Bioactive compounds, gas production kinetics and in vitro ruminal fermentation associated with forage palm extract of the genera Opuntia and Nopalea
Secondary metabolites; nutraceutical foods; ruminants
Cactus pear is commonly used as a food source rich in water and energy for domestic ruminants throughout the year, mainly in the Semiarid regions of Brazil. In addition, cactus pear presents a high synthesis of secondary metabolites in response to weather and climate conditions in these regions. Thus, in recent years, the number of researches using forage cactus and other plants from semi-arid regions has increased considerably, due to the important action of secondary metabolites in animal and human health and nutrition. The experiment was treated in randomized blocks with a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, with 3 cactus pear varieties and 3 extract levels. Four whole plants of each cactus pear variety aged 2 years were collected to obtain the extract. Varieties of the Opuntia genus had higher concentrations of total phenolics and tannins. The two genera were identified with the same concentration of flavonoids and only the variety Opuntia ficus-indica Mill showed a higher concentration of saponins. In vitro gas production was higher for Opuntia ficus-india Mill. The genus Opuntia exhibited a higher proportion of digested dry matter. The addition of cactus pear variety extract increased gas production, digested dry matter, true dry matter digestibility and ammonia. Thus, the use of cactus pear in ruminant feeding improved ruminal parameters and in vitro digestibility.