Yield and composition of milk in goats fed Pornunça hay and cactus pear

The study aimed to assess the impact of diets containing Pornunça hay (Manihot sp) and fresh cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill) on the intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, production, and quality of milk, as well as the economic feasibility of lactating goats. Eight multiparous goats with 30 lactation days were used and distributed in a double Latin square design (4 x 4). The treatments consisted of different proportions of Pornunça hay and fresh cactus pear (60:0; 50:10; 40:20; 30:30) in the diet of lactating goats. Incorporating cactus pear into the diet of lactating goats resulted in a significant decrease in water intake and intake of most evaluated nutrients, directly reflected in the diet effectively consumed by the animals. However, it did not affect milk or fat-corrected milk production. Incorporating cactus pear into the diet of lactating goats resulted in a significant decrease in production costs, water intake, and the intake of most evaluated nutrients. The 30:30 ratio of Pornunça hay and fresh cactus pear in the diet of lactating goats improved the milk production efficiency maintaining a good composition of solids and improved gross profit and benefit/cost ratio.