Spineless cactus (<i>Nopalea cochenillifera</i> (L.)) as an exclusive or partial source of water for goats: histomorphological changes in the digestive, hepatic and renal systems

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the production performance and the occurrence of histomorphometric changes in the digestive, hepatic and renal systems of goats fed with a diet containing different contents of 25 and 55% spineless cactus ( Nopalea cochenillifera (L.)) and with partial or total restriction of drinking water. A total of 35 castrated male goats were used, with an average initial body weight of 19 + 1.4 kg, an average age of 8 months and distributed into five treatments: control (CON): 0.8 Tifton-85 hay and 0.2 concentrate with access to drinking water; 0.25 spineless cactus with access to drinking water (25ADW); 0.25 spineless cactus without access to drinking water (25NDW); 0.55 spineless cactus with access to drinking water (55ADW) and 0.55 spineless cactus without access to drinking water (55NDW). Ruminal and intestinal morphometry, liver glycogen reserve index, duodenal goblet cell index and liver and kidney histopathology were carried out. In the treatment with 0.25 spineless cactus and 0.55 Tifton-85 hay, dry matter intake increased by 26%. The papilla absorption area showed that the 0.55 spineless cactus content provided a larger area ( P &lt; 0.05) compared to the 0.25 content and the control. It can be concluded that spineless cactus ( N. cochenillifera (L.)) can be used in the diet of goats at a concentration of up to 0.55, associated with Tifton-85, with or without access to drinking water, without causing losses in animal performance or at ruminal, intestinal, hepatic or renal level.