Enhancing the Nutritional Content of Cactus Prickly Pear Plant Residues for Ruminant Nutrition

This study aimed to highlight the nutritional value of prickly pear waste (Opuntia ficus - indica) treated with chemicals as animal feed. A quantity of prickly pear waste cut into approximately 2 cm pieces was treated after determining its nutritional content through laboratory analyses and observing improvements after the planned chemical treatment. Additionally, an experiment on feed palatability was conducted by feeding the treated feed to ruminants, testing both positive and negative effects across different replications and treatments. The daily consumption of chemically treated filler feeds was compared with untreated feeds in terms of quantity and the nutritional elements acquired through treatment. Weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were also assessed. Results indicated improvements in nutritional value, palatability, and daily consumption rate for treated feeds.