Apparent digestibility and absorption od holstein cows fed diets with forage cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica mill) in replacement of sorghum silage (Sorghum bicolor (L.) moench)

It was evaluated the effect of four levels forage cactus in replacement of sorghum silage, in diets of lactating Holstein cows, on the apparent digestibility of dry matter (ADDM), organic matter (ADOM), crude protein (ADCP), ether extract (ADEE), neutral detergent fiber (ADNDF) and acid (ADADF), total carbohydrates (ADTCH) and nonfiber carbohydrates (ADNFC), content of total digestible nutrients (TDN) and apparent absorption of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sodium (Na). Eight Holstein cows averaging 590 kg and producing 27 kg of milk/day were used in a 4x4 Latin square design with four animals, four periods and four levels of forage cactus inclusion. All nutrients apparent digestibility showed significant quadratic response with increasing cactus in diets. Significant quadratic responses of apparent digestibility would likely attributed to increase in amounts NFC, decrease NDF and ADF in diets. The apparent absorption for Ca, P and Na also showed significant quadratic response. However, K had linear increase. The Ca:P ratio that provided better apparent absorption for the two mineral elements was 1.9:1.