Studies on the use of cactus as forage and fodder in Argentina: A review

GRÜNWALDT JOSEFINA; GUEVARA J.C.; GRÜNDWALDT E.; EDUARDO MARTÍNEZ CARRETERO

ANIMAL FEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015

0377-8401

This review reports the findings of field studies on cactus carried out mainly in the plain of mid-western Argentina and in other areas of the country. Economic analysis of both Opuntia plantations and use of cactus for replacing conventional forages in small ruminant diets are also included. About two-thirds of continental Argentina is associated with arid and semiarid areas, with 13 bioclimatic sites in which it is possible to cultivate Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Soils of these areas are generally characterized by the presence of salts. Opuntia spinulifera Salm-Dyck f. nacuniana Le Houér., f. nov. can be considered less tolerant to soil salinity than Opuntia robusta Wendl., although the major limitation to the cultivation of cactus are cold winter temperatures. Variations in nutrient concentration with three cladode age classes were examined for seven Opuntia forage clones. For all age classes combined, clones showed high organic matter (OM): 81.6 to 86.8 g/100 g dry matter (DM), and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD): 69.5 to 82.1 g/100 g DM and low protein concentration (CP): 3.2 to 5.0 g/100 g DM. A significant (P