The literature reports a low crude protein content for the spineless cactus. The crude protein in the spineless cactus varies depending on the species, the fertilization of the soil and the cultivation practices. This finding is very relevant to the arid and semi-arid regions in Northeastern Brazil, which suffer from a lack of available water for most of the year. The large amount of moisture found in the spineless cactus is in agreement with other reports. In contrast, cactus has high levels of total carbohydrates (TCH, 81.12 ±5.9%), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC, 58.55 ± 8.13%), and mineral matter (12.04 ±4.7%). Regardless of the genus, cactus exhibits low levels of dry matter (DM, 11.69 ☒.56%), crude protein (CP, 4.81 ☑.16%), neutral detergent fiber (NDF, 26.79 ±5.07%), and acid detergent fiber (ADF, 18.85 ☓.17%). In this context, cactus represents an extremely important feed source: it is well-adapted to the edaphic and climatic conditions of the region, and it is frequently used in dairy cattle feed, notably during periods of prolonged drought. According to, the spineless cactus is composed of 101 g/kg of dry matter (DM), 77 g/kg of crude protein (CP) and 278 g/kg of neutral detergent fiber (NDF). The spineless cactus can be successfully introduced into a diet due to its efficient water use. These properties have justified the use of the spineless cactus in this region to nearly 450 g/kg of the dry matter of the total diet. The spineless cactus is an important alternative for farmers due to its high productivity potential and considerable survival and propagation capacity under conditions of little rain and high temperatures. Roughage supplementation, when used, consists of local fodder, such as prickly pear cactus, a crop that is widespread in the region, with or without concentrate supplements.
According to, forage production largely occurs during the rainy season. Native vegetation is used on a smaller scale and lends a number of seasonal attributes to the production in this region. The combination of adverse environmental conditions and economic activity that is largely dependent on nature results in productive systems that are extremely vulnerable to unfavorable weather conditions.ĭairy farming has emerged as one of the few options in semi-arid regions, particularly in northeastern Brazil, where forage grown in pastures is the predominant source of feed for the herds. Populations in these areas are predominantly rural, and the primary occupations of the workforce are in the agricultural sector. The primary characteristic of semi-arid regions is frequent drought, which can be defined as a lack, scarcity, low frequency, and limited amount of rain or a poor distribution of rain during the winter period therefore, a succession of drought years is not a rare occurrence in semi-arid regions.
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