Desempenho de vacas leiteiras alimentadas com palma forrageira em substituição ao fubá de milho

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the use of cactus pear instead of corn meal in diets based on sugar cane for lactating cows. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Station of São Bento do Una, belonging to the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco - IPA. 10 cows were used in lactation Holstein, Black and White variety (HPB), with average daily milk production of 20 kg. The experimental period lasted 85 days, divided into five sub-periods of 17 days, in which the first 10 days were used for adaptation and the last seven for sampling and data. Before starting the experiment, the animals were subjected to a pre-adaptation to experimental management and facilities, lasting 15 days. The animals were divided into an experimental design in 5x5 Latin square, double, in which treatments consisted of increasing levels of substitution of corn meal by spineless cactus. The samples were processed and submitted to bromatological chemical analyzes, and the results used to estimate the performance. The dry matter intake decreased linearly (P <0.05) in grams / day g / kg metabolic body weight and percentage of body weight. The remaining consumption also followed the same trend of dry matter intake decreases linearly (P <0.05) except for the consumption of neutral detergent fiber. No differences (P> 0.05) were observed in the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, non-fibrous carbohydrates, and estimates of total digestible nutrients. However, the apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was influenced (P <0.05). Milk production did not differ (P> 0.05) when fat was corrected to 3.5%, with the substitution of corn meal by spineless cactus. The substitution of corn meal by spineless cactus decreases nutrient intake and milk production without affecting the apparent digestibility of nutrients and the production of fat-corrected milk production of dairy cows with up to 18 kg of milk per day.