(12), 8710-8722. doi: 10.3168/jds.2023-23382
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Fernando de Melo Rocha, Pedro Pereira Santos Junior , Heloísa Thereza Ribeiro Fonseca, Hericka Sabriny Rodrigues Aguiar Dias, Ana Clara Dias Gusmão , Felipe Gomes da Silva, Luciana Castro Geraseev , Thiago Gomes dos Santos Braz, Mário Henrique França Mourthé
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Semina: Ciências Agrárias adopts the CC-BY-NC license for its publications, the copyright being held by the author, in cases of republication we recommend that authors indicate first publication in this journal.
This license allows you to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, remix, transform and develop the material, as long as it is not for commercial purposes. And due credit must be given to the creator.
The opinions expressed by the authors of the articles are their sole responsibility.
The magazine reserves the right to make normative, orthographic and grammatical changes to the originals in order to maintain the cultured standard of the language and the credibility of the vehicle. However, it will respect the writing style of the authors. Changes, corrections or suggestions of a conceptual nature will be sent to the authors when necessary.
Funding data
-
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais
Grant numbers APQ-03004-18 -
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Grant numbers 88881.923833/2023-01
