
doi: 10.5327/fst.00347
The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of including Miúda spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck) as a substitute for Tifton-85 hay (Cynodon dactylon) on the performance and carcass yield of lambs finished in confinement. An experiment was conducted with 24 Santa Inês lambs, with an average age of 119 ± 29.89 days and an average initial weight of 14.64 ± 2.28 kg. The animals were slaughtered after 89 days in confinement. Four diets were formulated, containing four inclusion levels of spineless cactus 0%, 6.5%, 16.63%, and 35.10 as a substitute for Tifton-85 hay. As the amount of spineless cactus in the diet increased, the lambs had higher dry matter consumption, water consumption, final weight, daily weight gain, feed efficiency, and body score. The diet with the highest inclusion of spineless cactus provided the highest gross margin. A level of 35.10% spineless cactus in the diet is recommended for the confinement of lambs.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 1 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
