Intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and performance of crossbreed Boer goats fed with diets containing saltbush (Atriplex nummularia L.) and spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica).

Saltbush and spineless cactus are adapted to arid and semiarid regions and used as an important forage resource in ruminants' diet. However, spineless cactus restricts production due to its low crude protein and NDF levels and high salt and oxalate contents, which can limit the digestibility and intake of dietary nutrients. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the best ratio levels of saltbush associated with spineless cactus in diets for crossbreed Boer goats through ingestion, water balance, digestibility, nitrogen balance, growth and carcass weight. Twenty-four castrated crossbred Boer (Boer × Brazilian native) goats 6 months of age and average body weight of 20.28 kg were utilized. The animals were weighed and distributed in randomized blocks in four experimental diets with saltbush of 8.4, 18.8, 31.2 and 48.3%. The addition of saltbush hay promoted quadratic behaviour (P < 0.05) in intake of dry matter and nutrients. There was no effect (P < 0.05) from the addition of saltbush hay on the digestibility of organic matter, total carbohydrates, non-fibrous carbohydrates and neutral detergent fibre, whereas there was an increase in dry matter. The crude protein digestibility behaved quadratically (P = 0.06), where the maximum digestibility was obtained with the addition of 31.2% of hay. The balance and net nitrogen utilization presented a quadratic effect (P < 0.01). Saltbush in rations for goats presented promising results, the growth rate (0.15 kg/day) obtained in diet with a lower proportion of saltbush, would satisfy smallholders when considering that this species, associated with spineless cactus, may reduce the use of concentrate feeds; however, the diet with 31.2% of saltbush hay provided the biggest gain in body and carcass weight of the goats.