Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of yearling Pedi goat bucks fed prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit as a replacement for Cenchrus ciliaris hay.

This study aimed to determine the effect of replacing Cenchrus ciliaris hay with prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit meal (PPFM) in diets on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of yearling male Pedi goats. Twenty-four yearly Pedi goat bucks were randomly assigned to 4 treatments in a completely randomized design, replicated six times with one goat per replicate. Prickly pear inclusion levels were 0, 10, 20, or 30%. Prickly pear fruit meal inclusion level affected (p < 0.05) DM, OM, Ash, CP, ADF, NDF, and EE intakes. Prickly pear inclusion level in the diet had no effect (p > 0.05) on feed conversion ratios and water intake of goats. However, the prickly pear level in the diet affected (p < 0.05) final live weight, average daily gain (ADG), and feed intake of goat bucks. Nutrient intake and digestibility of bucks in the present study were optimized at different inclusion levels of prickly pear meals. The results indicate that moderate inclusion levels (10–20%) optimally enhance nutrient intake and digestibility, whereas higher inclusion (30%) may reduce intake due to bulkiness and lower nutrient density. It was concluded that indigenous Pedi goat bucks have optimal productivity responses to prickly pear meal inclusion was variable, depending on the production variable.