Effect of Species and Age on Nutrient Content and in vitro Digestibility of Opuntia spp.

References

• AOAC . 1990 . Official Methods of Analysis, , 15th Ed. , 1298 Washington , DC : Association of Official Analytical Chemists .
   Google Scholar
• Azocar , P. 2001 . “ Opuntia as feed for ruminants in Chile ” . In Cactus (Opuntia spp.) as Forage Edited by: Mondragón-Jacobo , C. and Pérez-González , S. 57 – 62 . Roma , , Italia FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 169
   Google Scholar
• Batista , A. M.V. , Mustafa , A. F. , Santos , G. R.A. , de Carvalho , F. F.R. , Dubeux , J. C.B. Jr , Lira , M. A. and Barbosa , S. B. 2003 . Chemical composition and ruminal dry matter and crude protein degradability of spineless cactus . J. Agron. Crop. Sci. , 189 : 123 – 126 .
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ben Salem , H. , Nefzaoui , A. and Abdouli , H. 1996 . Effect of increasing level of spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica vas. Inermis) on intake and digestion by sheep given straw-based diets . Anim. Sci. , 62 : 293 – 299 .
   Google Scholar
• Bowers , J. E. 1996 . More flowers or new cladodes? Environmental correlates and biological consequences of sexual reproduction in a Sonoran Desert prieky pear cactus, O.engelmanii . Bulletin of Torrey Botanical Club. , 123 : 34 – 40 .
   Google Scholar
• Esminger , M. E. 1990 . Feeds and Nutrition, , 2nd ed. 1464 Clovis, CA , , USA
   Google Scholar
• FAO . 2001 . Cactus (Opuntia spp.) as Forage Edited by: Mondragón-Jacobo , C. and Pérez-González , S. 146 Roma , , Italia FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 169
   Google Scholar
• Flores , V. C.A. 2001 . “ The use of Cactus (Opuntia spp.) as Forage in the World ” . In Memoria del Curso—Taller. El Nopal Forrajero, una Alternativa Alimentaria Para el Ganado , Edited by: Flores , V. C. A. 19 – 40 . Monterrey : N. L. México .
   Google Scholar
• Flores , V. C.A. and Aranda , O. G. Opuntia. Based ruminant feeding systems in Mexico . Second FAO Electronic Conference. Livestock Feed Resources Within Integrated Farming Systems . pp. 10 Roma , , Italia : FAO .
   Google Scholar
• Gregory , R. A. and Felker , P. 1992 . Crude protein and phosphorus contents of eight contrasting Opuntia forage clone . J. Arid Environments , 22 ( 4 ) : 323 – 331 .
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Jaramillo , V. V. 1994 . Foresting in the arid and semi-arid areas of México , 48 México : COTECOCA, SARH .
   Google Scholar
• McDougall , E. I. 1948 . Studies on ruminant saliva. I. The composition and output of sheep's saliva . Biochem. J. , 70 : 99 – 109 .
   Google Scholar
• Nefzaoui , A. and Ben Salem , H. 2001 . “ Opuntia: A strategic fodder and efficient tool to combat desertification in the Wana region ” . In Cactus (Opuntia spp) as Forage Edited by: Mondragón-Jacobo , C. and Pérez-González , S. 73 – 89 . Roma , , Italia FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 169
   Google Scholar
• NRC . 2001 . Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, , Seventh Revised Edition , 81 Washington , D.C. : National Academy Press .
   Google Scholar
• Pinos , R. J.M. , González , M. S.S. , Mendoza , M. G.D. and Martínez , G. A. 2002 . Statistical analysis of experiments on in vitro digestibility of forages . Interciencia , 27 ( 3 ) : 143 – 146 .
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• SAS . 1990 . User's Guide: Statistics , 1028 Cary , NC : SAS Institute Inc. .
   Google Scholar
• Shoop , M. , Alford , C. E. and Mayland , H. F. 1977 . Plains prickly pear is a good forage for cattle . J. Range Manag. , 30 ( 1 ) : 12 – 17 .
   Google Scholar
• Tegegne , F. 2001 . “ Nutritional value of Opuntia ficus-indica as a ruminant feed in Ethiopia ” . In Cactus (Opuntia spp) as forage Edited by: Mondragón-Jacobo , C. and Pérez- González , S. 91 – 99 . Roma , , Italia FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 169
   Google Scholar
• Tilley , L. M. and Terry , R. A. 1963 . A two-stage technique for the in vitro digestion of forage crops . J. British Grass. Soc. , 28 : 104 – 111 .
   Google Scholar
• Van Soest , P. J. , Robertson , J. B. and Lewis , B. A. 1991 . Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition . J. Anim. Sci. , 74 : 3583 – 3597 .
   Google Scholar